With the State of Illinois moving to Phase 4 on Friday, the question on everybody’s mind recently has been…are the kids going to be able to go back to school in the fall? Well, now we have that answer.
Looks like no more class taught by mom and dad at the kitchen table while also trying to have a work meeting on Zoom at the same time. Yesterday, Governor Pritzker announced that the State of Illinois will be returning to classrooms in the fall.
However, returning students and teachers aren’t necessarily going to find that school looks like it did the last time they were there.
Masks will be required at all times during the school day. In fact, the state will hand out 2.5 million cloth face masks to public school students and teachers. For public schools k-12, masks at all times will be required, along with social distancing whenever possible, temperature checks, no more than 50 people in one space, and school-wide cleaning and disinfection. AND, teachers will also have to have E-learning ready to go in case they are forced to send kids home from school again.
Explaining his decision, Governor Pritzker said, “Classroom learning provides necessary opportunities for our students to learn, socialize, and grow. The benefits of in-person instruction can’t be overstated.”
All schools will be allowed to reopen, including P-12 schools and higher education, all public school districts, non-public schools, colleges and universities, although districts can develop their own individual plans. School re-opening guidelines can be found here.
I’ve heard so many things from parents and teachers on both sides, many for and many against. And many parents are asking, how in the world are they going to keep a mask on my kindergartener or 1st grader?
Will you feel comfortable sending your kids back to school in the fall?
6-24-20
