PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Biden administration is considering using a CDC color-coded model to reopen schools based on COVID-19 community spread data.
According to a draft obtained by CBS News, schools would be categorized by the rate of community spread where the school is located. Then, they would be recommended for in-person, hybrid, reduced-admission or all-virtual learning.
The four color-coded zones are based on several factors. Schools in the blue and yellow zones have the lowest risk and would be all in-person, with as much social distancing as possible.
Orange would be in places seeing substantial transmission rates, and schools should only be open for hybrid learning or classrooms with reduced attendance.
Red is broken down into two categories: schools with robust COVID-19 testing and schools without. If a district is unable to test students and staff regularly, hybrid or reduced attendance is recommended for elementary schools, while all-virtual is recommended for middle and high schools. Schools that are testing frequently can use a hybrid model for all grade levels.
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The guidance does not specify the levels of community transmission for the color system. Officials told CBS those discussions are ongoing and could change.
If schools are using mitigation steps, like mandatory mask-wearing, access to vaccines would not be a condition for reopening.
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