US Schools Plan for Remote Learning into the Fall
2021-02-17
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1School leaders around the United States are planning for the possibility of more distance learning in the next school year.
2William "Chip" Sudderth III is a spokesperson for Durham, North Carolina schools.
3School buildings there have been closed since last March.
4Sudderth said, "We have no illusions that COVID will be eradicated by the time the start of the school year comes up."
5U.S. President Joe Biden has said that reopening schools is a top goal for the country.
6School administrators say a reopening plan requires careful consideration.
7They note complications such as the spread of new versions of the COVID-19 virus and vaccination campaigns for teachers.
8Many parents are demanding that schools fully reopen.
9Others say they will not feel safe sending children back until vaccines are available to even young students.
10Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government's top public health expert, said last month the Biden administration hopes to begin vaccinating children by late spring or early summer.
11By then, school systems will be preparing for the next school year.
12Brian Woods is head of Northside Independent School District, a large school system in Texas.
13He said at least part of next year will be affected by the coronavirus because "children won't have access to the vaccine, or at least many won't."
14Educators there have been using a complex mix of in-person and online teaching.
15They often are teaching two groups of students at the same time.
16Woods said changes in the new year might ease that situation by splitting staffing or changing teacher work times.
17He added the district may change to all-online learning for students who have moved on permanently from traditional school.
18California's West Contra Costa Unified School District is planning a new K-12 Virtual Academy for 2021-22.
19A school system statement explained it this way: "One thing that we have learned during the pandemic is that teaching and learning is now different, and it will not fully be what we used to think was 'normal' ever again."
20The change to distance learning last March kept the public school system operational in America.
21But concern continues to grow about the effects of distance learning on racial fairness, performance, attendance and the overall well-being of U.S. school children.
22In Durham, North Carolina, officials announced last month that public schools there would continue the distance learning operation through the end of the current school year.
23Biden has ordered the U.S. Department of Education to provide "evidence-based guidance" and advice to schools to safely operate in-person learning.
24Eva Moskowitz is the head of Success Academy Charter Schools.
25The 47 schools have 20,000 students in New York City.
26She said, "I'm hoping that we don't have to do hybrid, but I don't want to be in a position where we haven't thought it all through."
27Success Academy students have been receiving online instruction on school-provided computers since the beginning of the school year.
28Moskowitz plans to end the current school year on May 28.
29The 2021-22 school year will then begin August 2, possibly using both in-person and online instruction.
30"I honestly don't know what the chances are" of continuing distance learning into the next school year, she said.
31New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has promised that schools in the nation's largest school district are "going to be back full-strength in September."
32"Everyone wants to be back," he added.
33Michael Mulgrew is the president of the United Federation of Teachers which works to protect the rights of teachers in New York City public schools.
34He says it is too soon to reopen schools.
35Schools currently are providing some in-person classes to elementary and pre-K students who want them.
36But middle and high schools are online-only after reopening for a time in the fall.
37"It's a goal of mine, but I can't say they're going to open," Mulgrew said.
38"This is not about what you want. This is about what you can do safely."
39Mulgrew said it will take more than teacher vaccines to open schools fully and safely.
40He noted that scientists are not yet clear on whether vaccinated people might still be able to spread the virus, even if they are not sickened themselves.
41And Mulgrew wonders how comfortable families will feel about having unvaccinated students begin the new year unvaccinated.
42"This is where it gets tough. So how do you say you're opening in September when we need to get these questions answered?" he asked.
43I'm Bryan Lynn. And I'm Jonathan Evans.
1School leaders around the United States are planning for the possibility of more distance learning in the next school year. 2William "Chip" Sudderth III is a spokesperson for Durham, North Carolina schools. School buildings there have been closed since last March. Sudderth said, "We have no illusions that COVID will be eradicated by the time the start of the school year comes up." 3U.S. President Joe Biden has said that reopening schools is a top goal for the country. School administrators say a reopening plan requires careful consideration. They note complications such as the spread of new versions of the COVID-19 virus and vaccination campaigns for teachers. 4Many parents are demanding that schools fully reopen. Others say they will not feel safe sending children back until vaccines are available to even young students. 5Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government's top public health expert, said last month the Biden administration hopes to begin vaccinating children by late spring or early summer. 6By then, school systems will be preparing for the next school year. 7Brian Woods is head of Northside Independent School District, a large school system in Texas. 8He said at least part of next year will be affected by the coronavirus because "children won't have access to the vaccine, or at least many won't." 9Educators there have been using a complex mix of in-person and online teaching. They often are teaching two groups of students at the same time. Woods said changes in the new year might ease that situation by splitting staffing or changing teacher work times. He added the district may change to all-online learning for students who have moved on permanently from traditional school. 10California's West Contra Costa Unified School District is planning a new K-12 Virtual Academy for 2021-22. 11A school system statement explained it this way: "One thing that we have learned during the pandemic is that teaching and learning is now different, and it will not fully be what we used to think was 'normal' ever again." 12The change to distance learning last March kept the public school system operational in America. But concern continues to grow about the effects of distance learning on racial fairness, performance, attendance and the overall well-being of U.S. school children. 13In Durham, North Carolina, officials announced last month that public schools there would continue the distance learning operation through the end of the current school year. 14Biden has ordered the U.S. Department of Education to provide "evidence-based guidance" and advice to schools to safely operate in-person learning. 15Eva Moskowitz is the head of Success Academy Charter Schools. The 47 schools have 20,000 students in New York City. She said, "I'm hoping that we don't have to do hybrid, but I don't want to be in a position where we haven't thought it all through." 16Success Academy students have been receiving online instruction on school-provided computers since the beginning of the school year. Moskowitz plans to end the current school year on May 28. The 2021-22 school year will then begin August 2, possibly using both in-person and online instruction. 17"I honestly don't know what the chances are" of continuing distance learning into the next school year, she said. 18New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has promised that schools in the nation's largest school district are "going to be back full-strength in September." 19"Everyone wants to be back," he added. 20Michael Mulgrew is the president of the United Federation of Teachers which works to protect the rights of teachers in New York City public schools. He says it is too soon to reopen schools. Schools currently are providing some in-person classes to elementary and pre-K students who want them. But middle and high schools are online-only after reopening for a time in the fall. 21"It's a goal of mine, but I can't say they're going to open," Mulgrew said. "This is not about what you want. This is about what you can do safely." 22Mulgrew said it will take more than teacher vaccines to open schools fully and safely. 23He noted that scientists are not yet clear on whether vaccinated people might still be able to spread the virus, even if they are not sickened themselves. And Mulgrew wonders how comfortable families will feel about having unvaccinated students begin the new year unvaccinated. 24"This is where it gets tough. So how do you say you're opening in September when we need to get these questions answered?" he asked. 25I'm Bryan Lynn. And I'm Jonathan Evans. 26Carolyn Thompson reported on this story for the Associated Press. Jonathan Evans adapted this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. 27________________________________________________________________ 28_______________________________________________________________ 29Words in This Story 30access - n. the right or ability to approach, enter, or use 31complication - n. something that makes something harder to understand, explain, or deal with 32eradicate - v. to remove something completely; to eliminate or destroy something harmful 33illusion - n. something that looks or seems different from what it is; something that is false or not real but that seems to be true or real 34hybrid - adj. something that is formed by combining two or more things 35tough - adj. very difficult to do or deal with