Guidance for decision-making regarding the use of in-person, hybrid (blended), or remote learning models in Connecticut schools during COVID-19
The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) and State Department of Education (SDE) have developed a framework and key metrics based on a combination considerations to guide local district decision-making on the use of remote versus in-person learning for the fall. This includes indicators of the spread and prevalence of COVID-19 in the community, as well as the physical and operational ability of schools to implement strategies to mitigate spread.
Adapted from recommendations by the Harvard Global Institute and supplemented by existing DPH measures, DPH and SDE recommend using the number of new cases, adjusted for population, as the key leading metric for community spread with suggested thresholds for differential risk categories. Each week, DPH, SDE, and local health departments will review the public health data and make any recommended changes between the “low,” “moderate,” and “high” categories by county. Leading and secondary indicators will also be updated by DPH on a weekly basis.
The data is published online and made available as part of the State of Connecticut’s Open Data portal.
The “low” and “moderate” categories indicate conditions in the area are appropriate for schools to provide at least a partial in-school option to students. For districts in the “low” or “moderate” categories that decide not to provide an in-school option, an exception review is required from a panel with representatives from the SDE, DPH, and the State Board of Education. As district and building-level decisions will ultimately be made at the local level, superintendents should consider developing an advisory group consisting of their school medical advisor, local health director, and school nurse leader to consult and inform decision-making.
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