Governor Andy Beshear announced his road map for students to return to the classroom in 2021 with the Kentucky Department of Health recommending schools not return to in-person classes until January 11.
The state has been using an incidence rate map to determine the path for schools to decide on when to return to classes or offer virtual learning. The map is based on a county’s new COVID-19 cases over a seven-day period and then adjusted by population. On Monday, only two counties in the state were not in the red.
Based on the map, an increase of four new cases per day per week in Trigg County and 18 new cases per day per week in Christian County is enough to make the county a ‘red county’ on the incidence map.
Beshear said when a county goes “orange,” the state recommends a hybrid and remote schedule of in-person classes to reduce the number of students.
click to download audioWhen a county goes “red”, the state recommends remote learning or implementing a hybrid model by decreasing the numbers of individuals in a school at any time.
click to download audioBeshear said schools must also provide a “meaningful” virtual option for every class.
click to download audioLast month, Beshear ordered all private and public schools in the state to stop in-person classes and switch to virtual instruction until Jan. 4. On Monday, he said the state recommends resuming in-person classes on Jan. 11 because coronavirus incubation can take as long as 14 days which would cover a post-Christmas surge in cases.
click to download audioUnder the plan, schools must work to accommodate educators who fall into a high-risk category with virtual options. Beshear also said the state’s “Healthy at School” guidelines that cover social distancing, the wearing of masks, and other safety measures in classrooms will be mandatory beginning Jan. 4.
Beshear’s order last month to close schools met with criticism from some educators who said the governor did not ask for input from school superintendents before sending students home for the remainder of 2020. National public health experts such as the Centers for Disease Control have also said schools should continue in-person classes because the data has not shown they are contributed to an increased spread of the coronavirus.
The governor said there will be an executive order outlining the new guidance for schools later this week.
