Premier Doug Ford and Education Minister Stephen Lecce have laid out plans for students in Ontario to return to class in the fall.
Options include regular in class learning, online learning, or a mix of both. Ford says a blanket approach across the province won’t work. He says they are working with school boards this summer to create a plan that fits best for communities across Ontario.
Details into what the three solutions look like according to the government can be found below:
1) Normal school day routine with enhanced public health protocols – Students going to school every day, in classes that reflect standard class size regulations.
2) Modified school day routine – Based on public health advice, an adapted delivery model has been designed to allow for physical distancing and cohorts of students. Under this model, school boards are asked to maintain a limit of 15 students in a typical classroom at one time and adopt timetabling that would allow for students to remain in contact only with their classmates and a single teacher for as much of the school day as possible. This model would require alternate day or alternate week delivery to a segment of the class at one time.
3) At home learning – Should the school closure be extended, or some parents choose not to send their child back to school, school boards need to be prepared to offer remote education. Remote education should be delivered online to the greatest extent possible, including the establishment of minimum expectations for students to have direct contact with their teacher at the same time on a regular basis, also known as synchronous learning. Synchronous learning can be used as part of whole class instruction, in smaller groups of students, and/or in a one-on-one context.
The province says that school boards need to have a plan if they decide to do an adapted model which will include things like alternate day or alternate week attendance, staggered bell times and recess, and different transportation arrangements.
*** Premier Ford says parents will also have a choice if they don’t feel comfortable sending kids back to class ***
The link to all the guidelines to help keep students and staff safe can be found
