If schools close for the upper CDC recommended time

[sarisataka]

of 20 weeks, will children all just repeat the grade they are currently in?

There are approximately 10 weeks remaining in the school year. Closing for 20 weeks now would take us to the end of July. That would only leave August to make up the missed time. Also teachers would have no time to prepare for the next school year.

It could be possible to do a combined year for many grades and complete the current year curriculum and seguing into the next, but what about those who are graduating? How can a high school senior do 2-3 months worth of work to complete their graduation requirement in a single month then immediately go into college?

[TEB]

1. I heard

That they can the department of education can grant waivers. Now I heard this the other day on television from Pennsylvania head of education.

[Freddie]

4. Yes

Because Gov. Wolf declared the state of emergency and schools closed, they don’t have to make up the days. That’s why a lot of districts waited for the state to make the decision to close.

[sarisataka]

5. Waivers could be used to pass kids along

But the next grade will have to consider they missed out on nearly a third of the previous grade.

[uppityperson]

2. That's a good question. But keeping them open isn't an option

We live in interesting times.

[Native]

3. My guess is there will be work done at home.

Online learning - lesson plans disseminated - what have you. They'll have to provide computers for the kids who don't have them & internet service, but anything else seems even more convoluted. If kids are forced to stay home, we probably won't be going to work outside of ours homes either, and the government will have to compensate families who are struggling. I've read that the cost to the system not to take precautions will actually ending up costing us considerable more.

[sarisataka]

6. My wife works at the school

Our son goes to. They are planning how they can accomplish at least some home learning.

Their challenge is it is a small parochial school that opened itself to serving an immigrant community. In 40% of the families English is not the primary language at home and often the parents do not speak it at all. Most of them also do not have a computer let alone internet access. Many rely on the school to feed the kids two meals a day plus bring home supplemental food to the rest of the family

Even if someone were to donate the computer and internet resources, the lack of ESL support will limit how effective the learning can be. That does not address the nutrition problem.

[Native]

7. I'm wondering if the government will even get involved in assisting the private schools -

I'd initially think that it would have to be up to the religious organizations or the private owners to make the necessary changes/accommodations. I know that we are legally bound to provide an education for our children, but having a public option fulfills that obligation, so they may not feel they have to provide assistance - your child and others could simply enroll in the public school. That said, I would think a case could be made for some help considering our gov't doesn't seem to have a problem helping or bailing out private, for-profit companies like automobile makers, banks, and now the shale industry.

Most kids do e-learning on iPads these days, at least around here. Children are so adept at screen learning, and the internet companies may come through with access.

I saw a post by a chef in response to the choice not to close NY schools because of the nutrition issue. He suggested that the kitchens in the closed schools keep running to provide the meals, which could then be delivered to the homes. He also suggested that it might even be cheaper to simply provide each family with a bag of groceries for their own use rather than cooked meals.

One thing you can count on - our resourcefulness. I honestly don't believe there is anything we can't find a solution to. Parents, particularly women, are especially resourceful.

Added on edit: I have no experience with English as a second language learners; however (not to minimize what you'll have to overcome), we had great success in our county with non-verbal I.Q. tests given to first-graders, and we have a large population of ESL students and low-income families - I have to imagine that ESL teachers and the entire community that supports this area of education have ways to make this work.