Schools Expected to Leave Virtual Learning Behind in the Fall, but the Delta Variant Is Forcing a Change in Plans

Public school leaders in Des Moines, Iowa had planned on teaching all their elementary school students face-to-face this fall. But weeks before classes are set to begin, the district’s youngest students remain ineligible for vaccination against COVID-19, Iowa schools are prohibited from requiring students to wear masks in class, and the Delta variant is spreading rapidly. That combination of challenges led the Des Moines School Board to vote Tuesday to offer a virtual learning option for elementary school families who are concerned about in-person classes during another pandemic school year. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] “We wanted to provide — especially for those families who have a student who’s at particularly high risk of contracting the virus— an option to stay with the district, keep their child at home,” school superintendent Thomas Ahart said at the board meeting Tuesday. “And when they’re comfortable and when conditions allow, they can transition back into a live classroom,” he said. “My hope is that the need will dissipate, and we’ll have all our students in person.” Read more: When Parents Said No to Their Kids Being Vaccinated, This Teenager Created VaxTeen. It’s Now More Crucial Than Ever Many school districts had planned on only offering in-person learning this fall, hoping for a more normal school year with fewer pandemic concerns after a tumultuous year of remote a...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized COVID-19 Education nationpod News Source Type: news