In case of coronavirus closures, NJ schools can teach students at home, says state

The New Jersey Department of Education has directed schools to make plans for home instruction in case they need to close due to worries about COVID-19, the disease triggered by the new coronavirus.

The guidance released Thursday addresses a lingering concern for local school officials, saying that in case of a public health emergency, the state will count days of home learning toward the requirement that districts provide 180 days of instruction.

"While the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in New Jersey remains low, the NJDOE has issued guidance to increase flexibility for districts to provide home instruction in the event of mandated public health school closures," officials wrote.

The directive comes as schools scramble to develop emergency plans in case of a coronavirus outbreak or local exposure even as authorities work to contain the spread of the disease. Four coronavirus cases emerged this week in New Jersey. Three were in Bergen County, and the other was in Camden County.

Local superintendents, meanwhile, said they were rushing to set up schedules for online classes and ensuring teachers and students had the necessary technology.

State regulations had allowed schools to provide home instruction in case a student had health problems, was suspended or obtained a court order. But the rules did not account for emergency closures, which created some confusion for administrators.

According to the state, home instruction can include online classes, direct services, services provided through a contract with another school district, or any other means developed by the district to meet the needs of its students.

Concerns remain for younger pupils and low-income students who may lack computer access or internet connections at home. In an interview, Steven Baker, a spokesman for the New Jersey Education Association, said that the prospect of closing schools for an extended period was “uncharted territory.”

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“We are very concerned that not all students have equal access to the online tools needed to take advantage of remote learning,” he said last week. “We urge districts and the New Jersey Department of Education to do everything in their power to ensure that no students are denied their right to public education because they are unable to access the internet.”

To count toward the 180-day requirement, schools must be shut down by a written directive from the New Jersey Department of Health or the health officer in a jurisdiction. 

School closures in over a dozen countries due to the coronavirus outbreak have disrupted the education of at least 290.5 million students, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO.

Around the United States, a smattering of schools have also closed their doors as the number of cases grow. That includes the Frisch School, a private Jewish school in Paramus, and several schools in Westchester and New York City.

In its guidance, the state also called for schools to plan for delivery of special education and for the provision of school nutrition benefits or services to eligible students in case of closings.

In addition, the state warned that health officials could call for a "tiered system of social distancing" in schools, by limiting functions such as sports events and assemblies, to lower the risk of exposure.

What will home lessons look like?

Steven Forte, superintendent of Denville's K-8 school district, said officials have made plans in the past to deal with potential health risks from bird flu and SARS, but the coronavirus scare has presented new challenges and opportunities.

“Things are different now so those plans are pretty much obsolete," Forte said. "We are pretty much throwing them out and starting from scratch in our district."

"We didn’t have Wi-Fi then. They didn’t have Google Classroom. Technology is going to help a lot compared to what it was in 2006,” he added.

In his Morris County district, every student in grades six to eight has a Chromebook that they take home and all teachers have laptops, Forte said. The district would be able to provide computers for students in the lower grades to take home as well.

“One of the issues will be kids that don’t have Wi-Fi,” said Forte. “But we installed Wi-Fi in the community center at the south side of town for some people that might not have Wi-Fi.”

Morris Hills Regional District Superintendent James Jencarelli said he has heard from vendors offering to provide online resources and video content. Two companies, he said, offered "free access throughout the crisis." 

“Some companies are really stepping up and allowing us to jump in without cost to the district, but you have to vet these things and see if they meet state standards," he said. 

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Computer and Wi-Fi access was a big concern. One option, he said, would be to loan out MiFi devices, which can establish internet connections for multiple users. The district already has several of those, he said.

“It needs to be an equitable situation for a student who doesn’t have access," he said, adding that "public places with Wi-Fi may not be helpful when people are quarantined."

Jencarelli said he will survey the district to see who doesn’t have access. He said superintendents were calling each other Friday to brainstorm.

Currently, the district is considering a plan for 35-minute online classes with 10-minute breaks in between. It wouldn't be a full day, but rather a modified schedule, he said. Students could use Google Hangouts, a communications platform, to participate in lessons and give questions or feedback.

“We have to make sure that we are providing the right amount of time for students to complete the work and they may be in charge of watching younger siblings because somebody has to be at work,” Jencarelli said.

Certain lessons could take place anytime, he said. A teacher, for example, could show a video and establish blocks of time for students to login, comment and collaborate.

"Learning is much deeper when students are collaborating," Jencarelli said. "I also don’t want to give kids busywork. It has to be a learning opportunity." 

Hannan Adely is an education and diversity reporter for NorthJersey.com. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: adely@northjersey.com Twitter: @adelyreporter