Republicans in the North Carolina Senate have passed a bill that requires all school districts in the state to offer personalized learning to students who want it.
While Governor Roy Cooper has said he wants districts to offer personal education, he wants districts to make the decision, not legislators. Cooper also said he was concerned about legislation that would remove especially the health protocols that are there. WRAL’s Paul Specht joins us to review the governor’s statement.
Marshall Terry: First, Paul, what are the safety protocols that currently exist in schools?
Paul Specht: Currently, the only options for school districts are distance education, Plan C or Plan B, which are personal classes, but with many, many social distancing protocols. And that means putting the students’ desks further apart, keeping teachers six feet apart when they go to meetings, changing how lunch is done, things like that. The school looks very different under Plan B than usual, or even under Plan A. Cooper said that more than 90 school districts are already working under some form of Plan B.
Terry: You have mentioned it a bit, but I want to make sure we are clear: under the bill, districts must choose between plan A and plan B. What are the differences between those?
Woodpecker: You know, there are many things that are the same, such as face masks … This is required according to plans A and B. The protection of vulnerable populations – schools will still have to do this. Cleaning and hygiene requirements for hand washing and things like that – all under Plan A and Plan B. These are actually the distance requirements that change from Plan B to Plan A.
According to Plan A, schools were not expected to set up desks over six feet apart. Staff meetings do not have to be held six feet between teachers when meeting for lunch or recess, or just for teacher meetings or during breaks. Even transportation is affected if plan A is implemented. According to Plan B, accompanying passengers may only travel with other people in their family. It is not required under Plan A.
Terry: Does the bill remove Senate health protocols, as Cooper said?
Woodpecker: When he says it’s stripped ‘, it’s a little misleading, because it implies that something inherent would change. And the only thing that would inherently change is the options for these school boards. This would expand it so that they could also choose Plan A, which does not need as much social distance.
Plan A is more focused on making school normal as before. But in theory, if your school district uses Plan B and still prefers to use Plan B, nothing seems to change. There is nothing in this bill that strips or strips away the Plan B requirements that already apply.
Terry: So, what does Cooper mean when he says that the bill will take away some of the health protocols that are out there?
Woodpecker: What he means by that is that his administration and his health department only need plans B and C, and if school board chooses to go with Plan A, if it becomes an option through this bill, they will not comply with the current department of health not. guidance. The Department of Health does not believe it is safe to go with Plan A. Therefore, his office, in justification of his remarks, said: ‘Hey, you know, health protocols will be removed by you being a teacher and going from Plan B to Plan A, then some of these things will not be. more in place. ‘
And of course, for the sake of our fact-checking, it is important to point out that the decision rests with the local school boards. It is they who make the choice. This bill would give them the choice, but it would not automatically strip the protocols.
Terry: Is Cooper expected to sign the bill?
Woodpecker: I would be very surprised if he signs this bill, but you never know. At the moment, he only encourages school boards to open their schools to Plan B. There are a handful who still only do distance education. He pushes the school board open under some form of Plan B.
Terry: So how did you rate Cooper’s statement?
Woodpecker: We considered it half true and looked at it from the perspective of teachers. If you are now under Plan B, and it’s going to Plan A – your school board chooses Plan A – then some of your protection will be taken away. One thing that Cooper has left out of account, however, is that the local school boards will make decisions. This bill does not automatically require schools to comply with Plan A. They can still work under Plan B, which is already allowed. And therefore it is half true.
Terry: Thanks, Paul.
Woodpecker: Thank you.
Terry: This is Paul Specht from WRAL. These fact checks are a collaboration between PolitiFact and WRAL. You can hear them Wednesdays on WFAE’s Morning Edition.