TRENTON, N.J. (1010 WINS) -- New Jersey will be allowed to choose all-remote learning for their children in the fall, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday.
Later this week, the Department of Education will be releasing guidance to allow parents to choose all-remote learning for their children for the next academic year, according to Murphy.
"We want to do it responsibly, we want to respect public health, but we also want to do everything we can to recapture that magic of some semblance of in-person education that no state does like New Jersey," he said.
Overall class sizes should be limited in order to reach the standards of social distancing, Murphy said.
The state will provide the flexibility to rearrange schedules to allow for grouping of students, or by implementing hybrid learning environments in larger districts but must prepare to switch to remote learning "at any time," Murphy said.
He also noted that there is no "one-size-fits-all approach" when it comes to school reopenings due to the differences among schools and education communities, including geographic, demographic, and economic factors.
Additionally, Gov. Murphy announced he will be signing an executive order to allow contact drills and practices, and competitions, to resume for high-risk sports. "Practices must be held at outdoor venues only," he said.
Murphy on Monday reported that 177 new patients tested positive for coronavirus.
There were an additional nine coronavirus related deaths, bringing the statewide total to 13,741, he said.
