Both PreK-12 and higher education institutions plan to reopen this fall with hybrid approaches. However, it’s important to note that schools and colleges have flexibility to adjust their plans depending on local conditions. If an outbreak occurs in the local community, institutions may be closed in order to contain the spread.

 

Friends,

Flexibility.

That is the word I keep encountering in the conversations surrounding the reopening of our schools, colleges, and universities. And flexibility is good. It allows for a more personalized response to students, families, and communities because each of our circumstances is different and many have varying needs.

One common element, however, remains the same: the health and emotional well-being of students remain among the top priorities of administrators and educators across the Commonwealth.

What does flexibility mean when it comes to our PreK-12 reopening plans?

It means that, as we move collectively toward reopening our institutions, decisions will be made within individual school districts (and maybe within individual schools) to craft plans and implement measures that address the safety needs of students, families, and staff.

By the Fall of this academic year, the state will likely be in Phase III of the reopening process, and schools will similarly be following the guidelines as they are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and the Virginia Department of Health. For PreK-12, these guidelines include the following measures for Fall:

  • Phase III will begin in-person instruction for all students, but classrooms must abide by social distancing standards. This includes six feet between desks and workstations, and will likely require staggered schedules.
  • Remote learning exceptions and teleworking are among the flexible options provided for students and staff who are at a higher risk of severe illness.
  • Face coverings, limited seating on school buses, and limitations on gatherings for school events will also likely be in pace.
  • Schools are required to submit plans to the Virginia Department of Education to outline the measures that best serve their communities.

For a more detailed look at the reopening plans, please refer to the Phase Guidance for Virginia Schools.

What does flexibility mean in the context of higher education?

Our colleges and universities must meet certain public health conditions in order to reopen their campuses, and they must submit comprehensive reopening plans to the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV), the agency that will review their plans for compliance. Our individual institutions of higher education have the ability to determine options that best serve the needs of their unique student populations and the communities in which they are located.

The plans will need to address the following considerations:

  • Repopulation of the campus
  • Monitoring health conditions to detect infection
  • Containment to prevent spread of the disease when detected
  • Shutdown considerations if necessitated by severe outbreak and/or public health guidance

As each institution develops its detailed plans, we know that each college community is working hard to evaluate options that serve their missions and to maintain the integrity of the academic process.

Our Common Challenges

This crisis has highlighted educational disparities that have long existed. We need to direct our energies towards addressing those disparities in education, housing and food insecurity, access to technology, and healthcare resources. These efforts will require engaged conversations with many organizations, advocates, and state agencies.

My staff and I have already begun this conversation, and next week, we will share some of the legislative efforts that we are currently working on, in preparation for both the upcoming Special Session and the 2021 General Assembly.

Last, but not least, I appreciate all of the hard work and sacrifices made by Virginia’s college faculty, school teachers, administrators, and families as they have tried to maintain educational stability for our students. We will get through this period of challenges, and we know that our students are resilient.

-- Ghazala


 

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Friends of Ghazala Hashmi
PO Box 72923
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Senator Ghazala Hashmi was elected to represent Virginia Senate District 10 in 2019. She has led efforts in the General Assembly to support education, protect healthcare and the environment, and prevent gun violence. Senator Hashmi is committed to ensuring Virginia's government works for everyone.

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