Students in California may now sit 3 feet apart in classrooms – instead of 4 or 6 feet – according to guidelines issued by government officials on Saturday, a major change in policy that will put pressure on local officials for a faster and more complete reopening of campuses that have been closed for more than a year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Local education leaders will have the last say – and Los Angeles Unified Supt. Austin Beutner said Sunday that LA schools will abide by the 6-foot rule. Yet the ground has shifted rapidly since the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Friday that it approves a 3-foot rule for elementary schools. The agency has also approved 3-foot desk distance on campuses with older students, but there are significant caveats, including the number of cases of coronavirus in the community.
It took just one day before the state of California followed suit. LA County health officials have yet to formally announce their own rules – which could be stricter than the state – but Paul Simon, chief scientific officer for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, said Friday he is ” “We are quite confident that we will take it up. CDC guidance in our own guidance for schools.”
How quickly the new state standard will come into use will probably differ from place to place. Some schools and districts have experienced restrictive measures and are almost certain that they will accept the revised rules immediately. But many school systems have also approved agreements with their teachers’ unions that stipulate a 6-foot desk separation. These districts include Los Angeles Unified, the country’s second largest school system.
Beutner said on Sunday morning: ‘The recent CDC leadership will not change our current reopening plans.
“Our challenge is to convince families that schools are safe, and not find ways to cram more children into classrooms.”
Early results from the survey released earlier this month indicated that about half of students would return when campuses begin reopening in mid-April. Families were the most reluctant in communities hardest hit by the pandemic. Beutner tried to reassure them that LA schools would apply nationwide safety protocols. This effort will include an online “town hall” on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Those who want to participate can join via this link.
United Teachers Los Angeles held a ratification vote on the return-to-campus agreement last week and is expected to announce the results today. On Friday, union leaders quickly and sharply criticized the revised CDC guidelines, saying they could endanger students, their families and staff by making virus transmission more likely.
The new standard of 3 feet table spacing is based on recent research evaluated by state and federal health authorities. This is primarily based on the experience in Massachusetts, where school officials were allowed to choose a 3 or 6 foot separation. Researchers concluded that there was no significant difference in the distribution risk in the two formats – provided other safety measures were followed properly.
National leaders union leaders on Friday pointed out that they must apply the findings to all situations.
The 3-foot standard is an important measure because it can enable school districts to avoid scattered, hybrid schedules and return students to campus full-time on a normal school day. The larger space between desks has resulted in students returning to a standard class in California at the same time.
Other security protocols will not change. In particular, students should always wear masks while in class.
“It is strongly recommended to keep a minimum of 3 feet between student chairs,” reads the revised guidelines. “A series of recommendations for physical distance are made nationally and internationally, from 3 feet to 6 feet.”
But if there is any doubt as to whether students will wear their masks, “consider more robust physical distancing practices.” And the guidelines emphasize low levels of mitigation, such as maintaining stable groups, improving ventilation, and maintaining 6-foot distance “as much as possible” during times when students or staff are not masked, including when eating or drinking.