A COVID-19 Education Update

From the State House Desk of Representative Carol Doherty

3rd Bristol District, Taunton and Easton

As the 2020–2021 academic year approaches, I wanted to take this opportunity to provide you with a brief update regarding recent actions taken by the Departments of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and Early Education and Care (EEC), as well as the current status of the school reopening process. I hope this update can clarify the complex guidance released in previous weeks. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions related to this or any other education related issues. Questions specific to your child should be directed to the Office of the Superintendent and/or directly to the Principal of the school to which your child is assigned. I also suggest you visit the websites of Taunton or Easton for detailed information about reopening for your child.

The information following has been prepared in consultation with the House Chair of the Joint Committee on Education, Representative Alice Peisch.

K-12 Education

The initial fall reopening guidance required districts to submit their back-to-school plans by August 14th and DESE has since followed up with feedback. Districts were asked to prepare for three learning models — in-person, remote, or a hybrid of the two. To help inform these plans and set expectations for the type of learning model a district should pursue, DESE — coordinating with DPH — released a new color-coded COVID-19 metrics by municipality. With consistently low transmission rates in the Commonwealth, 70% of districts are planning some type of in-person learning this fall, as of the date their plans were submitted. The vast majority of these, however, are some type of hybrid schedule, and many high-risk districts plan to open with remote only learning.

Regardless of the learning model, districts are being encouraged to bring their most vulnerable students back to the classroom — students for whom English is not their first language, special education students, and students “lost” in the transition to remote learning last spring as well as Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students. I recognize that each option presents its own significant challenges. These include maintaining health, safety, and low transmission rates during in-person classes; providing a robust remote learning experience; and finding childcare during out-of-the-classroom days in a hybrid schedule. As you may know, the Governor recently announced that rapid mobile testing units would be deployed to try to contain potential cluster outbreaks within schools and districts. Testing continues to be a primary concern and potential tool, and we are looking at various options in this respect.

To facilitate a smooth transition, regardless of the learning model, the Commissioner has waived 10 days from the 180 school day requirement to allow teachers and administrators professional development time to prepare for their incoming classes. While losing more learning time after last spring is not ideal, I expect that the extra time for professional development will be utilized effectively and will help promote high quality learning across the state.

Early Education & Care

I think that it is clear to everyone how much of a challenge childcare will present this fall. In response to positive trends in COVID rates both across the state and in our early education centers, as well as an expected ramp-up in childcare demand, recently released EEC guidance permits the childcare programs to return allowable staff-to-child ratios and maximum group sizes back to pre-COVID numbers, provided that adequate distancing and other public health protocols can be maintained. Additionally, last Friday, Governor Baker issued an executive order to allow EEC to license after school and out-of-school programs to support the childcare needs of school age children during the school day, especially for remote or hybrid education students. Understanding that this workforce, which has been operating throughout the state of emergency and provides a critical service to so many of our citizens, is under enormous financial stress, we are also examining the potential for additional supports for providers beginning in September. In addition to these recent actions, EEC, in coordination with DPH, is compiling and posting weekly COVID data from childcare providers across the Commonwealth.

I realize that this does not cover every concern facing Taunton and Easton. I encourage you to continue to reach out to me. I expect the new school year will bring considerable new challenges, and I will continue to do my best to answer your questions and pass concerns along to the relevant parties. Please feel free to reach out to me at carol.doherty@mahouse.gov with additional questions or concerns you may have.

Flu Vaccine

I have received many messages from constituents regarding their concerns about the flu vaccine. The initial recommendation that students receive the flu vaccine emanated from the Department of Public Health. This requirement was added to the DPH list of immunizations for this year and going forward. As a practical matter, I believe this is within the control of the Governor per his emergency powers so not a whole lot can be done legislatively. That said, a parent can obtain a religious or medical exemption for their child by stating in writing that a vaccine conflicts with their sincerely held beliefs and then submit it to the school. Medical exemptions come from the student’s doctor and must document the reason why an individual cannot medically receive the vaccine. This document must be submitted to the school.

I plan to convey these concerns to the Governor on your behalf. I have already done so to the COVID-19 Command Center which works with the Legislature on such matters. In addition, such a letter coming from you written directly to the Governor, could be effective. Everyone is concerned about the well-being of our school children. Keeping children and staff well and healthy is the goal.