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HARRISBURG (Newsradio 1020 KDKA) - Students in Pennsylvania will not return to classes this academic year, but they will be back in the fall right?
PennLive reports that PA Education Secretary Pedro Rivera said on Tuesday, “We are planning for the best but preparing for the worst.”
Rivera added that whether or not students return to class depends on what is best in the interest of the children’s health and safety.
“There’s a great deal of uncertainty,” he said.
Governor Tom Wolf ordered schools closed back on March 13 for two weeks, but after a couple extensions, Wolf decided to keep the schools closed indefinitely.
Schools could reopen in the fall but if there is an increase in cases in the during that time, education facilities could remain closed.
Schools can only reopen once they enter the green phase of Governor Wolf’s reopening plan.
When student are allowed to return to classrooms, it will be with masks and social distancing.
There are also other plans that could be implemented including only having some students in the building at a time, while others learn remotely or having sets of students learning in the morning and then brining in another set in the afternoon.
Another idea has some buildings closed with elementary and middle schools open.
Rivera added that online learning and instruction is here to stay.
While studies have shown children are at a lower risk of having complications from COVID-19, they can be asymptomatic and spread the disease to more vulnerable family members.
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