(FRANKFORT, KY) – The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) released a new guidance document May 15 about questions schools and districts should consider when they are making plans for how to restart school for the 2020-2021 school year.
The document – “COVID-19 Considerations for Reopening Schools, Initial Guidance for Schools and Districts” – leads 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.
MORE INFO …
- Kentucky Department for Public Health’s COVID-19 webpage
- KDE’s COVID-19 webpage
- COVID-19 Hotline (800) 722-5725
mike,,, its to soon to open schools ,, THERE IS STILL A KILLER VIRUS OUT THERE AND ITS NOT GOING AWAY,,, U PUT MORE PEOPLE AT RISK BRING THEM TOGETHER ,,,,,, NOT A GOOD IDEA,DEADLY
They will have to make exceptions for special needs children. They will not be able to keep the masks on and all instruction time will be spent fighting that fight between keeping the masks on and the 6 feet apart rule my son will need a teacher assigned to him alone all day every day. For these children and for children with health concerns there has to be a virtual option. We have internet and several computers it is the only way that my son or anyone in his class will get an education is by staying at home and not fighting the mask and distancing that is a real issue with special needs children.
Could Visual TV not be an option for the parents that feels uncomfortable about sending their children back..the schools may have to provide Crome books for those who doesn’t have them, and if the parents doesn’t have internet service that would be their responsibility to get. I feel the children needs to be part of the classroom to learn and ask questions. There are parents and grandparents that cannot help their children and grandparents with the classroom works and needs to be taught by someone that does.
I would never let my kids go back to school do to the covid 19 my kids have health problem and if the get the coivd19 they die
I think everyone is untitled to their own opinions..gotta think if kids have to wear mask,how many littles ones are gona keep them on,or not want to play with others,how many little ones hold hands hugs cough sneeze touch toys..how many kids has asthma or panic attacks,even autistic kids won’t be able to wear mask.not for 8/10hrs depending on bus routes.talking Monday, Wednesday,Friday school for part of students..then Tues and Thurs for other part eating in classrooms.no changing classes..this is gonna be a huge change for everyone..I said for all parents if you feel safer keeping kids home go for it…ones that wants kids back at school then go for it..but parents should be able to make those choices and not be introuble for not sending them..safety first…also are we gona have another round of covid starting November. There’s alot of questions needing answered..didn’t they announce they are having new cases of covid19..I say if you decide on school not til September see how it all clears up..am I sending mine back.. undecided..she’s gona be 18 in February I’d rather keep her safe as long as possible…school will only be if no more new cases by the time it’s voted on..
I THINK MY OPINION IS BETTER: DO THE NTI PACKETS AND THE ONLINE CLEVER AND READWORKS. TEACHERS STILL GET PAID BECAUSE THEY ARE PREPARING LESSONS. AND THE CHILDREN STILL GET THEIR LEARNING AND WE ALL ARE SAFE.
Do not reopen the schools .. plain and simple.. Virtual classrooms will be the smartest and safest way to continue our children’s education. Thousands of parents have already started they will be homeschooling their children instead of sending them into the school’s. We feel it is way to soon.
You’re kidding right? I’m speaking for my kids, they are not learning online and are distracted easily. They need normal school again or they will have to be held back. You can do with your kids how you deem necessary, but us essential working parents can’t stay home nor get paid to.
No way! Not homeschooling my kids! Open normal time and date…. kids lives are WAY more likely to be in jeopardy by the flu than Covid. Let them back in school! Stop this insanity!