Laura Ungar, Kaiser Health News |
A KHN analysis of federal and state Occupational Safety and Health Administration data found more than 780 COVID-19-related complaints covering more than 2,000 public and private K-12 schools.
Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times via KTLA |
Reopening Los Angeles campuses for students in kindergarten through 12th grade will require the vaccination of teachers and other staff, says L.A. schools Supt. Austin Beutner. The teachers union is going a step further, saying vaccinations alone would not be enough to operate schools safely until the community spread of COVID-19 is brought down.
Their stances throw into question whether schools will be able to reopen this academic year as there is currently no firm date for inoculating teachers. In parts of the state, including Los Angeles, dissatisfied parents are ramping up efforts to pressure campuses to reopen more quickly.
Cory Turner, Eda Uzunlar, WOSU |
With many U.S. schools still shuttered or operating on a limited basis, and millions of children learning remotely (or trying to), the stakes are high for Miguel Cardona. He is President Biden’s pick to run the U.S. Department of Education, and if confirmed, he’ll be charged with making good on Biden’s promise to re-open most K-12 schools during the new administration’s first 100 days.
(more…)Erin Richards, USA TODAY |
Almost three out of four urban districts are still offering only online instruction, according to a new report from the Center on Reinventing Education at the University of Washington. And some districts that have recently gotten some kids back to schools are facing major pushback from unions, predominantly around safety measures and the spike in COVID-19 infection rates in the community.
Paloma Equivel, Los Angeles Times |
Under the new guidance, K-6 schools in counties with a seven-day average of 25 or fewer cases per 100,000 residents would be eligible to begin reopening, down from the 28 cases per 100,000 that the governor had announced in December.
Madeline Mitchell, Cincinnati Enquirer |
CPS board president Carolyn Jones released a statement Thursday afternoon regarding the vote, noting the decision was and will continue to be “filled with emotion.”
“It is no easy task balancing health and safety in a pandemic with what we are charged to do as Board Members, which is to provide our students with an excellent foundation for life,” Jones wrote.
“Based on the advice of our health partners, the incredible job the CPS team has done implementing health and safety protocols, the very low level of transmission of the virus within our buildings, and the rollout of the vaccine to CPS staff, the majority of the board believes that it is safe to begin a slow, methodical, phased-in return to blended learning during the month of February.”
Anya Kamenetz and Elissa Nadworny, NPR |
President Biden has called reopening schools a “national emergency” and said he wants to see most K-12 schools in the United States open during his first 100 days in office, which would be between now and April. On Thursday, he announced he would sign several executive actions, including measures meant to push the process along.
(more…)Alissa Widman Neese, The Columbus Dispatch |
To prepare for the rollout, area school leaders are doing what’s necessary to save their employees a spot in line — including committing to in-person learning in some form by March 1. The state required districts to submit a signed form by Monday agreeing to do so, regardless of how many employees receive the vaccine before that date.
(more…)Bri’on Whiteside, The Toledo Blade |
According to TPS officials, the district is planning to re-open its doors for a hybrid schedule of learning — meaning students will attend in-person with one day of the week being designated for remote learning — beginning Feb. 22 for students Pre-K through the third grade.
Courtney Francisco, WCPO |
With nearly 3,000 students and some of the smallest classrooms in the district, Walnut Hills High School is the only school in Cincinnati Public Schools district without a clear plan to return students to in-person learning.
Susan Tebben, Ohio Capital Journal |
As plans form for the vaccination of school personnel, Gov. Mike DeWine said an overwhelming majority of districts have agreed to have at least partial in-person instruction in place by March 1.
(more…)Julie Sellers, Opinion contributor – Cincinnati Enquirer |
“The good news is that the availability of vaccinations should allow Cincinnati Public Schools to get back to some form of “normal” in 2021. But what that “normal” looks like, when it will arrive and whether we can (to borrow from President-elect Joe Biden) build back an even better educational environment for our students will depend on how we respond to the following challenges: when will school staff get vaccines? will we remain serious about reducing COVID-19 spread? will students and teachers be allowed to focus on instruction rather than high-stakes testing? and will the Ohio General Assembly finally address school funding inequity?”
Julie Sellers
