Finally, somewhat stepped up and confronted the powerful teacher’s unions – in Massachusetts, nonetheless! The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) finally drew the line on kids going back to school in April.
From Boston 25 News:
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education met and voted 8-3 on 3/5/21 to authorize Massachusetts Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley to put a timeline on ending remote and hybrid learning.
Finally a state has the kahunas to say enough is enough.
In response to the vote Friday evening, Massachusetts’s Governor Baker released a statement:
“Learning in the classroom is the best and safest place for students to be with proper safety protocols, and our administration is pleased that the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education took this step to get more kids back into the classroom. The data is clear that students learning in the classroom can be done safely and it is vital to their emotional and intellectual health. We are grateful for the Board’s support and look forward to getting all students back to in person learning soon.”
Back in the summer, the Massachusetts school districts were required to come up with three plans: remote, hybrid and in-person learning, so schools should already have a plan in place if to return to having students in the classroom. Finally, no more delaying as a plan to return students to the classroom should already be in place.
The details, still from Boston 25 News:
Districts must offer full-time, in-person learning five days a week for kindergarten through fifth grade by April 5, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Commissioner Jeff Riley announced Tuesday. The deadline to begin full, in-person learning for sixth through eighth grade is April 28.
The state has not yet set a date for a full return for high-schoolers, saying only that the timeline will be announced in April, with at least two weeks of notice.
The regulations released Tuesday, 3/10, are “legally binding,” DESE writes, adding that districts that do not comply and do not obtain a waiver from the state “will be required to make up any missed structured learning time.” That may include summer school or additional lessons next school year.
FINALLY ! No more stalling!
Only two questions:
- What took them so long to finally put on their big-boy pants?
- California are you listening?
(BTW: Parents may still choose to keep their children remote for the rest of the school year.)