CDC planning to release new guidance on how K-12 students can physically return to classroom. 7/6/20

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just filled out that survey (and now understand why everyone was complaining—what horribly worded questions). I said that if they go with 100% DL as the only option then any family should be able to opt out of school for 2020-2021 without having to homeschool. Their children should then enter the 2021-2022 in whatever grade they should have been in during the 2020-2021 year.

I don’t need my kid to be babysat. But I do need her to learn. I am incapable of homeschooling her, and MCPS is incapable of providing her with an education via 100% DL.

You make no sense. You need her to learn, but you want to be able to opt out of any school. So she spends a year doing what exactly? You would chose to have her do nothing, instead of the other options?

She’ll do what she’s been doing this summer: playing outside; playing games, doing art, reading, play dates with friends, etc. I don’t have the capability of home schooling and expect MCPS to provide her with an actual education, which they aren’t able to do through DL. So if there is no in-person option, I’d prefer to have her stick to what she is doing now and do 3rd grade in a year when they are able to provide in-person instruction, thorough which she can actually learn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think you can really trust any guidance put out by this administration. They'll just write whatever they think will help the orange's re-election chances in spite of what any public health expert believes.

Do you think the AAP is in cahoots with Trump's campaign as well?

The AAP simply recognized that it is in the best interest of children to return to F2F school. Everyone agrees with that.

The AAP believes that risks associated with COVID are less that the negative consequences of having no in person school at all. So they urge policy makers to try to make in person learning work. Even so, they recommend recommend putting safety measures in place. These include social distancing and masking. For instance, the report states that: "“Evidence suggests that spacing as close as 3 feet may approach the benefits of 6 feet of space, particularly if students are wearing face coverings and are asymptomatic.” Having read other studies, I disagree with the first part of the statement, but concur that studies show reduced risk with 3 feet of social distancing and masks. At this point, though, we have people saying that their kids can't or won't wear mask. Studies show that reducing social distancing to 3 feet is far less effective in mitigating the spread of the virus than 6 feet. And by the way, for all of you "we aren't supposed to eliminate risk" people, even 6 feet of social distancing does not eliminate risk.

The guidance also recommends use of outdoor spaces, which may or not work, depending on the weather, and assigning students to particular cohorts for lunch and busing. In addition, the guidance recommends having teachers change classes, rather than students. That works well with younger kids, but not as well with high school aged students. The AAP recommendations are a great start and would work especially well for younger students that can be more easily kept in the same group throughout the day. The more we are able to minimize the number of different people any one individual comes into close contact with, the greater the likelihood that schools can remain open and that contact tracing can be effective if there are any positives.

Also, AAP acknowledges that we do not fully understand the risk of transmission in and by children. Some of the evidence being cited to show there is little risk (like Norway) does not recognize the extent of mitigation measures put in place, including not offering transportation.

By the way, the WHO does not recommend only 3 feet of social distancing, but has recognized a benefit that much distance when greater distancing is not possible. As a parent, if you are not ok with only 3 feet of distancing and required masking, then it is unlikely you will be satisfied with any plan.

Sadly, at our over crowded public high school, I think that even with relaxed standards, some sort of A/B day will have to be implemented. There is only so much room in the hallways, and I have no idea how you could create a schedule (even with only half of the kids at school each day) to keep the hallways uncrowded. Our school uses many portables to accommodate its student population, but the doorways and number of bathrooms is the same as if the school weren't overcrowded.

PS - I have a HS senior whose year is likely to be ruined. I also have two varsity athletes who live for their fall sports. They will be disappointed by their lives will not be ruined.
I were in charge, I would prioritize getting younger kids in school as much as possible with as many mitigation measures as we can afford. Then figure out some regionally based system to group high school students and get them to school 1 or 2 days per week.

Thank you for the thoughtful read of the AAP recommendations and your own family anecdote. Sorry your kids won’t get to play this year. Sorry for all our kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I assume that people who say "6 months to one year out of school won't harm your kid" don't have kids in high school.

The high school kids are the most capable to weather this. Assuming your child has wifi and no special needs they should be able to follow the online learning directives pretty easily. They have the whole of human knowledge at their fingertips. Yes I am the parent of a senior, at this point if we get a proper graduation ceremony in 2021 I'd be thrilled but feel like even that has long odds.

Maybe you think remote instruction should work well for high school students, but the reality is that for many high school students, it does not work well. "Online learning directives" is not school. So, then what?

Then you manage as human beings have done since the beginning of time. If it doesn't work well enough then maybe your kid repeats a grade. He/she wouldn't be the first kid ever to do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I assume that people who say "6 months to one year out of school won't harm your kid" don't have kids in high school.

The high school kids are the most capable to weather this. Assuming your child has wifi and no special needs they should be able to follow the online learning directives pretty easily. They have the whole of human knowledge at their fingertips. Yes I am the parent of a senior, at this point if we get a proper graduation ceremony in 2021 I'd be thrilled but feel like even that has long odds.

Maybe you think remote instruction should work well for high school students, but the reality is that for many high school students, it does not work well. "Online learning directives" is not school. So, then what?

Then you manage as human beings have done since the beginning of time. If it doesn't work well enough then maybe your kid repeats a grade. He/she wouldn't be the first kid ever to do that.

How well I remember the early days of the Internet, 100,000 years ago out on the savannah.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I assume that people who say "6 months to one year out of school won't harm your kid" don't have kids in high school.

The high school kids are the most capable to weather this. Assuming your child has wifi and no special needs they should be able to follow the online learning directives pretty easily. They have the whole of human knowledge at their fingertips. Yes I am the parent of a senior, at this point if we get a proper graduation ceremony in 2021 I'd be thrilled but feel like even that has long odds.

Maybe you think remote instruction should work well for high school students, but the reality is that for many high school students, it does not work well. "Online learning directives" is not school. So, then what?

It doesn't matter how well it works. If it's necessary to implement DL-only for safety reasons, that's what will be done.

Agreed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just filled out that survey (and now understand why everyone was complaining—what horribly worded questions). I said that if they go with 100% DL as the only option then any family should be able to opt out of school for 2020-2021 without having to homeschool. Their children should then enter the 2021-2022 in whatever grade they should have been in during the 2020-2021 year.

I don’t need my kid to be babysat. But I do need her to learn. I am incapable of homeschooling her, and MCPS is incapable of providing her with an education via 100% DL.

You make no sense. You need her to learn, but you want to be able to opt out of any school. So she spends a year doing what exactly? You would chose to have her do nothing, instead of the other options?

She’ll do what she’s been doing this summer: playing outside; playing games, doing art, reading, play dates with friends, etc. I don’t have the capability of home schooling and expect MCPS to provide her with an actual education, which they aren’t able to do through DL. So if there is no in-person option, I’d prefer to have her stick to what she is doing now and do 3rd grade in a year when they are able to provide in-person instruction, thorough which she can actually learn.

That sounds great. She'll play outside all year long. Her reading will probably be fine. Do you really want her in third grade though when her reading skills will probably be well above third grade by the end of next year with all the voluntary reading she's doing. She'll go to third grade in 2021, probably read well above grade level, maybe be a little behind in math if you don't do any mathematics with her for a year (no adding, subtracting, or multiplying), and then she'll graduate at age 19, almost 20 with the 18 year olds. Sounds like a plan. Or you could stop complaining and make a plan for your family. Have her do all that, add in a little math. She's in third grade so you won't be teaching algebra, geometry, or calculus. Add maybe a couple of documentaries for social studies and science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just filled out that survey (and now understand why everyone was complaining—what horribly worded questions). I said that if they go with 100% DL as the only option then any family should be able to opt out of school for 2020-2021 without having to homeschool. Their children should then enter the 2021-2022 in whatever grade they should have been in during the 2020-2021 year.

I don’t need my kid to be babysat. But I do need her to learn. I am incapable of homeschooling her, and MCPS is incapable of providing her with an education via 100% DL.

You make no sense. You need her to learn, but you want to be able to opt out of any school. So she spends a year doing what exactly? You would chose to have her do nothing, instead of the other options?

She’ll do what she’s been doing this summer: playing outside; playing games, doing art, reading, play dates with friends, etc. I don’t have the capability of home schooling and expect MCPS to provide her with an actual education, which they aren’t able to do through DL. So if there is no in-person option, I’d prefer to have her stick to what she is doing now and do 3rd grade in a year when they are able to provide in-person instruction, thorough which she can actually learn.

That sounds great. She'll play outside all year long. Her reading will probably be fine. Do you really want her in third grade though when her reading skills will probably be well above third grade by the end of next year with all the voluntary reading she's doing. She'll go to third grade in 2021, probably read well above grade level, maybe be a little behind in math if you don't do any mathematics with her for a year (no adding, subtracting, or multiplying), and then she'll graduate at age 19, almost 20 with the 18 year olds. Sounds like a plan. Or you could stop complaining and make a plan for your family. Have her do all that, add in a little math. She's in third grade so you won't be teaching algebra, geometry, or calculus. Add maybe a couple of documentaries for social studies and science.

Yes, I expect her actually to receive the education that she's entitled to and that my tax dollars help pay for. She needs reading, writing, science, social studies, and math. I'm not prepared to provide her with that, and she didn't get anything out of DL in the spring. If that's the best MCPS can do, then we'll opt out for the year, and I'll bet that we won't be the only ones doing it. That's the reality that MCPS will have to deal with if they refuse to actually do the work to open schools at least a few days a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I assume that people who say "6 months to one year out of school won't harm your kid" don't have kids in high school.

The high school kids are the most capable to weather this. Assuming your child has wifi and no special needs they should be able to follow the online learning directives pretty easily. They have the whole of human knowledge at their fingertips. Yes I am the parent of a senior, at this point if we get a proper graduation ceremony in 2021 I'd be thrilled but feel like even that has long odds.

Maybe you think remote instruction should work well for high school students, but the reality is that for many high school students, it does not work well. "Online learning directives" is not school. So, then what?

It doesn't matter how well it works. If it's necessary to implement DL-only for safety reasons, that's what will be done.

Agreed

+1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just filled out that survey (and now understand why everyone was complaining—what horribly worded questions). I said that if they go with 100% DL as the only option then any family should be able to opt out of school for 2020-2021 without having to homeschool. Their children should then enter the 2021-2022 in whatever grade they should have been in during the 2020-2021 year.

I don’t need my kid to be babysat. But I do need her to learn. I am incapable of homeschooling her, and MCPS is incapable of providing her with an education via 100% DL.

You make no sense. You need her to learn, but you want to be able to opt out of any school. So she spends a year doing what exactly? You would chose to have her do nothing, instead of the other options?

She’ll do what she’s been doing this summer: playing outside; playing games, doing art, reading, play dates with friends, etc. I don’t have the capability of home schooling and expect MCPS to provide her with an actual education, which they aren’t able to do through DL. So if there is no in-person option, I’d prefer to have her stick to what she is doing now and do 3rd grade in a year when they are able to provide in-person instruction, thorough which she can actually learn.

That sounds great. She'll play outside all year long. Her reading will probably be fine. Do you really want her in third grade though when her reading skills will probably be well above third grade by the end of next year with all the voluntary reading she's doing. She'll go to third grade in 2021, probably read well above grade level, maybe be a little behind in math if you don't do any mathematics with her for a year (no adding, subtracting, or multiplying), and then she'll graduate at age 19, almost 20 with the 18 year olds. Sounds like a plan. Or you could stop complaining and make a plan for your family. Have her do all that, add in a little math. She's in third grade so you won't be teaching algebra, geometry, or calculus. Add maybe a couple of documentaries for social studies and science.

Yes, I expect her actually to receive the education that she's entitled to and that my tax dollars help pay for. She needs reading, writing, science, social studies, and math. I'm not prepared to provide her with that, and she didn't get anything out of DL in the spring. If that's the best MCPS can do, then we'll opt out for the year, and I'll bet that we won't be the only ones doing it. That's the reality that MCPS will have to deal with if they refuse to actually do the work to open schools at least a few days a week.

Again, you expect her to receive education, but if MCPS does DL, then you'll just opt out of educating her completely? What about the responsibility you have as a parent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just filled out that survey (and now understand why everyone was complaining—what horribly worded questions). I said that if they go with 100% DL as the only option then any family should be able to opt out of school for 2020-2021 without having to homeschool. Their children should then enter the 2021-2022 in whatever grade they should have been in during the 2020-2021 year.

I don’t need my kid to be babysat. But I do need her to learn. I am incapable of homeschooling her, and MCPS is incapable of providing her with an education via 100% DL.

You make no sense. You need her to learn, but you want to be able to opt out of any school. So she spends a year doing what exactly? You would chose to have her do nothing, instead of the other options?

She’ll do what she’s been doing this summer: playing outside; playing games, doing art, reading, play dates with friends, etc. I don’t have the capability of home schooling and expect MCPS to provide her with an actual education, which they aren’t able to do through DL. So if there is no in-person option, I’d prefer to have her stick to what she is doing now and do 3rd grade in a year when they are able to provide in-person instruction, thorough which she can actually learn.

That sounds great. She'll play outside all year long. Her reading will probably be fine. Do you really want her in third grade though when her reading skills will probably be well above third grade by the end of next year with all the voluntary reading she's doing. She'll go to third grade in 2021, probably read well above grade level, maybe be a little behind in math if you don't do any mathematics with her for a year (no adding, subtracting, or multiplying), and then she'll graduate at age 19, almost 20 with the 18 year olds. Sounds like a plan. Or you could stop complaining and make a plan for your family. Have her do all that, add in a little math. She's in third grade so you won't be teaching algebra, geometry, or calculus. Add maybe a couple of documentaries for social studies and science.

Yes, I expect her actually to receive the education that she's entitled to and that my tax dollars help pay for. She needs reading, writing, science, social studies, and math. I'm not prepared to provide her with that, and she didn't get anything out of DL in the spring. If that's the best MCPS can do, then we'll opt out for the year, and I'll bet that we won't be the only ones doing it. That's the reality that MCPS will have to deal with if they refuse to actually do the work to open schools at least a few days a week.

Again, you expect her to receive education, but if MCPS does DL, then you'll just opt out of educating her completely? What about the responsibility you have as a parent?

I don’t have the ability to teach her. It’s the school system’s responsibility, and if they can’t do it, we will opt out until they can. The Spring made it crystal clear that distance “learning” doesn’t actually result in any learning for my kid, and actually adds a lot of stress and unhappiness. We will wait until MCPS can meet her basic need for an education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just filled out that survey (and now understand why everyone was complaining—what horribly worded questions). I said that if they go with 100% DL as the only option then any family should be able to opt out of school for 2020-2021 without having to homeschool. Their children should then enter the 2021-2022 in whatever grade they should have been in during the 2020-2021 year.

I don’t need my kid to be babysat. But I do need her to learn. I am incapable of homeschooling her, and MCPS is incapable of providing her with an education via 100% DL.

You make no sense. You need her to learn, but you want to be able to opt out of any school. So she spends a year doing what exactly? You would chose to have her do nothing, instead of the other options?

She’ll do what she’s been doing this summer: playing outside; playing games, doing art, reading, play dates with friends, etc. I don’t have the capability of home schooling and expect MCPS to provide her with an actual education, which they aren’t able to do through DL. So if there is no in-person option, I’d prefer to have her stick to what she is doing now and do 3rd grade in a year when they are able to provide in-person instruction, thorough which she can actually learn.

That sounds great. She'll play outside all year long. Her reading will probably be fine. Do you really want her in third grade though when her reading skills will probably be well above third grade by the end of next year with all the voluntary reading she's doing. She'll go to third grade in 2021, probably read well above grade level, maybe be a little behind in math if you don't do any mathematics with her for a year (no adding, subtracting, or multiplying), and then she'll graduate at age 19, almost 20 with the 18 year olds. Sounds like a plan. Or you could stop complaining and make a plan for your family. Have her do all that, add in a little math. She's in third grade so you won't be teaching algebra, geometry, or calculus. Add maybe a couple of documentaries for social studies and science.

Yes, I expect her actually to receive the education that she's entitled to and that my tax dollars help pay for. She needs reading, writing, science, social studies, and math. I'm not prepared to provide her with that, and she didn't get anything out of DL in the spring. If that's the best MCPS can do, then we'll opt out for the year, and I'll bet that we won't be the only ones doing it. That's the reality that MCPS will have to deal with if they refuse to actually do the work to open schools at least a few days a week.

Again, you expect her to receive education, but if MCPS does DL, then you'll just opt out of educating her completely? What about the responsibility you have as a parent?

I don’t have the ability to teach her. It’s the school system’s responsibility, and if they can’t do it, we will opt out until they can. The Spring made it crystal clear that distance “learning” doesn’t actually result in any learning for my kid, and actually adds a lot of stress and unhappiness. We will wait until MCPS can meet her basic need for an education.

You have every right to do this. But given the encouraging covid circumstances in MoCo, I truly hope it won't be necessary.

[Anonymous]

I see your point and feel your pain (about the bad "learning" experience in Spring 2020) but... MCPS is more interested in closing the achievement gap and serving meals than actually educating your kid.

I am sorry but what you are advocating will not be cared by MCPS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just filled out that survey (and now understand why everyone was complaining—what horribly worded questions). I said that if they go with 100% DL as the only option then any family should be able to opt out of school for 2020-2021 without having to homeschool. Their children should then enter the 2021-2022 in whatever grade they should have been in during the 2020-2021 year.

I don’t need my kid to be babysat. But I do need her to learn. I am incapable of homeschooling her, and MCPS is incapable of providing her with an education via 100% DL.

You make no sense. You need her to learn, but you want to be able to opt out of any school. So she spends a year doing what exactly? You would chose to have her do nothing, instead of the other options?

She’ll do what she’s been doing this summer: playing outside; playing games, doing art, reading, play dates with friends, etc. I don’t have the capability of home schooling and expect MCPS to provide her with an actual education, which they aren’t able to do through DL. So if there is no in-person option, I’d prefer to have her stick to what she is doing now and do 3rd grade in a year when they are able to provide in-person instruction, thorough which she can actually learn.

That sounds great. She'll play outside all year long. Her reading will probably be fine. Do you really want her in third grade though when her reading skills will probably be well above third grade by the end of next year with all the voluntary reading she's doing. She'll go to third grade in 2021, probably read well above grade level, maybe be a little behind in math if you don't do any mathematics with her for a year (no adding, subtracting, or multiplying), and then she'll graduate at age 19, almost 20 with the 18 year olds. Sounds like a plan. Or you could stop complaining and make a plan for your family. Have her do all that, add in a little math. She's in third grade so you won't be teaching algebra, geometry, or calculus. Add maybe a couple of documentaries for social studies and science.

Yes, I expect her actually to receive the education that she's entitled to and that my tax dollars help pay for. She needs reading, writing, science, social studies, and math. I'm not prepared to provide her with that, and she didn't get anything out of DL in the spring. If that's the best MCPS can do, then we'll opt out for the year, and I'll bet that we won't be the only ones doing it. That's the reality that MCPS will have to deal with if they refuse to actually do the work to open schools at least a few days a week.

Again, you expect her to receive education, but if MCPS does DL, then you'll just opt out of educating her completely? What about the responsibility you have as a parent?

I don’t have the ability to teach her. It’s the school system’s responsibility, and if they can’t do it, we will opt out until they can. The Spring made it crystal clear that distance “learning” doesn’t actually result in any learning for my kid, and actually adds a lot of stress and unhappiness. We will wait until MCPS can meet her basic need for an education.

You have every right to do this. But given the encouraging covid circumstances in MoCo, I truly hope it won't be necessary.

[Anonymous]

I'm in an email conversation with the superintendent and BOE of a school system in a more rural part of MD where we own a second home. They're saying they can't open full-time because the rule of only 15 kids/classroom (I guess based on 6 foot social distancing guidelines).

Per this thread, as I understand it CDC now says they can relax that for schools. Does anyone have a link to the actual CDC guidelines? I found this link but it's dated from May:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/schools.html

They may not be following all the latest news as closely, so if I can point them to CDC guidelines that will alllow less spacing in classrooms, that may convince them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm in an email conversation with the superintendent and BOE of a school system in a more rural part of MD where we own a second home. They're saying they can't open full-time because the rule of only 15 kids/classroom (I guess based on 6 foot social distancing guidelines).

Per this thread, as I understand it CDC now says they can relax that for schools. Does anyone have a link to the actual CDC guidelines? I found this link but it's dated from May:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/schools.html

They may not be following all the latest news as closely, so if I can point them to CDC guidelines that will alllow less spacing in classrooms, that may convince them.

To my knowledge (happy to be corrected if wrong), the CDC has not updated its guidance w/r/t school reopening since April and May. They did release FAQs on June 3rd. 6 feet was still recommended. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/schools-faq.html

The AAP released its recommendation that policy considerations start with the goal of sending children to school in-person. It has this comment re: distancing: "Desks should be placed 3 to 6 feet apart when feasible" and "Universal face coverings in middle and high schools when not able to maintain a 6-foot distance (students and adults)." https://services.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/clinical-guidance/covid-19-planning-considerations-return-to-in-person-education-in-schools/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From CNN today: 7/6/20
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is planning to release new guidance on how K-12 students can physically return to the classroom this year, according to a senior CDC official with knowledge of the discussions.

The recommendation was presented internally to leaders at the CDC early last week and is “a priority this week,” according to the senior official. Over the weekend, senior officials at the agency presented CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield with details on the science behind why schools should reopen, the source said. The specifics of the guidance were not available.

“Schools should be the first to open and the last to close,” the official said. “Kids need to physically be in school."
The officials comments' echo that of the American Academy of Pediatrics, which put out new guidance last week that "…strongly advocates that all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school.”

I heard that President Trump is going to pen these guidelines himself because he gets this stuff.