DC Charter School Alliance advocating for updated public health guidance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The mayor is responsible for both the health department and the schools. This falls on her and the DME and chancellor for not advocating to update the guidelines. If NYC can do this then so can we.

All three, the mayor, DME, and chancellor are responsible for this debacle.

Respectfully disagree. They ALL defer to DC Health as the subject matter expert for what is safe. DC Health is the department that needs the pressure and the others will follow the guidance they set.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are schools allowed to ignore the guidance? Is it definitely binding?

I think yes. I mean schools all over the country are open - not just TX and FL - (NY, MA, Chicago (IL). Mayor Bowser is either too afraid to do what is right for kids or too stupid and only seems focused on opening businesses (also important but not at the expense of kids).

The issue is the city's health guidance, not CDC's. The city is capping the number of kids in class at 11, and that limit needs to go. I wonder if schools can just ignore it.

Charters can't ignore it. The PCSB has consultants and monitors reviewing charter operations. I doubt that individual DCPS school principals can do ignore it. Just think about it - ignore it and someone gets sick, get sued then fired and if a charter, risk getting sanctioned or closed by the PCSB. Ignore it and no illness, still get fired, and if a charter risk getting sanctioned or closed by the PCSB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:yes. It's very clear sitting on endless parent calls that the reason opening is so hard is because of the mostly ridiculous restrictions. It's just so hard for the schools to figure it all out and abide by every restriction. It's frankly easier ot stay closed.

The cohort is really really hard for kids that change classes. I have to believe DC will relax their guidelines soon. PLEASE.

I agree that this is the case, but it enrages me to no end. Just because it's hard doesn't mean that charters shouldn't be throwing innovation and flexible thinking to develop ways to comply and offer in person learning, especially with the milder weather coming. Pivoting and adapting--isn't that what parents have been doing on overdrive for the past year? I realize teachers have been also, it's time for the charter leaders to step. it. up.

[Anonymous]

It's notable that WTU isn't pushing for these types of updated public health guidances, if they advocate for children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are schools allowed to ignore the guidance? Is it definitely binding?

I think yes. I mean schools all over the country are open - not just TX and FL - (NY, MA, Chicago (IL). Mayor Bowser is either too afraid to do what is right for kids or too stupid and only seems focused on opening businesses (also important but not at the expense of kids).

The issue is the city's health guidance, not CDC's. The city is capping the number of kids in class at 11, and that limit needs to go. I wonder if schools can just ignore it.

Charters can't ignore it. The PCSB has consultants and monitors reviewing charter operations. I doubt that individual DCPS school principals can do ignore it. Just think about it - ignore it and someone gets sick, get sued then fired and if a charter, risk getting sanctioned or closed by the PCSB. Ignore it and no illness, still get fired, and if a charter risk getting sanctioned or closed by the PCSB.

But is the city's guidance legally binding? I was under the impression that some private schools have stopping following the city's guidance because they think it's silly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are schools allowed to ignore the guidance? Is it definitely binding?

I think yes. I mean schools all over the country are open - not just TX and FL - (NY, MA, Chicago (IL). Mayor Bowser is either too afraid to do what is right for kids or too stupid and only seems focused on opening businesses (also important but not at the expense of kids).

The issue is the city's health guidance, not CDC's. The city is capping the number of kids in class at 11, and that limit needs to go. I wonder if schools can just ignore it.

Charters can't ignore it. The PCSB has consultants and monitors reviewing charter operations. I doubt that individual DCPS school principals can do ignore it. Just think about it - ignore it and someone gets sick, get sued then fired and if a charter, risk getting sanctioned or closed by the PCSB. Ignore it and no illness, still get fired, and if a charter risk getting sanctioned or closed by the PCSB.

But is the city's guidance legally binding? I was under the impression that some private schools have stopping following the city's guidance because they think it's silly.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/dc-private-schools-reopen-fewer-restrictions/2021/03/04/c500152e-7b7f-11eb-a976-c028a4215c78_story.html

Kind of sounds like at least the cohorting isn't binding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good news that charters are being proactive about advocating to change the guidelines.

It’s needed and long overdue now that the vaccines are out and everyone will have access to it soon.

Maybe for next school year, if that's what you mean by soon

hey, if the charters open full-time next year and DCPS doesn't, I will laugh my ass off.

Don't worry -- it will never happen! Do you see how slow most charters are moving (looking at you TR, Stokes, ITS). I wonder if they will be FT this fall. Sigh.

Let’s say that OSSE lifts restrictions, shifting from 6 ft to 3 ft (or along those lines). Will these charters pivot to be able open 100% in fall? I’m embittered and doubtful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good news that charters are being proactive about advocating to change the guidelines.

It’s needed and long overdue now that the vaccines are out and everyone will have access to it soon.

Maybe for next school year, if that's what you mean by soon

hey, if the charters open full-time next year and DCPS doesn't, I will laugh my ass off.

Don't worry -- it will never happen! Do you see how slow most charters are moving (looking at you TR, Stokes, ITS). I wonder if they will be FT this fall. Sigh.

Let’s say that OSSE lifts restrictions, shifting from 6 ft to 3 ft (or along those lines). Will these charters pivot to be able open 100% in fall? I’m embittered and doubtful.

It requires more than just the move from 6 ft to 3 ft, but supposing everything listed in the DC Charter Alliance's statement was allowed....

For my charter, we've been told that we can't do more than hybrid because of the OSSE restrictions. Since our admin stated that, and if the OSSE restrictions were relaxed, then I would hope that would mean we can move to full IPL in the Fall, at least. I think we'll need a DL option for another year or so (given individual medical issues, fears, etc.).

[Anonymous]

To add: I, too, am embittered and doubtful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's notable that WTU isn't pushing for these types of updated public health guidances, if they advocate for children.

WTU does not advocate for children they advocate for teachers. That's been obvious over the past year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To add: I, too, am embittered and doubtful.

Thanks for clarification re: restrictions. I was oversimplifying the restrictions.
At least you have hybrid! But I feel you.

[Anonymous]

The Post looks at this:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/03/11/schools-reopening-six-feet-distance/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's notable that WTU isn't pushing for these types of updated public health guidances, if they advocate for children.

Its a teachers union - they advocate for labor issues.

But please blame the WTU for charter issues. The point of charters is so you are away from WTU.

BTW WTU's membership is 95% female, so attack women.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's notable that WTU isn't pushing for these types of updated public health guidances, if they advocate for children.

Its a teachers union - they advocate for labor issues.

But please blame the WTU for charter issues. The point of charters is so you are away from WTU.

BTW WTU's membership is 95% female, so attack women.

Yes, I, too, am a woman.

The "issue" isn't a charter issue. The issue is the OSSE guidelines. WTU could be pushing for altering these guidelines, like the Charter Alliance. You know, because keeping kids out of IPL has disproportionate impacts on Black and Latino/a and otherwise at-risk kids. If WTU wants us to believe they care about children and lessening the achievement gap, then they should push to have more IPL. It's perfectly fine if they are an entity that doesn't care about kids' educational outcomes; I get that's not their goal. But then we should stop pretending (as many on this board have) that the WTU speaks for what's best for kids. For example, there's another thread right now about a bill to allow WTU members to serve on the BOE. Right now they can't. It seems that if the WTU is OBVIOUSLY not looking out for kids, then they shouldn't serve on the BOE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good news that charters are being proactive about advocating to change the guidelines.

It’s needed and long overdue now that the vaccines are out and everyone will have access to it soon.

Maybe for next school year, if that's what you mean by soon

hey, if the charters open full-time next year and DCPS doesn't, I will laugh my ass off.

Don't worry -- it will never happen! Do you see how slow most charters are moving (looking at you TR, Stokes, ITS). I wonder if they will be FT this fall. Sigh.

Let’s say that OSSE lifts restrictions, shifting from 6 ft to 3 ft (or along those lines). Will these charters pivot to be able open 100% in fall? I’m embittered and doubtful.

I don't understand how school aren't open full time spring and summer and fall. When half the nation has school open. I don't know what we will do if our school isn't open our child has lost a year. Repeating a grade or truing for private or moving would be our only options.