NJ In-Person School Instruction To Start; Districts Can Go Remote

NEW JERSEY – Gov. Phil Murphy, speaking during a Wednesday news conference, said school districts can choose to go all-remote when school restarts in September, but in-school instruction can resume immediately. Murphy made the announcement as he revealed 484 new coronavirus cases and nine more deaths (you can watch the news conference here, below).

Murphy said he's clearing schools and colleges to reopen for the upcoming academic year.

"In-person instruction may fully resume immediately should institutions so desire and so long as social distancing among other protections are strictly adhered to," Murphy said.

At the same time, districts that cannot meet New Jersey's core health and safety standards for in-person instruction will begin the school year in an all-remote fashion, the governor said.

Kevin Dehmer, the state's interim education commissioner, said the governor's actions recognize there isn't a "one-size-fits-all plan" for reopening schools.

But Dehmer said the executive order gives districts "time to plan for and implement health and safety standards" while continuing to provide instruction remotely.

But those districts that begin the year on a remote basis must still make a "good faith effort" to eventually resume in-person instruction, and they must "define" a time for when they plan to do so, Dehmer said.

"Educators and pediatric experts agree on the importance of in-person instruction to a child's educational and developmental growth and we all agree that in-person instruction must be done as safe as possible," he said.

The decision to allow districts to start the year on an all-remote basis is a reversal, since Murphy first said that districts must provide some component of in-person instruction. New Jersey school districts previously were allowed to provide virtual and remote education only as an option for individual parents and their children.

Now, hundreds of school districts could possibly discover that they're unable to reopen their buildings safely, compelling them to switch to all-remote learning while working to restart in-person instruction.

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association released a statement, saying:

“We are aware of the governor’s announcement today and are continuing on our current path. Schools – including those offering only virtual instruction – will have the option of participating in interscholastic athletics, although we certainly respect the decision of any school or athlete choosing not to participate. We remain in regular communication with state leaders and stand ready to modify as necessary.”

The governor's office made the announcement as a growing number of districts, such as Elizabeth, have defied the governor's order and announced that they will go all-remote.

The governor said he's willing to work with districts that need flexibility to operate remotely until it is safe to return to in-person learning.

It's not clear, however, when it will be safe since a vaccine isn't expected to be available for months.

Some districts have been experiencing teacher shortages, with many educators saying they don't want to take the risk of getting the coronavirus from children. Some have even written wills, expecting the worst.

Murphy has insisted that having in-person education is essential to children even as the number of cases continues to rise in New Jersey. Read more: NJ Coronavirus, School Reopen Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

This past week, New Jersey updated its guidance as school officials and teachers have increased pressure to shut school buildings because of the coronavirus crisis. Read more: NJ Provides More School Guidance As Pressure To Go Remote Mounts

Watch Murphy here:

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