D.C. Public Schools’ plan to allow some elementary school students to classrooms next month amid the coronavirus pandemic will prioritize those who are experiencing homelessness, have special education needs, are at risk or learning English as a second language, school officials said.
WRC-TV (Channel 4) reported the school district will notify families who will be offered a position in the in-person learning classroom program by Friday, with some students placed in small classrooms with a teacher and other pupils being put in a CARE classroom, which is taught by a teacher working remotely and supervised by an adult who could be a high school or administrative staff member.
In-person learning for those selected students will begin Nov. 9.
The Washington Teachers’ Union has been uneasy over the school system’s plans, citing health and safety concerns. On Tuesday, the D.C. Public Employee Relations Board ruled the city didn’t bargain in good faith with the union, as required by law, about their in-person concerns, WRC reported.
As of Thursday, D.C. has reported 16,537 coronavirus cases, including 642 deaths, according to city health department statistics.