Quality Public Education for All New Jersey Students

 

GSCS Press Release--What Educators Need Now: Part 1 Remote Instruction
More than one year after the COVID pandemic closed all New Jersey schools, educators are looking forward to the fall of 2021. But looking forward also means making plans and decisions now. School officials and boards of education are in the process of finalizing budgets, schedules and hiring decisions for the fall of 2021. To work in the best interests of our educational communities, we need clear guidance on critical issues...'

GSCS Release-- “What Educators Need Now”:

Part 1: Remote Instruction

 

More than one year after the COVID pandemic closed all New Jersey schools, educators are looking forward to the fall of 2021.  But looking forward also means making plans and decisions now.  School officials and boards of education are in the process of finalizing budgets, schedules and hiring decisions for the fall of 2021.  To work in the best interests of our educational communities, we need clear guidance on critical issues.

All Remote or Not    

On Wednesday, March 24, the Governor stated that in September, students will not have the option of attending school remotely, even if parents wish it.  The following points require immediate clarification:

  • The Governor’s expectation seems to be that the State of Emergency will be lifted by fall.  If that does not happen, will the all-remote option still be available?
  • If the State of Emergency has been lifted, does “in-person” mean physically present in the classroom five days a week, or does “in-person” include students attending in hybrid mode?
  •  If the State of Emergency has been lifted, will some categories of students and teachers (medically fragile or living with medically fragile individuals) definitely be exempted from the in-person rule?
  • If the State of Emergency has been lifted, what should schools do if classes or students must be quarantined as a result of COVID exposure?

The New Normal:

Before COVID, the vast majority of students were either present in schools or absent.  COVID has created new realities and expectations in our education communities.  The only way to make an effective transition to the “new normal” is to spell out expectations for September 2021 as comprehensively and quickly as possible.