British Schools See Little COVID Spread, 2 Million Students Expected to Leave Mexican Private Schools, One School's Reopening Plan

(From Sky News) Children are more likely to catch coronavirus at home than at school, a Public Health England (PHE) study has found. PHE's research detected just 67 single cases and 30 outbreaks, defined as two or more linked cases, in schools across England in June, indicating that transmission between students was very rare. Where children did contract the infection, they were most likely to catch COVID-19 at home, usually from a parent. The study also found staff members were more likely to be affected by the virus than students, though not more likely than the general population as a whole.

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(From NBC) Independent school bodies in Mexico say almost 2 million students at all levels are expected to quit private schools this September to join an already overcrowded public system. According to the National Confederation of Private Schools, most of its members will see enrollment drop by up to 30% during the current school year. Some private schools anticipate a decline of up to 60%. Parents cite the lack of both in-person teaching and access to facilities as the top reasons for this decision.

In an attempt to hold on to students and the payment of fees, private schools are trying to make deals with parents, offering more discounts, scholarships and other benefits. It has not been enough for some. “We’re facing a tremendous crisis,” said Alfredo Villar, head of the National Association of Private Schools, which groups more than 6,000 institutions nationwide. “Many schools are running out of people and will very likely have to close.”

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(From The Philadelphia Inquirer) As schools across the country wrestle with reopening plans, The Shipley School, a PK-12 day school serving roughly 770 students in the Philadelphia area, announced it is planning to reopen for in-person classes with the following safety and operational measures:

• Smaller class sizes – Limited class sizes to 9, 10, or 11 students, as compared to 15 in a normal year; up to 10 tents on athletic fields for extra classroom space. The school has hired more teachers and staff to accommodate smaller class sizes.
• Flexibility for faculty and staff – Expanded its leave policies for faculty concerned about their health, and is offering accommodations to others, and has been walking teachers through modified classrooms and procedures to make them feel safe. Shipley says it is looking for ways to possibly help its teachers who may have young children stranded at home due to their own public schools planning virtual-only instruction. 
• Additional considerations – If someone tests positive for COVID-19, there are several scenarios for how to stay open or modify operations, including quarantining classes and rotating teachers. There will be no testing, however, by the school.

From The Philadelphia Inquirer