PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Pennsylvania Department of Education has updated its guidance for instructional models that schools should offer based on what COVID-19 cases look like in each county. State officials emphasize it’s just that — guidance — so most schools are sticking to their own plans.
Most counties in Pennsylvania are in the “substantial” category, including all the counties in the southeastern part of the state.
The “low” category recommends in-person learning, and “moderate” suggests a hybrid version. State guidance for counties in the substantial category suggested all-virtual, but that has changed to include hybrid as well.
However, Education Secretary Noe Ortega said they are recommendations, not requirements.
“These are decisions that are being left at the local level,” he explained. “I want to make sure that’s understood, and it’s been the philosophy of this department throughout the pandemic.”
Montgomery County Commissioner Val Arkoosh said the county and school districts have been working closely for months. Although some classrooms have had to go virtual, she said they have not had to ask a whole school to go virtual since early January.
“We have been able to, with the state’s understanding and permission, to not have to follow those (Pennsylvania Department of Education) guidelines as they have been presented because of the system we have in place to support our schools,” she added.
Arkoosh and Ortega both stress mask-wearing and other COVID-19 mitigation efforts remain essential to maintaining safe in-person learning environments.
Ortega said the Pennsylvania Education and Health departments plan to release school guidance in the coming weeks on how to handle end-of-year events like prom and graduation.