Utah grade schools will not reopen this school year Gov. Gary Herbert said Tuesday afternoon.
State superintendent Syd Dickson said all realize that the paramount question is keeping students, parents and teachers safe.
Herbert also addressed, from a reporter’s question, who will decide when Utah “opens up” for business again.
Herbert said while he — and other governors — are working daily with GOP President Donald Trump, it will be the governors who decide when to open their states.
Utah “is well prepared,” said Herbert. “We have the most comprehensive plan” to reopen businesses and society of any state, said Herbert.
And when to open up will be data-driven, said Herbert — clearly indicating that Trump won’t make those decisions for Utah.
Dickson sad kids need to still be fed, if they got their meals at schools, learning online and other ways, graduate from high school, have their emotional needs met through counseling and other programs, and keep school employees, from teachers, administrators, bus drivers and others, gainfully employed, said Dickson.
That must continue for now.
But there are plans for what is called the “second phase:”
“We know there are achievement gaps,” she said.
Some students, unfortunately, have become “disengaged.” For whatever reasons, are not learning much, or at all, from home.
And those kids may have to take some online, or even school-based, courses over the summer if the virus drops down. Some may have to have more personalized tutoring.
And for the online classes now taking place, maybe some will be pass/fail, or normal letter grades not given.
“First, do no harm,” said Dickson.
There will have to be some kind of testing, or assessment, to see who has been falling behind their peers — and this may be associated with English as a second language or low-income students.
This crisis is a good opportunity to look at what is working, but even better, what isn’t working, she said.
For example, going forward what can be done to help parents who now are supposed to be teaching at home, and/or conducting online learning, but don’t have the ability to buy computers or other electronic-needed equipment.
