Pandemic Planning for Distance Learning: Scenarios and Considerations for PreK-12 Education Leaders

ABSTRACT

From the Introduction: PreK-12 [pre-kindergarten to 12th grade] districts are currently considering multiple options for the 2020-21 school year and beyond. Fully returning to traditional in-person settings seems unlikely next year, and recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control lists the many safeguards that would need to be in place before buildings reopen and students are back to classrooms that resemble what they had before. It is clear that some type of distance learning--as well as efforts to ensure all students can get online--must be a part of districts' planning for the next school year and beyond. But terms used to describe distance learning are often muddled and misused, leading to misunderstandings about what students, parents, and teachers should expect.COVID-19 (Disease);Epidemics;Schools;Education