Ontario unveiled its safety plan for the resumption of schools, outlining three possible scenarios for returning to the classroom. Education Minister Stephen Lecce announced the details of the plan during the government’s daily COVID-19 briefing on June 19.
The plan offers general guidelines for safety and cleaning protocols, but Lecce said parents and school boards would have flexibility and choice in terms of which model to implement. After Sept, some school boards in low risk regions may be able to return to more conventional learning environments.
“Nothing is more important than protecting our kids in this province. Parents expect us to take every precaution to keep their children safe when they go back to school in September – and that’s exactly what we’re delivering today,” said Premier Ford. “This plan takes the best medical advice available from our public heath experts to ensure every school board and every school is ready to ensure students continue learning in the safest way possible.”
Parents will be able to choose whether to send their children to in-person classes or enroll them in online learning programs.
Boards will be asked to plan for the following three scenarios:
- Normal school day routine with enhanced public health protocols. Students would go to school every day, in classes that reflect standard class sizes.
- Modified school day routine. Under this model, school boards are asked to maintain a limit of 15 students in the classroom at a time and adopt timetabling that would allow for students to remain in contact only with their classmates and a single teacher for as much of the school day as possible. This model would require alternate day or alternate week delivery to a segment of the class at one time.
- At home learning. Should the school closure be extended, or some parents choose not to send their child back to school, school boards need to be prepared to offer remote education. Remote education should be delivered online to the greatest extent possible, including the establishment of minimum expectations for students to have direct contact with their teacher at the same time on a regular basis, also known as synchronous learning. Synchronous learning can be used as part of whole class instruction, in smaller groups of students, and/or in a one-on-one context.
Under the adapted delivery model, transportation and bell times would be staggered to limit the number of students present at a time, among a variety of other considerations to ensure the safety of students and staff.
“We are taking every precaution, investing more, and listening to the best medical advice in the country to keep students, staff, and families safe,” said Minister Lecce. “I want to assure parents safety is our guiding principle and the right supports are being put in place to ensure our students are set up for success. I am grateful to Ontario students, education staff, and communities for stepping up during this difficult period.”
Key elements of the safety plan include:
- Guidance for developing health and safety protocols, including the use of PPE
- Expectations of an in-class school environment
- Professional development training for teachers on the new protocols and directions
- Supports for students with special education needs
- Enhanced mental health and well-being supports
- Proposals on how educators and students can move fluidly between in-class and remote learning
- Guidelines to help schools and boards in their communications with students and parents
- Guidelines for student transportation systems
- Expectations for the delivery of curriculum and assessment across subjects and grades
- Guidance for working with First Nations students, parents and communities
- Regional options for reopening based on the advice of local public health authorities
- A checklist to help boards in their reopening planning
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