Ky. Education Dept. issues suggested guidelines for opening schools

The Kentucky Department of Education has released a new guidance document about questions schools and districts should consider when they are making plans for how to restart school for the 2020-21 academic year.

The document – “COVID-19 Considerations for Reopening Schools, Initial Guidance for Schools and Districts” – guides school leaders through a variety of questions to consider about:

•How they will ensure the health and safety of everybody in their buildings;

•How they will maintain quality teaching and learning;

•How they will support exceptional learners, including gifted and talented students and students in need of special education services; and

•How they will continue school and district operations.

Many of the decisions on how to move forward in this challenging time will be decided by local boards of education and school-based decision-making councils.

“This initial guidance provides schools and districts a framework for how they will need to start the 2020-2021 school year,” said Interim Commissioner Kevin C. Brown. “We are first trying to ask the questions districts need to ask themselves when dealing with all of the complex issues that have arisen as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We hope districts, schools and communities will use these questions to help order their thoughts and think through the many issues that will be facing educators in the Commonwealth when school resumes.”

As the COVID-19 situation evolves and additional recommendations from the governor and the Department for Public Health are issued during the summer, the guidance documents produced by KDE will continue to be updated and amended as required to meet the needs of Kentucky’s schools and districts. More guidance and resources can be found on the KDE COVID-19 website.

From Kentucky Department of Education

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The Kentucky Department of Education released guidance Friday for school districts on how to restart schools.

The state suggested four different scenarios.

• The first is scheduled rotations. Students would be assigned to groups and attend class on alternating times or days of the week. This would reduce class size and allow for greater social distancing. Meals would be served in the classrooms.
• The second scenario is a synchronous opt-in. Parents would choose whether children attend in person or via live streaming. This would require heavy use of technology. Schools would have to ensure the same experience for all students which would include co-teaching.
• The third scenario is a hybrid model. Students would be sorted into groups alternating time in the classroom and at home. This would also require heavy use of technology.
• And the fourth scenario would be fully online. All students would receive instruction at home. This reflects learning models that were in place for the end of this school year. The state says it may be more appropriate for older students.

These are just guidelines. Individual school boards will make the final decision for each district. School systems have to submit a plan to the state by July 31.