Aug 17, 2020, 5:51 PM
(From WHYY) Some independent schools that plan to start the year off on campus say they worry that state transportation cuts will leave strand students before the school year begins. In Pennsylvania, some districts say they will cancel all bus service until public school students return to brick-and-mortar classrooms. State officials say the decision to cut transportation may be in conflict with state law, which requires districts to provide transport to independent school students even when publics are closed, except for in the case of inclement weather. In Ohio, legislators recently introduced a bill that would prohibit school districts from providing certain alternatives to the traditional school bus.
(From The New York Times and WTOP) The answer to when some Maryland private schools can reopen is still unclear, after weeks of back-and-forth between the administration of Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and leaders from the state’s most populous county. The dispute started in July when county health officials issued a directive ordering independent schools in the county to stay closed until Oct. 1 to limit the spread of the coronavirus. But the move, which drew a federal lawsuit by the parents of some private school students, was overruled by an executive order from Hogan and then a memo from the state Department of Health secretary, who said county health officers had to consider the reopening plans of each on a case-by-case basis.
Now, officials said they are still waiting on health guidelines, including information on metrics and performance measures from the state they believe are needed in order to evaluate reopening plans for private schools. Officials say school guidelines put together by the state department of education apply aren’t specific enough and urge for a single set of guidelines that apply to both public and private schools.
More from The New York Times and WTOP
(From The Washington Post) As states around the country require visitors from areas with high rates of coronavirus infections to quarantine upon arrival, families taking end-of-summer vacations to hot spots are facing the possibility of being forced to skip the start of in-person learning at their schools. With many schools preparing to open early next month, school administrators are urging parents to be mindful of that guidance while planning any Labor Day vacations. But enforcing the rules can be challenging, given varying travel restrictions and guidance from states.
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