School reopening is the process of establishing policies, procedures and financing that enable safe schools to reopen for in-person learning. It encompasses a broad range of factors, including ensuring safety and security for students, teachers and families; recovering from learning losses; protecting the public; and supporting the right to education established in international treaties.
In the face of a global health crisis, it has been critical for school districts to maintain trust and communication in order to reopen schools safely and with a sense of urgency. Many have done so by implementing methodical reopening approaches that prioritize strong communication and transparency. Tulsa’s school district, for example, communicated with its community through standing teacher and student cabinets; direct messaging apps; a community forum; weekly reports to the school board; and a comprehensive survey of students, parents and staff that has received over 15,000 responses.
Schools in New York City have made impressive progress since March, when the city’s schools were closed. This has been a huge effort, led by Mayor de Blasio and the city schools commissioner as well as educators’ and parents’ groups. It has required the development of comprehensive reopening plans that provide extensive resources for viral testing and have included detailed policies around hybrid scheduling and thresholds for building-wide closures.
New York State is now allowing schools to reopen for in-person education as long as coronavirus infection rates remain below the state’s thresholds and reopening policies are implemented. This is a significant step forward, but the reopening process remains complex and the state’s decision leaves much to be desired in terms of the flexibility it will offer for districts.