In just over a month, the nation’s largest school system will resume full-time in-person instruction without remote options. That return to normal schooling will require an extraordinary amount of work from a team that includes teachers, parents and students. But the city’s efforts so far have given educators, families and school leaders reason for confidence that this year will be much better than last, when a reopening plan was repeatedly derailed by the coronavirus outbreak’s Delta variant and lagging vaccination rates.
A key component of the NYC’s successful reopening has been the department’s focus on testing and tracking students and staff. Prior to the November closure and reopening in December, families of students up to age 12 completed a survey on their learning preference, and schools then tracked daily teacher-student engagement through an online portal. Families could shift from in-person to exclusively remote learning, and there were clear consequences for missing class—such as documented absences that still required documentation.
Testing frequency has increased since reopening to 20 percent of students and staff each week using a short nasal swab for molecular testing, which can detect viral genetic material. Schools are now closed only if a link between two classrooms is confirmed and a 10-day classroom quarantine is not feasible, or if the city announces a districtwide closure.
Foundations can support this work in a number of ways, including funding for research, technical assistance and training. To identify potential sources, start by asking for ideas from people you know who have a heart for education or young people. Then ask for the names of people they have a connection to who might have skills in financial, legal or management areas.