The Biden Administration Guidelines for school reopening is expected to include recommendations for phase reopening based on the rate of transmission in the community, according to a draft internal summary by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention obtained by CBS News Thursday.
This phased approach to reopening provides recommendations for types of instruction for K-12 schools, divided into four color-coded “zones” – fully personal, hybrid, reduced attendance, and virtual only.
The summary of the guidelines obtained by CBS News does not determine the community distribution that determines who qualifies for each zone.
K-12 schools are in the “Blue” zone if they have a low community distribution, and in the “Yellow” zone with moderate transfer. Blue and yellow zones are recommended to reopen with personal learning, with as much social distance as possible. Schools in the “Orange” zone, which are classified as significant transfer, are recommended to learn hybrid or have less attendance, with the necessary social distance.
Schools for a ‘red’ zone are divided into two categories: those that do regular screening tests for asymptomatic staff and students, and those that do not. “Red” zone schools that do not test must have hybrid learning or have less attendance with compulsory physical distance in basic schools; middle and high schools should only be virtual. According to the draft summary of the guidelines, schools that do screening tests can have hybrid learning or less attendance for all primary, middle and high schools, with the necessary social distance.
Several officials told CBS News that these guidelines are still being finalized and may change. Additional details can also be added to the final guide.
For all levels of community transmission, universal masking and testing of symptomatic individuals and their close contact are necessary.
As CBS News reported earlier, the guidelines will also focus on five mitigation strategies: universal masking; social distancing; hand washing and breathing label; cleaning and ventilation facilities and contact detection, insulation and quarantine protocols. These practices are expected to be carried out regardless of the community transfer rates.
If schools introduce these mitigation measures, access to vaccinations should not be a condition for reopening schools, according to the draft guideline, which is consistent with recent statements by the CDC director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky. However, the draft guidelines emphasize that teachers should give preference to vaccines, and that schools, once educators have been vaccinated, should continue to apply these mitigation practices.
According to Education Week, a majority of countries have qualified some or all teachers to receive the coronavirus vaccine.
The draft guideline determines social distance of 6 feet in schools. Some health officials, including a group from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, have previously argued 3 feet of social distance can be used for younger students.
The CDC is also expected to argue that schooling should take precedence over extracurricular activities and sport, regardless of the degree of testing measures implemented at schools. According to the draft guideline, color-coded “zones” will also be applied to these extramural applications.
The guidelines are expected to address equity, and the funding is aimed at addressing inequalities in low-resource communities, including the implementation of costly mitigation measures such as refurbishing ventilation systems, improving digital learning gaps and the prioritization of vaccines and tests.
Accommodation for high-risk educators, including those with high-risk family members, may include additional virtual tuition, changing job requirements, or accepting flexible schedules. Continuous virtual learning should be offered as an option for students with medical conditions, reads the draft guidance.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday that Walensky and her team will present the final guidelines to the public on Friday, an announcement expected in the early afternoon, according to two people familiar with the plan.
The White House and CDC have so far declined to comment on the draft guidelines.
The Department of Education is expected to provide advice shortly thereafter on the ‘practical application’ of the CDC guidelines, according to an email from the Department of Education reported by CBS News earlier this week.
The following guidelines are expected to address the use of funds allocated to schools and state and local governments to make schools safer.
The Biden administration used the reopening of schools to emphasize the importance of the $ 1.9 billion pass.American Rescue “COVID-19 Emergency Relief Kit, which includes hundreds of billions of dollars in direct financial assistance to schools, as well as state and local aid funds to pay for additional school safety measures.
Mr. Biden’s current goal is to see a majority of K-8 schools open safely within 100 days. ‘Psaki explained on Tuesday that his goal is a simple majority of schools, with teachers instructing at least one day a week on day 100 of the Biden government, which is April 30.
Asked to clarify this goal on Thursday, Psaki said: “We certainly hope to build on that, even in 100 days, and from there … the president’s goal is to keep all schools reopened, open. and 5 days open is a week for kids to learn, that’s what we focus on. “
But many schools have already reopened before the CDC leadership and additional federal funding for mitigation measures. Sixty-four percent of elementary and middle school students already see personal instructions, according to the most recent data from Burbio’s School Opening Tracker, CBS News reported Tuesday.
High school students are currently not at the reopening goal of Mr. Bids not included.