Most WA schools will return face-to-face this fall but with COVID precautions in place
Students across Washington state are likely to return to school this fall, but it will require masks and social distancing, according to guidance from the state released Thursday.
In the 55-page document, state Superintendent Chris Reykdal said his expectation is that “schools will open this fall for in-person instruction.” All students, staff, volunteers and guests must wear cloth face coverings when returning.
“We’re coming back — where it’s safe to do so with all protocols in place,” Reykdal said during a Thursday press conference.
The new guidance applies to all K–12 public or private schools, regardless of what phase or county they are in, according to the document. Counties in Phase 1 or modified Phase 1 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s reopening plan might need to implement additional precautions and are asked to work with their local health departments.
Some districts may be unable to meet social distancing requirements due to lack of space in their buildings. For those districts, they can choose and adapt from one of three options:
Split or rotating schedules with continuous remote learning
Phased-in opening with continuous remote learning
Continuous Learning 2.0 (remote learning)
School districts are required to adopt reopening plans through local board resolution.
The guidance suggests social distancing strategies like moving desks farther apart, reducing the number of students in hallways at one time by staggering class dismissal times and having lunch in the classroom instead of a cafeteria, or at staggered times.
The guidance suggests developing a system for drop-off and pick-up that keeps families at least six feet from each other and reduces their need to enter the school. That might include staggering drop-off and pick-up times for various groups, one-way traffic flows, greeting students at their vehicle or placing distancing markers on walkways.
The guidance also says to check for signs of illness of all staff and students. Students that are showing symptoms or have come in contact with someone from COVID-19 must be excluded from school.
Children and adults should wash hands when they arrive at school, before meals or snacks, after outside time, after going to the bathroom, after nose blowing or sneezing and before leaving to go home, the guidance states.
Students can wear various masks like cloth coverings or face shields to school. Employees are expected to work with their employers to supply face shields or masks.
“We expect districts to work out locally how students are provided a face covering,” Reykdal said Thursday, adding that students will likely want to customize them.
The guidance continues that masks should not be worn by:
- Those with a disability that prevents them from comfortably wearing or removing a face covering.
- Those with certain respiratory conditions or trouble breathing.
- Those who are deaf or hard of hearing and use facial and mouth movements as part of communication.
- Those advised by a medical, legal, or behavioral health professional that wearing a face covering may pose a risk to that person.
Despite the optimism for returning to school in the fall, the guidance adds that that could change in the event of a surge in COVID-19 cases.
“All districts, however, must be prepared to shift from in person, face-to-face instruction to continuous remote learning should they need to close school facilities in the short- or long-term,” the guidance states.
This story was originally published June 11, 2020 at 1:04 PM with the headline "Most WA schools will return face-to-face this fall but with COVID precautions in place."
