RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services called Wednesday on all K-12 public schools to offer in-person instruction “to the fullest extent possible” to the roughly 1.5 million students in the state.
The new guidance comes as state lawmakers work to override Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of a bill that would compel districts that haven’t already done so to offer a chance for every student to learn at least partially inside a physical classroom.
“Extensive research tells us we can bring students back to the classroom with the right measures in place,” said Mandy Cohen, the state’s top public health official. “And students need in-person school not only for academics, but to learn social skills, get reliable meals and to continue to grow and thrive.”
The updated reopening instructions gives schools “operational flexibility.” But they task local education leaders with understanding what health practices they must meet and developing detailed plans on how to implement the updated guidance.
Middle and high schools must adhere to stricter reopening requirements, such as six feet (1.8 meters) of physical distancing. While elementary school students are allowed to remain seated inside classrooms without that amount of physical separation, they should be aware of their space and must wear face coverings if they are at least 5 years old.
Meanwhile, parents and teachers must be given a remote learning option if they self-identify as being at high risk of becoming severely ill if exposed to COVID-19. A state health department news release said, “Schools should only use remote learning options for higher-risk students and for families opting for remote learning for their children.” Families must be given the choice of remote learning if the student or a family member are at high-risk, the guidance says.
All schools are required to provide teachers, families, school staff and students with information on how to access mental health and wellness resources. They are also encouraged to make available more on-site social workers.
Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper rejected a proposal introduced by state Republican lawmakers and supported by several Democrats that would force the state’s 115 K-12 public school districts to provide partial in-person learning. Cooper was concerned the bill didn’t comply with state health guidelines and wouldn’t give schools the flexibility to shut down in the event of an emergency, such as a surge in viral transmission.
After receiving his first Pfizer vaccine dose at the WakeMed Raleigh Campus on Wednesday, the governor told reporters he spoke with lawmakers from both parties earlier that day about how to improve Senate Bill 37.
He said the conversations would continue, noting he and state lawmakers “pretty much in agreement.”
“There are some issues of degree that we disagree on, but we should be able to come to an agreement,” he said. “I believe that our children need to be back in the classroom. We just need to make sure that it is done safely, and we need to make sure that officials have emergency power to deal with things like a variant that could go tearing through our population in schools.”
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Anderson is a corps members for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
