Although families are still waiting to see how September will play out for their children, the NYC DOE has released health and safety procedures it intends to implement this fall.
Mayor Bill de Blasio is working toward a blended learning curriculum for the start of the 2020-2021 term, which means that students will be learning remotely and in school. But things are going to look different inside the classroom.
Along with guidance from the CDC and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, NYC Schools will have testing and tracing procedures in place at all of its buildings. In the event someone becomes ill during the day, there will be an isolation room. Cleanings with electrostatic sprayers will take place on a nightly basis. Additionally, an order has been placed for 11,000 cases of hand sanitizer and 100,000 cases of disinfectant wipes.
But cleaning measures are just one aspect of these procedures: All those in the school building will have to remain six feet apart and wear masks when need be, plus particular areas will need to be reconfigured, including lunch rooms and gyms. Given all of these factors, some law makers are pushing for outdoor learning—some are even asking for the start of the new year to be delayed.
To learn more about the precautions NYC schools are taking, and what it will take to open schools in the first place, visit schools.nyc.gov and stay tuned for up-to-date information.
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