By Sandi Rosenbaum, Special Education / Special Needs Advocate
As schools reopen in the coming weeks, all have worries about the COVID-19 virus and its highly transmissible Delta variant. School administrators continue to plan for the safety of students and school personnel and develop new policies and protocols amid continuing concerns about the COVID-19 virus and its highly transmissible Delta variant. The New York State Education Department (NYSED) has just released updated guidance for schools – public, charter, and private – incorporating guidance from:
NYSED’s guidance has evolved since the last update, a full year ago, when vaccines were not yet available. Yet, the guidance includes limited specifics. For instance, it suggests schools should “consult with local health officials and monitor community transmission, vaccination coverage, screening testing, and occurrence of outbreaks to guide decisions on the level of layered prevention strategies,” which strategies predictably include encouraging vaccination, consistent and correct use of masks, physical distancing, improved ventilation, proper handwashing and respiratory etiquette, and more.
