Here's What the 2020-2021 NYC Public School Year Will Look Like
Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza released guidelines for how New York City public schools will operate for the 2020-2021 school year.
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How the 2020 NYC School Year Will Be Set Up
Families can choose whichever model works best for them, including an all-remote learning model, for any reason. These are the three models families can choose from:
- Model 1: "Students will receive in-person instruction for the same two days every week, as well as every other Monday."
- Model 2: Students will receive in-person instruction 1-2 days a week.
- Model 3 (available to middle and high schools only): Allows "students to be in-person two days and remote four days in a six-day cycle."
District 75 schools will have two additional model options. Your child's school will choose which model is best for its students.
You can choose to receive remote learning only if you’re not comfortable with sending your child back to school. You must select that preference by Aug. 7. Once the school year begins, you can choose to go fully remote at any time. Students with IEPs will be offered in-person instruction to the fullest extent possible. Multilingual students, Carranza said, will receive instruction that will keep them progressing in both languages.
Timeline for the Return to NYC School
Aug. 7: Family Sign-Up for Remote-Only Closes
Aug. 14: Schools Submit Programming Model Choice
Aug. 21: Superintendents Approve Exceptions
How NYC Public Schools will Keep Students and Teachers Safe
All people in every school building will be required to wear face coverings and stay six feet apart from others. Disposable masks will be provided to whoever needs them; mask exceptions will be made for those who cannot wear them for developmental reasons. Schools will be supplied with hand sanitizer and everyone will have increased access to sanitation. Schools will be cleaned nightly, and systems will be upgraded so buildings have better ventilation.
On July 30, Carranza and de Blasio announced test and trace protocols that will apply to all school communities and help prevent the spread of COVID-19. All staff members will be asked to take a COVID-19 test in the days before the first day of school and will have priority for free, expedited testing at 34 city-run testing locations. All schools will be required to enact precautions to help prevent, identify, and address the spread of COVID-19, including:
- An isolation room for students with symptoms with a staff member or health professional
- Physical distancing and face coverings
- Cleaning throughout the day and nightly disinfecting
- Clear communication with families and the school community
If a student or teacher feels sick, they have to stay home and, if their symptoms are consistent with COVID-19, get tested. If a student feels symptoms while at school, they will be isolated by a dedicated staff member until they are picked up by their parent. Staff members who became symptomatic at school must immediately leave the building.
The DOE is purchasing large orders of hygiene supplies for schools, including face coverings for students, teachers, and staff; disinfectant; hand sanitizer; and electrostatic sprayers. The DOE is working with DOHMH and the NYC Test + Trace Corps to facilitate fast action and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Decisions to quarantine classrooms or close schools will be based off of the conclusions of potential investigations. The details of potential investigative conclusions are outlined below:
Parents might be concerned about how their kids will handle going back to school, and Carranza noted that schools will integrate social-emotional learning and “trauma-informed care” into instruction and prioritize providing students with mental health support. We will share more details on these plans as they become available.
Bookmark this page on your browser to check back for more information as the summer progresses. The DOE will also host a series of Family & Student Information Sessions, Carranza’s document says, to answer any questions you might have. You can follow NYMetroParents for school updates as well, and subscribe to our daily newsletter for a dose of summer fun inspiration every day that will help get you through the summer. This school year will be an unprecedented one, but we’re here to help you figure out the best decisions for your family.
RELATED: Check out our guide to safe summer fun as New York reopens
