NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — New York City parents will soon have another opportunity to opt-in their children for in-person learning, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Friday.
The mayor says updated guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – which states that children can be sat within three feet of one another so long as they wear face masks – will allow New York City public schools to increase capacity in classrooms and offer more spots to students.
The opt-in period will begin next week, and more information will be made available in the coming days, Mayor de Blasio said.
He did not say when students would return to the classrooms if they chose to opt-in this time but, is hopeful it can be done before summer vacation.
“What we can say is, for parents and kids in younger grades, we are confident that we will be able to bring back a substantial number of students by the end of April,” de Blasio said.
The mayor notes that the city is still answering some questions regarding middle and high school students. However, those students will also be allowed to opt-in when the opportunity arises sometime next week.
“Our goal, as always, is to have as many kids in school as we can do appropriately, safely, smartly; and as many kids in five-day-a-week instruction as possible,” de Blasio said.
Newly appointed Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter also spoke at de Blasio’s press conference Friday, encouraging all parents to send their children back to their classrooms.
“New York City, since day one, has been following the science and listening to the medical experts, and we will continue to do that,” she said. “Our schools are amongst the safest places to be.”
She says the updated CDC guidance is good news, but schools will not compromise the health and safety of students and will continue to “follow the science” while making room for all students who wish to return.
Andy Pallotta, president of New York State United Teachers, told WCBS 880's Peter Haskell that he thought the new guidance issued by the CDC was an "abrupt change."
"We're all for this. We just want to do it safely and ere on the side of caution," Palotta said.
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