The New Jersey Department of Education has released guidelines to make it clear that giving parents the option to choose all-remote learning for their children this school year should be allowed by school districts around the state as part of their reopening plans.
The guidelines include:
- Unconditional eligibility for full-time remote learning.
- Clearly defined procedures for families to follow to submit a request for remote learning.
- A student participating in remote learning must be afforded the same quality and scope of instruction and educational services as students in the classroom.
- Procedures to allow students to transition from full-time remote learning to in-person services.
- School districts must report to the NJDOE data regarding participation in full-time remote learning.
- Procedures for communicating with the students’ families.
Earlier this month Gov. Phil Murphy stated that schools would reopen in September for the new school year, but stated that parents who were uncomfortable sending their children back into school during the pandemic would have the option for remote learning.
Many districts around the state released their reopening plans, with several opting to go with a hybrid reopening plan that involves in-person and virtual lessons.