Back-to-School Dilemmas
The start of a new school year is always stressful for children, their families, and educators. But the preparations have never been more fraught. Schools in many parts of the world are facing tough decisions about how to begin the school year with the palpable threat of illness intruding into every discussion.
In Wake County this week, parents are weighing whether to enroll their children in the still-forming Wake Virtual Academy, an option to attend a Wake County public school virtually for the entire academic year. Students in the Virtual Academy clearly have the lowest risk of contracting or spreading the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. But with so many unknowns about the progress of the pandemic, parents have a tough decision to make. Some are feeling pressured to allow their children to attend school physically as a benefit to their mental health and social development.
This page provides some food for thought as the Wake community weighs these decisions.
Guidance and Info from the District
Wake County Public Schools’ Return to Campus Site: https://www.wcpss.net/Page/33111
Video briefing from School Board Chair Keith Sutton and WCPSS Supt. Cathy Moore (10 July): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvQDWgHyFpA
What happens if someone at school tests positive? See Procedure for Report of COVID-19 on Campus.
A Local Pediatrician’s Thoughts
Blog post by Christian Nechyba, Pediatrican, Carolina Kids Pediatrics; former chief resident in pediatrics at Johns Hopkins
Excerpt:
Consider your own child’s personality and learning style as you weigh the benefits of returning to the school building. Many kids also rely on school for nutrition, physical activity, and invaluable mentoring opportunities. Clearly, your child’s learning style and developmental needs must weigh in to your risk tolerance during this pandemic.
Perspective from a Teacher
Op/Ed by Rose Levine, a fifth-grade teacher in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Excerpt:
When we consider returning to physical school under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, we must center this question: which benefits of in-person education will be available to us with these restrictions in place? Sadly, I believe that a classroom operating under these protocols will be less effective and more traumatic than the inadequate and painful experience of remote learning.
Opinions from a Parent/Infectious Disease Specialist
Two opinion pieces by Sallie Permar, Director, Children’s Discovery Institute at Duke University Medical Center; parent of two children in WCPSS schools
Facebook post responding to guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics
Excerpt:
I stand with the Academy of Pediatrics and all stressed out parents out there, to support opening schools as planned this fall, with school-specific monitoring to measure their impact on virus transmission dynamics.
Facebook post considering the specific plans that WCPSS has publicized
Excerpt:
Health care systems, where distancing cannot always be achieved, have been able to nearly eliminate virus transmission on the job through these measures. The highest risk of transmission in these settings has been when co-workers let their guard down and are unmasked together. I believe heath care can be a model for schools.
CDC Director Advocates for Reopening
Article from WCNC reporting from a visit to Charlotte by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Dr. Robert Redfield, Director, CDC
Excerpt:
“Seven million children in this nation get their mental health assistance in school. Many students get their breakfast and lunch in school . . . Schools are really important for mandatory reporting of child abuse or sexual abuse. Obviously, the socialization that occurs in schools.”
NC Senate Leader’s Statement
Official statement from Senator Phil Berger, responding to the Governor’s plans to reopen schools (announced 14 July 2020)
Phil Berger, a Republican, is the current leader of the NC Senate. He was first elected to the NC General Assembly in 2000 and represents residents of Guilford and Rockingham counties.
Excerpt:
The Governor permits parents to choose full remote learning — he must also permit parents to choose full in-person learning as well.
Analyzing Available Data on School Spread
Blog post from Justin Parmenter’s Notes from the Chalkboard blog, guest written by microbiologist Nan Fulcher. Fulcher has a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from UNC and a special focus on infectious diseases. (Parmenter is a middle-school teacher in Charlotte.)
Excerpt:
Recent reports of skyrocketing infections at daycare facilities (Texas and Charlotte, NC, for example) and the summer camp outbreaks in Missouri and Arkansas do not bode well for North Carolina schools filled–even partly–with potential carriers of COVID-19.
Local Petitions Debating Reopening Plans
Change.org petition in favor of Plan A (all students physically present on campus)
Excerpt:
How can any single parent household or 2 working parents household manage [Plan B]? The answer – they CAN NOT! The kids will end up MORE exposed because they will be attending camps, day cares, babysitters, grandparents, etc during their two weeks off!
Change.org petition in favor of Plan C (remote learning only)
Excerpt:
Hallways, doorways, lunch lines, and buses are unavoidable incubators in which COVID-19 will thrive.
Q&A about the Virtual Academy
Wake BoE Chair Keith Sutton describes the Wake Virtual Academy option in the video briefing mentioned previously. He promises that all core academic classes will be offered; however, he admits that “it will not be feasible to offer all special classes and elective programs in a fully online environment.”
In the Q&A below, answers are derived from tweets that WCPSS sent out in response to parent questions during the first week of July.
For more information about the VA, watch the Virtual Academy virtual open house recorded Thurs., July 16, on the WCPSS YouTube Channel.
Information about the VA is here:
Q: I haven’t signed my child up for the VA yet. Now I think that I probably should have done so. Is it too late?
A: No. WCPSS will offer a final opportunity to sign up for the Virtual Academy: July 27 at 9:00 am until – July 29 at 5:00 pm.
Q: Will the Virtual Academy class time match in-person class time?
A: No. However, VA students will need to be in attendance and attentive during specific hours of the day. Students will also have flexibility to work at their own pace over the course of the day. Our aim is to match schedules with students in Plan B (who will spend one-third of their time on campus; two-thirds learning at home).
Q: Will my child’s experience in the VA be similar to the remote learning experience last spring?
A: Yes, with more consistency and more live instructional sessions. Daily schedules will include online instruction that will combine live and recorded sessions. Instructional time will include opportunities to learn individually, in small groups, and in large groups using print and digital materials.
Q: I’m starting to think that WCPSS will drop Plan B in favor of Plan C (remote-learning only). Does that mean that my child will be left out if I enroll her in the VA, while everyone else is enrolled in “regular” school but attending remotely?
A: If the district switched to Plan C partway through the semester, you still might be in a better situation if you selected the Virtual Academy. In the VA, your student is guaranteed to stay virtual for as long as he or she remains enrolled in it (one semester or two). The district, on the other hand, could switch to Plan B or Plan A at any point during the school year, so your family could get stuck with in-person school even if your family doesn’t want it.
As a WCPSS spokesperson phrased it, “The choice is between Virtual Academy (a consistent online learning environment) and Plan A/B/C (an agile plan that can change throughout the year).”
This helpful infographic from a media specialist at Buckhorn Creek ES in Holly Springs explains the differences between the VA and “Plan B+” or “Plan B Transition” (part time physically present on campus with the first few weeks of school in 100% remote learning):
Q: My child was taking all AP and Honors classes in high school. If we select the VA for him, will he lose out on those classes? Will the curriculum be challenging and rigorous?
A: The VA curriculum depends on the students who select this option. The more students, the more expansive the course offerings. We intend to make every effort to ensure that a baseline selection of core and elective course offerings across multiple content areas is available. Keep in mind, however, that in addition to student enrollment in the VA and interest in selected courses, we must also factor in faculty availability to teach each class. Therefore, we cannot yet identify exactly which specific courses will be available.
Q: The NCGA has mandated that every public-school student in the state must be physically present for the first five days of school. Will that requirement also apply to students enrolled in the VA?
A: No. Virtual Academy students will never be physically present on campus.
Q: Will my student lose his spot at a magnet school if I enroll him in the VA for this school year?
A: No.
Q: How many students have already enrolled in the VA (as of 27 July)?
A: 78,792 total:
- 35,500 elementary school students
- 19,700 middle school students
- 23,500 high school students
(Or roughly 48% of students enrolled in WCPSS schools.)
Q: If my child enrolls in the VA for the fall, is he or she guaranteed a place in the spring?
A: No; students who enroll in the VA will have to apply to continue with the VA in the spring. It’s possible that they’ll have to make the transition back to Plan A, B, or C as applicable. That’s because the district has to balance course offerings with educator staffing levels, student enrollment, and other unanticipated factors. If demand for the VA changes, course offerings could also change for the spring semester.
If you selected Fall semester on your application for the VA, you can edit the application to select the entire school year until the July 20 deadline by clicking a link in the confirmation email.
Q: Will students enrolled in the VA be able to participate in activities like band, chorus, or sports if school returns to “normal”?
A: Yes.
Q: Will my child be able to continue taking AP classes as in previous school years?
A: We expect to be able to offer most—if not all—AP and Honors courses.
Q: What if we wait until closer to the first day of school to decide whether the VA option is best for our family?
A: The July 20 deadline to register for the VA is firm. The district will need plenty of time to organize enrollees and faculty into classes.
Q: If we don’t want to enroll our child in the VA, do we need to do anything right now?
A: No. Just be sure to check your email often for messages from the district or from your child’s school. Your child will automatically be placed in one of the three groups for Plan B (one week physically present on campus, then two weeks learning from home).