191,000 New York City students return to the classroom today. New York shut down schools over rising positivity rates three weeks ago. The students will be allowed to return as long as positivity rates remain low.
What We Know:
- Younger students are the first to return. K-5, Pre-K, and 3-K students returned to schools. The district’s special needs program will return Thursday. Located in a higher-risk orange zone, Staten Island schools will reopen Wednesday.
- In an interview with ABC7 News, Teachers union President Micael Mulgrew commented on the reopening, “Our youngest, those with the greatest challenges, those are reopening this week,” Mulgrew said. “We are making sure everything is being done to keep people safe.” To return to school, parents must sign a testing consent form for their child.
- Many students have signed up for in-person learning but attend remotely. These children are currently holding up seats, and if the child doesn’t attend in-person school, they will lose the spot. Mayor Bill de Blasio commented on the situation, “We need the kids in school or signed up for in-person learning, and any family that signed up for in-person learning and does not actually intend for their child to be in school, we respect that, we want you then to be placed into the all-remote education approach, so we can free up seats.”
- There is currently no plan for middle and high school students to return to in-person learning. Middle and high school students are not expected to return any time soon. Parents and students rallied to reopen schools.
- Students are concerned about what they’re missing from in-person school. 8th grader Liza Greenberg commented, “I don’t want to be a year behind when I go to high school, it’s important for me to fight for my education now.” Parent Carly Maready is also concerned, “Middle schoolers are preparing for high school, high schoolers for college, and they are missing out on a huge part of these experiences that will shape their entire future.”
- According to an Op-Ed by Governor Andrew Cuomo, it is possible to control COVID-19 in schools. He argues that schools’ infection rates are much lower than in surrounding areas due to the precautions made in school.
As the holiday season approaches, many states have observed shutdowns and stricter regulations. As far as New York is concerned, schools will remain open for now.
