EDUCATION D.C. Parents Seek Clarity about Testing, Safety Protocols as Omicron Infections Multiply Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer Opinions about the post-winter break return to in-person learning vary among District parents. While many have grown anxious about their child contracting COVID-19 on school grounds, others say their priority remains the emotional well-being of their children who yearn for interaction with their peers. Earlier this week, one mother counted among parents who learned that DC International
School in Northwest had temporarily implemented virtual learning after 10 percent of teachers at the public charter school tested positive for COVID-19. Such an announcement, said the mother who requested anonymity, evoked similar news parents received at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 which led to an 18-month virtual learning experience. It also raised the question of whether students will ever get to enjoy some kind of academic continuity. “Before Omicron, I thought
that we were seeing a light at the end of the tunnel [with] students going to school and super low COVID numbers, but given the new state of affairs, I’m not so sure,” she said. “I thought we could eliminate
Back-to-School Protocols Across the U.S. Compiled by Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY & BALTIMORE COUNTY, MARYLAND
Students in Prince George’s County continued virtual learning this week and will do so, at least until January 14. The only exception involves special education students in nonpublic programs who receive transportation services. In Baltimore County, students resumed in-person learning on Jan. 3 as officials attempted to make KN95 masks available. Meanwhile, athletic activities had been postponed until Jan. 10 to allow unvaccinated athletes time to receive weekly COVID-19 testing.
NEW YORK CITY
On Monday, Jan. 3, the nation’s largest school district resumed in-person learning with safety measures in place, including the doubling of weekly testing of vaccinated and unvaccinated students. In the event a
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student tests positive for COVID-19, schools won’t pivot entire classes to virtual learning. Instead, their peers will receive two take-home rapid antigen tests within a week of their exposure.
ATLANTA
Amid a surge in COVID cases, Atlanta Public Schools started the week with virtual learning. This announcement followed that made by officials in neighboring Clayton, DeKalb, Fulton and Rockdale counties in Georgia.
CHICAGO
Chicago Public Schools conducted in-person learning on Monday, Jan. 3 without a system-wide test-to-return policy. Only students required to test included the unvaccinated who traveled to “orange-status” states over the break or maintained close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Vaccinated students who’ve been in close contact can attend school if they’re not showing any symptoms. Officials encouraged students who traveled to “orange states” over the break to quarantine for a week, regardless of whether they’ve been vaccinated.
Vaccination status notwithstanding, students are required to test if they’re showing COVID-19 symptoms.
PHILADELPHIA
Public schools in Philadelphia resumed in-person learning on Tuesday, Jan 4 with COVID-19 mitigation strategies in place, including mandatory masking for students and staff, vaccine mandates for staff and student athletes, weekly COVID-19 testing for staff, frequent handwashing and installment of classroom air purifiers. As an extra layer of protection, students and staff could be sent home for the day if they don’t comply with the city’s mask and PPE protocols.
MIAMI
Students enrolled in Miami-Dade County Public Schools returned to in-person learning on Monday, Jan. 3 with COVID-19 protocols in place, including mandatory masking for employees, volunteers, visitors, vendors and contractors inside any school building. Students, however, were not mandated to wear masks, only encouraged. WI
COVID but we might have to learn how to manage,” she added. “I try to do what health experts suggest like social distancing, masking and vaccination. That’s sort of how I manage it.”
COVID-19 MITIGATION STRATEGIES UNDER SCRUTINY
After an early Monday morning snowstorm postponed test-to-return activities, students, parents and teachers headed to various venues on Tuesday and Wednesday to take part in a process to determine whether schools would conduct in-person learning. However, by Tuesday afternoon, DCPS officials scrambled to fix technological issues that prevented families from uploading COVID-19 results to an online platform. Last month, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) announced schools, on a case-by-case basis, would make the pivot to virtual learning if a significant number of teachers tested positive for COVID-19. Per the DC Public Charter School Board, many public charter schools have implemented test-toreturn policies while postponing in-person learning until next week. Since a pre-winter break COVID-19 surge sparked multiple school closures, the issue of how to ensure a safe return has dominated conversations among
local leaders, including D.C. Councilmember Robert White (D-At large). White, who criticized Bowser for not expanding hours of operation and number of public spaces for rapid antigen test pick-up, recently attempted to introduce emergency legislation that compelled DCPS to ramp up COVID-19 protocols. Provisions of the bill include a creation of specific metrics that determine whether schools temporarily cease in-person learning. the 24-hour release of data about positive on-campus COVID-19 cases and a quicker dispatch of COVID-19 coordinators to schools. An email exchange between White and D.C. Council Chairperson Phil Mendelson (D) later revealed Mendelson’s apprehension about debating the legislation during Tuesday’s legislative meeting. Flight cancellations prevented White from attending Tuesday’s legislative meeting. However, he continued to champion a bill he described as an extra layer of protection against a virus that shows no sign of slowing down. “We can’t afford to burn teachers out by asking them to do more and more,” White said. “The COVID coordinators are funded; it’s just a matter of making it happen. We’re two years into the pandemic. Any notion that we can continue the policies we had weeks ago is foolish.” “Omicron reminds us that the virus is outpacing us so we need to make the necessary changes or we’re going to be dealing with the pandemic for years to come,” he said.
PARENTS EAST OF THE RIVER HAVE THEIR SAY
Meanwhile, a contingent of DC Public Schools [DCPS] teachers and parents continue to press for a systemwide transition to virtual learning. Even so, Bowser, following her counterparts in other major cities, has affirmed her commitment to keeping children in school, even in the midst of discussions among teachers about a peaceful protest. At least one parent expressed
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