geralt / Pixabay

 

Discussion about fall school reopening is hot-and-heavy these days.

Here’s my latest thinking – for what’s worth:

Lots of districts have already made a definitive decision to reopen in various ways  – five days per week for everybody, hybrid models, etc.

I wonder if districts like ours who have not made determination yet should plan on opening with full-time well-planned remote learning for the first two months or so for most students, but make exceptions for students who can benefit most by five-days-per-week classes that are socially distanced:

  • English Language Learners
  • Kindergarten-through third-or-fourth graders
  • Students with special needs
  • Students of parents who are deemed “essential workers” (though I don’t know who make that determination)
  • Perhaps other vulnerable populations

Then, after the first six weeks, see what has been happening with the schools that have opened-up – what’s going well, which models – if any – have “gone south.”  Combine that data with the status of local community spread, and then make a decision of what should happen the rest of the year.

I’m sure there are lots of holes in this idea.  Let me know what you think…..