Middle and high schools in New York will not open until 2021

New York public middle and high school students will not return to full-time education until January 2021. This was announced on Monday, November 30, by the mayor Bill de Blasio, the newspaper reports. AMNY.

Over the next few weeks, right up to the Christmas break, the focus will be on the restoration of face-to-face primary schooling, special education, and kindergarten.

The mayor noted that after the winter holidays it will be possible to assess the situation in order to understand how to proceed.

De Blasio announced Sunday that students enrolled in face-to-face classes in public schools will begin returning to the newly closed school buildings in phases starting December 7.

The city's youngest students - 3-K and Pre-K - will return to full-time education starting December 10.

Recall New York schools were quarantined on November 19 after the proportion of positive tests for COVID-19 in the city exceeded 3%. This figure was set by the mayor and is the threshold for school closures. All students switched to distance learning.

After the second quarantine closure, officials decided to come up with a new plan to reopen schools. Bill de Blasio has repeatedly stressed that COVID-19 testing will play an important role in allowing students to return to buildings.

Students will now be randomly tested on a weekly basis and parents will be required to sign a Test Consent Form for each student who will attend face-to-face classes. Starting December 7, 20% of all students and school staff will be required to randomly test for the virus on a weekly basis.

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In October, the city began requiring monthly testing of 20% of all adults and children in school buildings. Bill de Blasio said Monday that the city will increase the number of tests administered in schools. He noted that the city's task is to open secondary and high schools, but for this it is necessary to act “step by step”.

De Blasio noted on Monday that most students who return to school buildings in December and January will be able to attend face-to-face classes for five days of the week. However, the city authorities have not yet specified how they plan to organize distance learning for those who need it.