Students will be required to wear face coverings.
Lunches will still be served, but not necessarily in the cafeteria.
And buses will be running, but driving the kids yourself may be a better option.
The picture for reopening schools amid the Covid-19 pandemic is starting to become a bit clearer, after Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state Health Department announced guidelines on Monday that would suggest students and teachers will return to the classroom in some fashion this September.
But that was just a preview. More detailed guidance on instruction is due Wednesday from the state Education Department, giving school districts a little more than two weeks to submit a reopening plan to the state by July 31.
As school administrators sift through the pages of guidance from the state in the coming days, there’s sure to be varying interpretations that raise even more questions.
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Here are some questions and answers to help parents make sense of what's known so far:
Does my child have to wear a face covering in school all day?
Face coverings will be required any time or place appropriate social distancing can’t be maintained, including school lobbies, hallways and common areas, but it’s strongly recommended they be worn at all times.
That said, guidance from the Health Department does allow students to remove face coverings during meals, but also during “instruction and for short breaks so long as they maintain appropriate social distance.”
Does this apply to the younger students, too?
Educators have raised concerns about young children coping with a face covering on all day, but the guidelines don’t use age as a distinction.
Do I have to provide my child with a face covering?
Students may bring their own – homemade, quick cut, bandana – but districts are responsible for providing a face covering at no cost to any student who doesn’t have one.
What is considered appropriate social distance, anyway?
Six feet in all directions, in most cases. But that is extended to 12 feet if people are singing in chorus, playing an instrument in band or breathing heavily in gym class.
Will kids still eat lunch in the cafeteria?
Maybe. Each school will decide for its students.
During lunch periods, students will have to maintain social distance.
Some schools will continue to have students eat in the cafeteria, but will have to add additional lunch periods so that there are fewer kids in the cafeteria at one time. Some schools are looking at replacing lunch tables with individual student desks, set 6 feet apart, to ensure social distancing.
Schools also have the option of having students eat lunch in their classrooms.
Will my child still be able to take the bus to school?
Yes, but there will be big changes.
Everyone is going to have to wear a face covering on the bus at all times. And everyone will need to maintain social distancing, although the guidance didn't specify how. One child per seat in every other row is what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention previously recommended.
That may mean schools will have to add bus runs.
Many schools will be urging parents to drive their children to school.
What will classrooms look like?
The state requires social distancing or the use of physical barriers, like Plexiglas or cubicles. That seems to be the case for every grade level.
So how will schools fit all the students in the building and still keep them socially distanced?
They may not be able to. That's why one of the scenarios districts are planning for is a hybrid model of instruction with a mix of in-person and online learning.
How would that work?
It’s likely to vary from district to district, but may include staggering school schedules or alternating days that students are required to attend class to reduce density in the building.
As districts figure that out, the guidance recommends prioritizing those students who should return to class first or more often. That includes the younger students, whose parents may be working and wouldn't have adult supervision at home.
The guidance suggests districts may want to consider repurposing alternative spaces for instruction, like a local community center, or even using the outdoors as classroom space when possible.
The guidelines suggest districts should “cohort” students. What’s that?
Cohorts are preassigned groups of students of “reasonable” size that would stay together all day to limit potential exposure to the virus. While it applies particularly to students in the early grades, districts have discussed the idea of cohorting middle and high school students, keeping the cohorts in a classroom and rotating teachers in and out of the classroom to teach various classes.
Will kids with health problems have to attend school in person?
It largely depends on what health problems they have.
Schools will have to make accommodations for people considered by the CDC to be at higher risk for severe Covid-19 illness. That includes anyone with chronic kidney disease, a serious heart condition, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or Type 2 diabetes.
I don’t feel comfortable sending my child back to school this year. Do I have to?
Schools will need to accommodate “individuals who may not feel comfortable returning to an in-person educational environment,” according to the state’s guidelines.
It’s not clear what individuals will need to do to establish that they are not comfortable returning to school.
If my child does not attend classes in person this year, what kind of instruction will they get instead?
Schools have to create policies “to allow them to safely participate in educational activities and, where appropriate, accommodate their specific circumstances.”
The state leaves it up to local schools to determine exactly what that might look like. It could mean having students learn remotely.
I’m a 55-year-old teacher and nervous about returning to the classroom. What are my options?
Schools would be required to make accommodations for teachers at higher risk, just as with students.
But the CDC does not identify a specific age as a cutoff. So at this point, it’s not clear at exactly what point age will be considered a Covid-19 risk factor for a school employee.
If you have one of the underlying health conditions identified by the CDC as putting you at higher risk, though, your school will need to make accommodations for you, regardless of your age.
It’s not yet clear exactly what accommodations your school might offer. One might be teaching remotely.
How will students and staff be monitored for Covid-19 symptoms?
Schools will have to take the temperature of people walking into the building. Every person. Every day.
Anyone with a temperature over 100.0 will be sent home.
What has been decided about school sports?
As of the release of guidance on Monday, interscholastic athletics are not permitted but additional information would be forthcoming.
