New York Schools Get Reopening Guidance

New York parents and school administrators are getting long-awaited answers to their questions about how to get back to school in person and if that is possible in a COVID-19 world.

Governor Andrew Cuomo says schools will be allowed to open for the fall in areas where the coronavirus is under control, which is the phase four areas of the state.

Education officials, meantime, outlined a draft of guidance for whether that happens in-person, remotely or a combination of both.

Districts have until July 31 to detail school-by-school reopening plans.

The State Education Department Guidance document can be found online. 

Cuomo says they'll be able to move forward with the districts in regions that are both in phase four of the state’s overall reopening and have seen average daily infection rates of 5 percent or less for two weeks.  Schools would have to close if infection rates rise to nine percent.

Education officials stressed the information outlined in the presentation to the Board of Regents is not a state-wide directive but an outline of guidance measures for districts in qualifying areas.