Before students around Western New York get back to class, school districts have some homework to do.
In announcing that schools across the state can reopen, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday outlined the steps districts and private schools must take before they can open their doors to students:
The governor said schools must post online their plans on remote learning, Covid-19 testing and contact tracing. Saying "no one size fits all," he said the issues have to be addressed district by district.
• First, submit a reopening plan and have it approved by the state Department of Health. (Districts already were required to do that by July 31.)
• Post online plans regarding three areas of concern: remote learning, Covid-19 testing and contact tracing. The plans for remote learning should address equity issues.
• Conduct at least three public sessions to discuss these plans with parents. In Buffalo, and the other "Big 5" districts, at least five sessions must be held. The sessions can be conducted online.
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• Conduct at least one session solely for teachers.
Cuomo has emphasized that how a school or school district reopens relies heavily on feedback from parents and teachers.
