The Guidelines of Biden’s Administration School reopening is expected to include recommendations for staged reopening based on community transmission rates, according to a draft internal summary by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention obtained by CBS News on Thursday.
This staged approach to reopening provides recommendations for types of instruction for K-12 schools, based on the prevalence of coronavirus in the area and broken down into four color-coded “zones” – fully personal, hybrid, reduced attendance, and virtual – only.
The counseling summary obtained by CBS News does not state community spread rates that determine who is eligible for each zone.
K-12 schools are in the “Blue” zone when they have a low community distribution, and in the “Yellow” zone, with moderate transmission. Blue and yellow zones are recommended to allow for a reopening with full personal learning, with as much social distance as possible. Schools in the “Orange” zone, which are classified as having substantial transmission, are recommended to have hybrid learning or reduced attendance, with the required social distance.
Schools in the ‘red’ zone are divided into two categories: schools that regularly screen for asymptomatic staff and students, and schools that do not. Schools in the “red” zone that do not test should have hybrid learning opportunities or reduced attendance with compulsory physical distance, only in primary schools; middle and high schools should only be virtual. Schools conducting screening tests may have hybrid learning or reduced attendance for all primary, secondary and secondary schools, with the required social distance, according to the preliminary summary of the guidelines.
Several officials told CBS News that these guidelines are still in the works and could change. Additional details can also be added to the final guidance.
All levels of community transmission require mask wearing and testing of symptomatic individuals and their close contacts universally.
As CBS News has previously reported, the guidelines will also focus on five risk mitigation strategies: universal masking; social distancing; washing hands and breathing etiquette; cleaning and ventilation facilities and contact tracing, isolation and quarantine protocols. These practices are expected to be performed regardless of community transmission speeds.
If schools implement these mitigating measures, access to vaccinations should not be a prerequisite for schools to reopen, the draft guideline says. which is consistent with recent statements by CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky. However, the draft directive emphasizes that vaccines should be a priority for teachers and that once educators have been vaccinated, schools should continue to apply these mitigating practices.
According to Education Week, a majority of states have made some or all teachers eligible for the coronavirus vaccine.
The draft directive prescribes a social distance of 1.8 meters in schools. Some health officials, including a group from Harvard’s TH Chan School of Public Health, had previously argued that 1 meter of social distance could be used for younger students.
The CDC is also expected to argue that school education should take precedence over extracurricular activities and sports, regardless of the degree of testing measures implemented in schools. Color-coded “zones” will also be applied to these extracurricula according to the draft guidelines.
The guidelines are expected to identify equity concerns and recommend that funding be focused on addressing inequalities in low-resource communities, including the implementation of costly mitigation measures such as refurbishing ventilation systems, improving digital learning gaps and prioritizing vaccines and testing.
Accommodation for “high-risk” teachers, including those with high-risk family members, could include additional virtual education, adjusting job requirements, or applying flexible schedules. Permanent virtual learning should be possible for students with medical conditions, the draft guideline states.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday that Walensky and her team will present final guidelines to the public on Friday, an announcement expected early afternoon, according to two people familiar with the plan.
The White House and the CDC have so far declined to comment on the draft guidelines.
According to an Education Department email reported by CBS News earlier this week, the Education Department is expected to advise “shortly thereafter” on the “practical application” of the CDC guidelines.
This next guidance is expected to cover the use of resources allocated to schools and state and local governments to make schools safer.
The Biden administration has used school reopenings to underscore the importance of passing their $ 1.9 trillion. “American Rescue “COVID-19 Rescue Package, which includes hundreds of billions of dollars in direct financial aid to schools, as well as state and local relief funds to pay for additional school safety measures.
Mr Biden’s current goal is to “open a majority of primary schools safely within 100 days”. Psaki explained on Tuesday that his goal targets a simple majority of schools with teachers teaching “at least one day a week” on Day 100 of the Biden administration, which is April 30.
Asked to clarify this goal on Thursday, Psaki said, “We certainly hope to build on that even after 100 days, and from there … the president’s goal is for all schools to reopen, stay open, open 5 days. a week, for children to learn, that’s our focus. “
But many schools have already reopened ahead of the CDC guidelines and additional federal funding for mitigation action. Sixty-four percent of elementary and high school students are already shown some personal instructions, according to the most recent data from Burbio’s School Opening Tracker, reported by CBS News on Tuesday.
High school students are not currently part of Mr. Biden’s reopening goal.