Showing posts with label DESE. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DESE. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

"Riley’s directive on middle schools drew sharp criticism"

 

"In another sign of a return to normalcy in Massachusetts public schools, thousands of middle school students will be back in class for full-time learning at the end of next month, the state’s top education official announced Tuesday.

Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley’s decision to return students in grades 6 to 8 on April 28 comes just days after the state Board of Education empowered him to determine when remote or hybrid-learning will no longer count toward student learning hours in public school districts.

Elementary school students are due to return to school on April 5. A date for high schools to offer in-person learning will be determined soon, the state said Tuesday."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
 
 
The memo from DESE's Riley via MASC
 
My 'local' copy can be found here
 
 

Saturday, March 6, 2021

"authority to force districts to reopen their schools full-time"

 
"BREAKING: Massachusetts education officials plan to postpone this spring's MCAS testing in an effort to ensure a smooth reopening of schools."
https://t.co/MrgYlWjeeI
"Massachusetts education officials announced on Friday they will postpone this spring’s MCAS testing in an effort to ensure a smooth reopening of schools, a move that was criticized by some teachers unions but lauded by other education advocates.

The decision came hours before the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted to give Commissioner Jeffrey Riley the authority to force districts to reopen their schools full-time.

The return of students to five days a week of in-person learning will begin with students in pre-kindergarten through grade 5 on April 5 — the same date that MCAS testing was previously scheduled to begin."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)


And CommonWealth Magazine coverage on this topic - Read the article online  https://commonwealthmagazine.org/education/ed-board-gives-riley-power-to-force-school-reopenings/

Wednesday, March 3, 2021

M.A.S.S. (@massupt): DESE updates guidance on singing indoors

M.A.S.S. (@massupt) tweeted on Tue, Mar 02, 2021:
"DESE has received approval for schools to allow singing indoors if in-person school is occurring. Singers must wear a mask & be at least 10 feet away from each other plus more.... The updated guidance is here: "




M.A.S.S. (@massupt): DESE updates guidance on singing indoors
M.A.S.S. (@massupt): DESE updates guidance on singing indoors


Thursday, February 25, 2021

CommonWealth Magazine: "Distancing debate key to school reopenings"

 

"WITH TUESDAY’S ANNOUNCEMENT by state officials that they want to see all elementary grade students back in classrooms five days a week by April, now comes the hard part of the details of how to do it.

Looming large in the challenge of getting students back into classrooms is a term that’s become part of the daily lexicon of pandemic policy debates: social distancing. Call it the elephant in the classroom.

Most public health recommendations have urged people to maintain at least six feet of separation from those not in their household. The federal Centers for Disease Control says six feet should also apply in school settings. But the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, in guidelines for the school year released last June, said three feet is adequate.

The state guidelines encourage districts to “aim for six feet of distance between individuals where feasible,” but say maintaining a distance of three feet, in combination with other mitigation efforts, “is informed by evidence and balances the lower risk of COVID-19 transmission and the overarching benefits of in-person school.” The state guidelines note that this approach aligns with recommendations of the World Health Organization, which says one meter (three feet, three inches) of social distancing is adequate to reduce risk of transmitting coronavirus. "

Continue reading the article online
 
Note: Actually while the social distancing is a key component of the debate, the other more important point is ignored by this article: prioritizing teachers for vaccines. Get them vaccinated, and the discussion will change significantly. There should still be some choice for individual families within districts to choose to be remote. 
 

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

"Riley’s announcement got a mixed reception"

 

"TAKING DIRECT AIM at Massachusetts school districts and teachers unions that have been reluctant to return to in-person instruction, state education commissioner Jeff Riley said he wants to use state education regulations to push districts to bring students back to the classroom.

Riley said Tuesday that he wants to see elementary grade students back in school five days a week in April, with older grades possibly to follow after that.

Adopting a much more aggressive posture than state officials have taken in a debate that has divided the education community, Riley said he’ll seek authorization to deem remote instruction not eligible to be counted toward state-required “structured learning time” hours. The proposal, unveiled Tuesday morning to the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, would give Riley leverage in pushing districts back into in-person classes, something he, Education Secretary Jim Peyser, and Gov. Charlie Baker have been urging more schools to do for months. "

Continue reading the article online
 
Gov Baker's Press Conference video = https://youtu.be/r1_cncW2Tqo

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

"the crucial part of this is we have to have the data for diagnostic purposes"

 From CommonWealth Magazine:

"THIS YEAR’S MCAS exams will be conducted this spring but will feature “significantly” reduced testing time for third through eighth graders and no schools will be newly named underperforming in the upcoming school year, Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeff Riley told superintendents in a memo Tuesday.

“The sudden shift to remote learning last spring, and the continuation of hybrid/remote learning this school year has likely led to significant learning loss for students around the country. The extent of the learning loss in the Commonwealth is not yet known,” Riley wrote. “The Department continues to believe the MCAS test is a crucial diagnostic tool to promote student success and educational equity and we remain committed to administering the assessment this spring, while recognizing the need for adjustments and flexibility.”

Continue reading the article online


Friday, January 1, 2021

DESE Survey on Student Learning Time during pandemic

For the data geeks among us, this Tableau allows for some interaction to view the data from the survey from 303 school districts in MA.
.@MASchoolsK12 has released the results of their Nov. 2-9 survey of #MAEdu district learning time. https://t.co/ulYQb43W7f
a screen grab of one page with Franklin highlighted:

a screen grab of one page with Franklin highlighted
a screen grab of one page with Franklin highlighted


Wednesday, December 9, 2020

DESE publishes "Local Contribution Study"

Shared by the MASC (@MASC-SchoolCommittee) and Tracey Novick (@TracyNovick), this Local Contribution Study was mandated by the Student Opportunity Act and after public review is now "published".

Download your copy directly from DESE  https://t.co/oK8PNcZYYG?amp=1

DESE publishes "Local Contribution Study"
DESE publishes "Local Contribution Study"


Monday, November 23, 2020

Inside the "district comprehensive review"

Ok, so my last name is Sherlock, and with a title like "The dog that didn't bark in Brockton", I'll admit that the article caught my eye. 
 
That it was also about the DESE district review process got to me read it. 
 
That it steps through a serious argument that highlights the dysfunction among the various agencies of MA government  responsible for "education", makes this a worthy read.

"So it was that I was interested to read an article that the Brockton Public Schools District Review Report was out (three weeks ago: I am behind!) from the Department's pre-pandemic visit in early March. 
Brockton, of course, is the fourth largest school district in Massachusetts and home of the plaintiffs of both the McDuffy and the Hancock legal decisions. When it comes to gaps in school funding, thus, Brockton is a kind of ground zero. Brockton also was the nationally lauded district for closing the achievement gap without becoming a "drill and kill" sort of school system. What happens when those two things are true of the same system, decades or so on?"

Continue reading Tracy's article online
 
Franklin is not listed as having a recent DESE review published (Franklin County is but we all know that is not us).   https://www.doe.mass.edu/accountability/district-review/
 
I do have in the archives a "Coordinated Program Review" being announced in Oct 2015. https://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/10/department-of-education-review-to-be.html
 
I also have in the archives note of a DESE visit in Dec 2009 for a 'fiscal review' https://www.franklinmatters.org/2010/05/fm-68-week-ending-51610.html  and here  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2010/01/fm-54-week-ending-11710.html
 

From the 2018 "Tale of Four Cities" presentation You are reading correctly that it is a 414 teacher gap.
From the 2018 "Tale of Four Cities" presentation
You are reading correctly that it is a 414 teacher gap.


Monday, November 9, 2020

Read the sources cited and make your decision

Tracy Novick spent time with the sources cited by Gov Baker and DESE in their encouragement for students to be in schools. While I also agree educationally, kids do belong in the school learning environment, under the pandemic circumstances, only when it is healthy to do so. 

Here are the sources cited with Tracy's summary so you can read along and decide for yourself.

"On Friday, after the latest round of the Governor/Secretary/Commissioner's pounding their fists on tables (metaphorically) about getting students back into buildings, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education issued updated guidance. As the Governor and Commissioner continue to cite what is known from other countries, I was interested to see what they cited as their sources in urging all students, even those in communities where the virus is surging, to go back into buildings for school.

The Department has four footnotes on their recommendations:

Obviously, I am not a doctor, but I am able to read research and review conclusions, and so I did to the pieces here cited, as the argument here is that these are indicating that students even as the virus surges, should be going back into buildings.

The short answer is that none of these pieces say that."

Continue reading Tracy's article online
 
Read the sources cited and make your decision
Read the sources cited and make your decision

 

Saturday, October 10, 2020

Franklin Public Schools: Re-opening Update for Families - Oct 9, 2020

October 9, 2020

Dear Franklin Families,

Transition to Hybrid

The average daily cases of COVID-19 in Franklin have remained below 4 per 100,000 for the past three weeks and the percent positivity rate has been below 1%. Current numbers are 3.2 cases per 100,000 and a percent positivity rate of 0.96%. When taken into consideration with Norfolk County and Massachusetts data over the past several weeks, these current health metrics support us continuing forward with a transition to hybrid as follows:

10/19/2020 -- Grades 2, 3, 6
10/26/2020 -- Grades 4, 5, 7, 8 and High Needs at FHS  
11/2/2020 -- FHS

More details about the cohort assignments, schedule, and what to expect upon arrival will be shared from the schools.

Our teachers have been actively preparing to welcome students into our buildings. It will be important at this time to establish new routines, which is always important at the start of the school year, but it is even more important with the latest health and safety practices. As a result, remote instruction for those students whose cohort is not in the building will necessarily begin looking differently as we move into a hybrid environment.

At the elementary level: all students will participate in a synchronous live morning meeting and closing circle. Throughout the day, educators will engage with remote students multiple times throughout the day, and remote students will be provided with assignments and asynchronous learning opportunities as well. Compared to instruction experienced thus far, there will necessarily be less synchronous learning time as our teachers attend to in-person instruction as well as in-person health and safety practices.

We have received a few inquiries about transitioning from having chosen hybrid to Virtual Learning Academy (VLA) or from VLA to hybrid. A separate document explaining the process will be included in versions of this mailing to elementary families. Please know that there is little flexibility and shifts between the two require significant planning about staff and physical space.

At the middle and high school levels:
all students will participate in a lesson launch with their teacher. Educators will employ different strategies to engage students, both in person and remote learners, which may be synchronous or asynchronous. In the early weeks, our teachers will be working hard to establish new building routines, especially the new health and safety practices and there may be additional asynchronous instruction happening for those who are remote.

At all levels and both in person and remote, we ask for your understanding and patience as we begin a very novel way of teaching and learning. Everyone is working very hard and learning new strategies. We also wish to emphasize the need for adaptability. We know that we are in a changing environment and health data could result in partial or full closures, as we have seen in other districts. Flexibility will be important and we ask families to be sure to have a back up plan.

We also know that there may be nervousness about transitioning to the hybrid model. We will emphasize our health and safety practices with students (physical distancing, hand washing, and mask-wearing).

Travel to a Non-Lower Risk State
Students who are returning to Massachusetts from a non-lower risk state will have to quarantine for 14 days or receive a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to their return to school. Students will continue to receive instruction at home.

DESE Letter to Families of Students with Disabilities
The Department of Elementary and Secondary education recently released this letter for families of students with disabilities, which we are sharing with you:
 http://www.doe.mass.edu/covid19/sped/back-to-school-letter/ 

Food Services Update 
The food pick up at the Parmenter Elementary School is being closed due to a lower level of participation. Pick up of breakfast and lunch will now all be done at the rear of Franklin High School, by the cafeteria’s entrance from 3:00 -- 4:00 PM. All meals are free until December 31, 2020


No School Reminder - No School on Monday, October 12, 2020

Have a wonderful weekend, Franklin Public Schools


Please e-mail reopening@franklinps.net with questions. https://sites.google.com/franklinps.net/returntoschoolplan/home


 

Friday, September 25, 2020

The pressure from Gov Baker and DESE's Riley - getting pushback

From CommonWealth Magazine we share an article of interest for Franklin:

"GOV. CHARLIE BAKER on Thursday continued to push schools to bring students back in person while denying allegations by the state’s largest teachers union that his administration is “bullying” local districts.

“If you are a low-risk district, and you’ve been a low-risk district for eight weeks, and you have no plan to return to in-person learning when most people in education and public health and the pediatric communities all believe that in-person learning, especially for young kids, is a critical part of their educational and social development, we want to know what your plan is to get back,” Baker said. “I don’t think that’s bullying. I think it’s a perfectly appropriate question to ask on behalf of people in those communities and particularly the kids.”

In August, Baker released a color-coded map indicating levels of COVID-19 transmission in each community, and he has been pushing communities with low levels of transmission to open their schools. But teachers’ unions have pushed back, saying many schools are not prepared to safely reopen."

Continue reading the article online
 
** Meanwhile one of the organizations Gov Baker claims to have participated in crafting the schools' guidance is saying they did not and have been trying to reach him but without success.
 
 
Steph Solis at #IRE20 (@stephmsolis) tweeted at 0:53 PM on Thu, Sep 24, 2020:
Carlene Pavlos of @MAPublicHealth says they didn't endorse or weigh in on in-person learning, despite @MassGovernor's comments: "Since March we have repeatedly asked to meet with Governor Baker or a staff member from the Governor's office, but we have received no reply." 


https://t.co/z6mPKXnMcZ
(https://twitter.com/stephmsolis/status/1309174108047978498?s=03)

** Also from the Amesbury Mayor comes the notification back to DESE's Riley outlining their response to his most recent request.

 

Image from Commonwealth Magazine
Image from Commonwealth Magazine

In the news: Gov Baker "balks" or"rebukes" President Trump

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:  "Baker balks at Trump comments on power transfer"

"Gov. Charlie Baker said Thursday that he and other public officials “will do everything we can to make sure that the people’s will is followed through” after this fall’s election.

“A huge part of this nation’s glory, to the extent it exists as a beacon to others, is the peaceful transfer of power based on the vote of the people of this country,” Baker said. “Mail-in balloting has been with us forever, and that peaceful transfer of power is what the people of this country rely on when they go to vote. It is appalling and outrageous that anyone would suggest, even for a minute, that if they lose an election, they’re not going to leave. Period.”

The governor’s impassioned comments came in response to a question about President Donald Trump’s refusal on Wednesday to commit to a peaceful transition of power if he loses the Nov. 3 election."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) 

From CommonWealth Magazine we share an article of interest for Franklin: "Baker rebukes Trump power transfer remarks"

GOV. CHARLIE BAKER rebuked President Trump on Thursday for refusing to say whether he would commit to a peaceful transfer of power in the wake of the November 3 election.

In response to a question at a State House press conference, Baker criticized Trump without ever mentioning his name. The Republican governor said the peaceful transfer of power is what Americans rely on when they vote. “It is appalling and outrageous that anyone would suggest for a minute that if they lose an election they’re not gonna’ leave,” he said.

Continue reading the article online


Gov Baker press conference on Thursday, Sep 24: https://youtu.be/ORsupgAJTZ4 
The last question Gov Baker gets is where he makes his remarks to "rebuff" or "rebuke" President Trump. You can listen and make your choice. Much of the conference covers the return to school re-opening process where Gov Baker and DESE's Riley are accused of pressuring districts to return in person.
 

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

"We have to look at not just where our students live, but the impact that the surrounding communities have on us”"

From CommonWealth Magazine we share an article of interest for Franklin:  

"MASSACHUSETTS EDUCATION COMMISSIONER Jeff Riley is escalating his push to convince school districts to bring students back in person, asking 16 districts for more information about their plans – and threatening them with a potential audit of their efforts to provide in-person education.

Riley wrote to 16 districts that have consistently ranked green or gray on the state’s color-coded map, which indicate low rates of COVID–19, that chose to start school remotely.

“Given your community’s designation of green or gray, I am concerned that the school committee has voted to keep most students learning remotely for the start of the 2020-21 school year,” Riley wrote, pointing to state guidance that recommends these districts bring students back in person.

“In light of the stark discrepancy between local public health data and your reopening plan, I am requesting a timeline by which you anticipate providing in-person instruction for the majority of your students including in-person instruction for vulnerable populations,” Riley continued. He wrote that their responses “may trigger an audit to assess overall efforts to provide in-person instruction” and to ensure their remote learning program is consistent with state guidelines."

Continue reading the article online
 
The Franklin Public Schools Reopening website can be found
 

Tuesday, September 1, 2020

Sunday, August 23, 2020

Hockomock Area YMCA Offers Remote Learning Support Programs and Before & After School Care

Our Hockomock Area YMCA knows this academic year will challenge families and present a unique need in our communities, as families will be balancing their children's remote learning needs with their own work schedules and commitments. We have been preparing to adapt our Y's Before & After School Care program to include both full-day remote learning support as needed, along with traditional before and after school care.  These enhanced programs will be comprehensive, supporting your child's virtual learning needs, while providing enrichment, socialization and physical activity each day. 
 
At all three of our YMCA full facility branches in Foxboro, Franklin and North Attleboro, we plan to provide onsite full-day remote learning and enrichment programming Monday through Friday as space allows. We are also identifying additional buildings in communities we serve where we may be able to expand our offering and allow more families to register.

Here is where we are in this process and the next steps we must take.
  • All organizations who plan to offer any childcare or school age support program during the school year must be licensed by the state's Department of Early Education and Care (DEEC) in order to operate legally and within the standards that provide quality care and keep children safe.
  • All Hockomock Area YMCA childcare and before and after school care programs are licensed by DEEC and we follow their guidelines strictly.
  • While local school districts have submitted their final plans to the state's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for approval, and have communicated these plans to families within their community, the DEEC that we depend upon for licensing has not yet issued their revised COVID-19 standards or guidelines. These two state departments coordinate efforts to make sure guidelines are consistent.
  • Until these guidelines are released, no program can operate, and we cannot finalize key elements, including staff to child ratios, the number of children allowed per classroom, and revised cleaning protocols.
According to the DEEC, the state should be providing us with the necessary guidelines by the end of this week or early next week. It has been shared with us that organizations like our Y who already have a license will be first in line to expand their care and be approved for the full day remote learning support program.
 
We will be moving forward in the next few days on anticipated program guidelines and making registration for families available, with the understanding that the entire program is pending on state approval.

If you would like to receive future updates and registration information once it’s available, please complete our online contact form by CLICKING HERE (https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=PpzOnpumbUWH4PxDDFqr5r-uLr_JgcNOrd_wDdoe02lUNjVMSzM3WDdDMzhBVDk2QkVJUThPTDJQSSQlQCN0PWcu).

Hockomock Area YMCA
Bernon Family Branch
45 Forge Hill Road, Franklin, MA 02038
Phone: 508-528-8708
http://www.hockymca.org/franklin

Hockomock Area YMCA Offers Remote Learning Support Programs and Before & After School Care
Hockomock Area YMCA 

Friday, August 21, 2020

Hockomock League statement regarding the upcoming Fall 2020 season

Below is the official statement from the Hockomock League regarding the upcoming Fall 2020 season.

August 20, 2020

We have all patiently, yet eagerly, awaited the Massachusetts DESE guidelines pertaining to Interscholastic Athletics for the 2020-21 school year. Late Tuesday we received those guidelines and the MIAA Board of Directors have voted to approve those guidelines. Very importantly, there is still a lot of work to be accomplished before a Fall 2020 sports season is permitted. The earliest date to begin any practices is Friday, September 18.

Each school district was tasked over the last several weeks to develop a detailed DESE-approved plan for the return-to-learning this school year. Rightly so, each district’s School Committee and Superintendent’s office is now focused on implementing that approved learning plan. Some districts have opted for a full-remote start while others have approved a hybrid model. Both come with their own obstacles that each district is aiming to overcome. Both plans will impact how Fall sports may look for that district.

We do know under these DESE-approved guidelines that the high-risk sports, Football and Competitive Cheer, have moved to a “Fall II” season with a start date of February 22, 2021. The low-risk sports, Cross Country and Golf and the moderate-risk sports, Field Hockey, Soccer, and Girls’ volleyball must undergo modifications, some significantly changing the look of the game, to adhere to the EEA/DESE guidelines. Those MIAA-sport committees are working on that goal now. Girls’ volleyball, as an indoor sport, has some very significant hurdles for high school programs to overcome.

Please be patient as our twelve districts individually tackle the DESE parameters and logistics of implementing their return-to-learning models. We hope to know more in the coming week or two what a Fall Sports season will look like. Each district’s School Committee is charged with approving the specific sports programs that will be offered at each of our schools. Once those details are gathered by our League ADs and Principals, schedules can be drawn up and approved for publication.

Please know we all want to see as many student-athletes return to the competitive playing field this Fall. The health and safety of our students is paramount in any and all of these decisions which are forthcoming.

Sincerely,
The Hockomock League ADs

  • Mark Houle, Attleboro
  • Danny Erickson, Canton
  • Joe Cusack, Foxboro
  • Tom Angelo, Franklin
  • Gary Brown, King Philip
  • Mike Redding, Mansfield
  • Peter Boucher, Milford
  • Kurt Kummer, North Attleboro
  • Bill Matthews, Oliver Ames
  • Nick Schlierf, Sharon
  • Ryan Donahue, Stoughton
  • Mark Ottavianelli, Taunton



HockomockSports (@HockomockSports) tweeted at 9:25 PM on Thu, Aug 20, 2020:
Hockomock League Makes Statement On Fall Sports - https://t.co/QIFEg2p0hz #hockomock

https://twitter.com/HockomockSports/status/1296619352733683718?s=03



Hockomock League statement  regarding the upcoming Fall 2020 season
Hockomock League statement  regarding the upcoming Fall 2020 season

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

MIAA to meet Wednesday on sports

Matt Feld (@mattyfeld612) tweeted at 6:33 PM on Tue, Aug 18, 2020:
"The full DESE statement:
The MIAA and DESE have collaborated to provide the following modified sports schedule for year 2020-21 and guidance for sports participation for students who are learning remotely. Please note this is pending ratification by the MIAA Board..." https://t.co/4TzYR4o1TZ

Shared via Twitter = https://twitter.com/mattyfeld612/status/1295851315604717569?s=03

Other news reports based upon Matt Feld's info



MIAA to meet Wednesday on sports
MIAA to meet Wednesday on sports

Saturday, August 15, 2020

MIAA waiting on DESE after receiving guidance from EEA

 Matt Feld (@mattyfeld612) tweeted at 11:05 AM on Thu, Aug 13, 2020:

"The MIAA releases a statement noting how the Board of Directors won't meet until the accompanying DESE guidance is released. DESE is expected to release that guidance no later than Monday, meaning the Board will likely meet by next Thursday (8/20)."
(https://twitter.com/mattyfeld612/status/1293926720102379520?s=03)

MASC-SchoolCommittee (@MASCSchoolComm) tweeted at 0:45 PM on Thu, Aug 13, 2020:
"For the avoidance of doubt, this guidance applies to K-12 school and other youth sports activities." #MAEdu
(https://twitter.com/MASCSchoolComm/status/1293951865193926656?s=03)

Matt Feld (@mattyfeld612) tweeted at 5:02 PM on Fri, Aug 14, 2020:
Certainly appears that DESE will not be releasing it's K-12 athletics guidance today, leaving Monday as the likely day of its release. No Friday afternoon news dump is probably overall a good sign. Enjoy the weekend ✌️
(https://twitter.com/mattyfeld612/status/1294378851884310531?s=03)


The guidance doc released by Massachusetts Executive Office Of Energy And Environmental Affairs  https://www.mass.gov/doc/safety-standards-for-youth-and-adult-amateur-sports-activities-phase-iii-step-1/download



MIAA waiting on DESE after receiving guidance from EEA
MIAA waiting on DESE after receiving guidance from EEA

Friday, August 14, 2020

In the News: "Commonwealth’s embarrassing lack of leadership on school reopening"

 From CommonWealth Magazine we share an article of interest for Franklin:

"A WEEK AFTER school committees began making decisions for reopening schools, a day after the plans were originally due to the state, Gov. Charlie Baker released a map to help guide their decision-making. It’s the latest move in what has turned out to be the Commonwealth’s embarrassing lack of leadership on school reopening.

Baker and Education Commissioner Jeff Riley realized last week they might have a problem as school districts began deciding on reopening school. At a Zoom meeting with the Boston Chamber of Commerce, Shira Schoenberg reported that “Riley is strongly urging local schools to open in person this fall, pushing back against state teachers’ unions who are calling for the school year to begin remotely.”

A few days later, Baker, also responding to the teachers unions, remarked, “There are many communities in the state that are in very good shape when it comes to their COVID rates, and there are a bunch that have work to do. I think to wipe away the idea, to say that everyone should go remote, first of all, the facts don’t support it, the data doesn’t support it, and the science doesn’t support it, and I’ll leave it at that.”

Baker shouldn’t have left it at that. In fact, he should have started with it."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)  https://commonwealthmagazine.org/education/lack-of-leadership-on-school-reopenings/?

Franklin will go in person in a hybrid model,  after a remote learning and planful start. With school opening Sep 16, and the ECDC and high needs students starting in person, I don't see how the MDN can say it is 'fully remote to start'.

"School officials on Tuesday continued to hammer out plans for a return to learning, ending a four-hour discussion by voting to support a fully remote start to the 2020-21 school year.

The School Committee also voted to adopt a modified school calendar that has teachers starting Aug. 31 and students starting Sept. 16, giving teachers 10 days for professional development, training and preparation. The last day of school will be June 21.

While wrinkles in the plan — which needs to be submitted to the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education by Friday — continue to be ironed out, the school board ultimately voted in support of a basic outline that calls for easing into a hybrid learning model over the course of three months. The vote was 6-0, with one abstention.

“This is a living document. We are continuing to monitor the data as it comes in, getting feedback from staff and going forward on that point,” said board Chairwoman Anne Bergen."


https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200813/franklin-school-board-supports-remote-start-phased-move-to-hybrid-learning?rssfeed=true

The audio for the 4 hour School Committee meeting is here. The video will be available in a few days  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/08/fm-328-franklin-ma-school-comm-mtg.html

In the News: "Commonwealth’s embarrassing lack of leadership on school reopening"
In the News: "Commonwealth’s embarrassing lack of leadership on school reopening"