Remote learning arrangements in New York City public schools will end in September and be replaced with classroom-only instruction, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on May 24.
“It’s good news,” de Blasio said on MSNBC. “One million kids will be back in their classrooms in September, all in-person, no remote.”
“We’re going to be back strong, ready, safe. COVID is plummeting in this city, I’m happy to say, we’re almost at 8 million vaccination doses since day one.”
“We’re at the lowest COVID positivity in seven months right now,” de Blasio said.
New York was one of the first large U.S. cities to reopen schools for in-person instruction in the fall of 2020, but many parents opted for online-only learning for their children.
Asked about how to persuade hesitant parents of the 60 percent or so of students now learning remotely to send their children back to schools, the mayor spoke of a messaging campaign to address reluctance, including encouraging parents to visit schools starting in June to “get re-acclimated” and see for themselves the safety measures, such as cleaning and ventilation, that have been implemented.
“It’s time. It’s really time to go full strength now,” de Blasio said.
Children returning to schools will be required to abide by various safety protocols, de Blasio said, but added that he expects the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to ease its guidance for schools between now and September.
“I actually fundamentally believe, by August, the CDC will relax those rules further to recognize the progress that we’ve made in this country.”
The CDC said masks should be worn at all times by all people in school facilities and buses, while maintaining a six-foot distance between teachers and students, and a three-foot distance between students in most settings.
