STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — New York City students across the five boroughs will return to public schools on Monday for the first day of the 2021-2022 school year, with numerous health and safety measures in place due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), such as universal mask-wearing, social distancing, health screenings and testing for the illness.
About 1 million students will be back on campus, with no remote or hybrid option available. It’s the first time that every public school student will learn in-person in their school buildings since COVID-19 shuttered campuses in March 2020.
In an effort to provide more information about what students and families can expect for the new academic year, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter unveiled a 13-page handbook outlining the policies and procedures. It was developed using guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH).
It contains information on things like vaccination and mask requirements, testing and closures related to the virus. It also outlines certain medical conditions that qualify for remote home instruction for students.
You can go here for key dates during the 2021-2022 school year.
Here’s what you should know for the first day of school.
Face masks are required
Students and school staff will be required to wear a face mask indoors and outdoors while on school property, regardless of vaccination status. Students who are medically unable to tolerate masks will be provided with alternative accommodations.
Social distancing
Schools will also maintain at least three feet of social distancing to the greatest extent possible, continue disinfecting and cleaning protocols, and increase ventilation in buildings. In accordance with guidance from the CDC, schools will attempt to maintain three feet of physical distance between students whenever possible, but will not exclude students from in-person instruction if they are unable to meet those requirements.
According to the DOE, its Space Planning team has been working with schools with historic space challenges since May to provide extra support to open the buildings this fall. Weekly office hours have been held with leadership at these schools to support planning. The agency is also conducting walk-throughs of every building with school principals and staff to assist with creative solutions and to answer questions.
Health screening
Health Screening Forms will also continue, requiring anyone entering the school building to fill out a form to indicate he or she is not experiencing coronavirus symptoms or had close contact with someone who has COVID-19. If students or staff members feel ill, they must stay home and get tested for COVID-19.
In-school COVID-19 testing
In-school coronavirus testing will also continue biweekly for the unvaccinated school population.
Not all students will be subject to these biweekly, coronavirus tests, just those who are unvaccinated and whose parents have provided consent. Every two weeks, each school will test 10% of unvaccinated students who have consented to in-school testing.
Students who are fully vaccinated will not be subject to random testing.
Go here for a detailed look at coronavirus testing in schools.
Quarantine
The city also updated its quarantine policies depending on the vaccination status of students. In the event of a positive coronavirus case in a classroom, whether a student will be forced to quarantine will be dependent on vaccination status.
In elementary schools, if there is a positive case in a classroom, all students will be required to quarantine for 10 days and will be provided live remote instruction from their teacher during that time. For middle and high school students, quarantine guidelines if there is a positive case will vary based on vaccination status and if a student is showing symptoms.
You can go here for a closer look at the quarantine policies.
Ventilation
The city will continue its strict cleaning measures. Every classroom will also be equipped with two HEPA air purifiers to ensure proper ventilation. Every single classroom across the city has been inspected, updated and repaired as needed.
Families can check the ventilation status of their child’s school online.
Cleaning and disinfecting
Schools will ensure regular cleaning and disinfecting. Each night, every classroom will be deep cleaned using electrostatic sprayers to keep the buildings free of germs.
Bathrooms and hand-washing stations are fully stocked with soap, paper towels and hand sanitizer. Sinks and drinking fountains are in working order and cleaned and disinfected throughout the day, along with other high-touch surfaces.
Vaccination numbers
According to Porter, 72% of teachers in public schools have been vaccinated, and 61% of students 12 to 17 years old have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine.
“We’re confident that our faculty members, our staff members, are going to get that first dose even before the 27th,” Porter said. “We’ve seen our numbers continue to increase and we know that it’s important for us to build a level of protection around our students.”
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