Source: Shelby County Schools
A Memphis parent group is demanding answers on the Shelby County Schools (SCS) decision last week on how to return to school during the pandemic.
SCS announced last week it would allow parents to choose the method of learning that is best for their child, virtual or in-person. SCS’s Strategic Action for Flexible Education (S.A.F.E.) reentry plan gives parents until July 18th to decide which educational path they want for their child in the first semester of the 2020-2021 school year. Parents can change the decision after the first semester.
Students returning to physical schools will find a face mask requirement and new procedures for hand-washing, temperature checks, student meals, before- and aftercare, and more.
“This is a new reality for all of us, and we are going to have to work our way through the coming school year together with the guidance of the health department and the CDC,” reads s statement from SCS. “For now, we know this year will be unlike any we’ve ever experienced, so we ask for your patience as we do everything with the best interest of our students and employees in mind.
“We will make decisions using the best data and direction we have available to us, and we are committed to keep our families, staff, and community informed along the way.”
Memphis Lift, a group of parents and grandparents, released a new parent manifesto Tuesday, calling for more answers from school leaders.
Some of those questions include: Can we guarantee that technology will be delivered to all students by the start of the school year and will delivery by prioritized based on student need? Will those devices be pre-programmed with the necessary learning tools and programs?
How are we going to reverse learning loss? Will an individualized plan be created for each child?
Do we plan to assess all children at the beginning of the year to identify exactly where they stand academically and build a tailored program around each individual child?
“No family should have to choose between getting a quality education and their health, and no parent should have to see their child struggle to get great instruction,” said Memphis Lift executive director and education advocate Sarah Carpenter. “Our school system must adapt. While the decision to let parents choose whether their child attends class in-person or online in the fall is an important step in the right direction, it’s only a first step. So many important questions remain unanswered.“
Carpenter said remote-learning will be a larger part of the district’s educational system going forward as COVID-19 cases continue to grow. Memphis Lift is asking for “quality technology” to be delivered to students before the school year and that those students should have individualized learning plans.