When Reopening Schools Safety Must Come First

As more and more states and countries reopen their respective economies, schools will soon follow. Early lessons can be learned on how to do this successfully where this has already happened abroad.  Even though remote learning might continue in some form preparations for in-person learning have to be made. In a recent post, I outlined eight specific focus areas that should be considered as part of any re-entry plan.  The theme of health and safety was weaved throughout, but not emphasized in the image I had created.  After receiving feedback from several educators on social media, I rectified this oversight, but it also got me thinking a great deal more about what is on every educator's mind. When school does reopen will it be safe?

Safety is at the top of everyone's mind. A poll conducted by USA Today sheds some light on what essential stakeholder groups are thinking.

In an exclusive USA TODAY/Ipsos poll, 1 in 5 teachers say they are unlikely to go back to school if their classrooms reopen in the fall, a potential massive wave of resignations. While most teachers report working more than usual, nearly two-thirds say they haven't been able to properly do their jobs in an educational system upended by the coronavirus. A separate poll of parents with at least one child in grades K-12 finds that 6 in 10 say they would be likely to pursue at-home learning options instead of sending back their children this fall. Nearly a third of parents, 30%, say they are "very likely" to do that. 

Reassurance that schools will be safe has to be backed up by action, and planning must begin in earnest now.

I want to take my original question a step further. When schools and districts reopen will it be safe for everyone? Up to this point, the majority of conversations I have witnessed on social media, news pieces, and articles have focused on students' health and safety. It goes without saying that this is an extremely important group and should be emphasized. However, we must not forget all of the people that support kids both directly and indirectly, such as teachers, administrators, secretaries, instructional aides, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, custodians, groundskeepers, and other support staff.  The planning and step-by-step process of reopening have to be inclusive of, and sensitive to, everyone who plays a role in the functioning of a school or district.  

Even though those in power are ultimately responsible for developing a re-entry plan, successfully implementing it relies on all of the groups listed above.  Not only does it take a village in this case, but empathy and understanding need to lead the way. People need to feel valued, and the key is to have all stakeholders be an active part of the planning process so that health and safety concerns are not only addressed but acted upon. Below are some critical areas to consider as you or others lead a process to reopen schools safely.

Engage

It is vital to create opportunities for all stakeholders to be active participants in the planning process. If face-to-face meetings and town halls are not an option, set these up virtually. Also, consider creating polls or using tools such as Google Forms and social media to elicit input.

Listen

Engagement only matters if people feel that they are actually being listened to. The best way to illustrate that you have really listened is to act in some way so that the other person, or people, know that they were actually heard. The action could be moving an idea forward or explaining your decision to go in another direction. Share minutes and poll results. Respond to questions and pertinent comments on social media or through email. There will be times during the process when people just want to vent and be listened to. In these cases, the most important thing you can do is show you care. Listening is a lost art that needs to be embraced. 

Prioritize

The purpose of the engagement and listening process is to develop a list of action items to be considered.  When it comes to the health and safety of all, many valid ideas should be considered. Nonetheless, they will need to be prioritized in order of importance with health and safety given top billing.

Consensus

Sometimes decisions have to be made at the drop of a dime, but this does not. For the big decisions that will dramatically alter school culture post-COVID19, it is imperative that all stakeholders be represented, and their input is taken into consideration. Consensus means coming to a general agreement with those who have offered their perspectives and voices on how to open up schools safely.

All means all

No stone can go unturned when it comes to developing a course of action that impacts every person in a school or district. Inclusivity and equity need to be emphasized with a laser-like focus on the foundational levels of Maslow's Hierarchy, of which health and safety fall into. There will also be unseen issues that staff are grappling with. Sound plans must also account for the mental health needs of kids and adults.

Opening schools back up requires a team effort. People must not only be invited to the conversation, but their input has to be valued. The best way to do this is by following the guidelines listed above and show them that their concerns and contributions have been threaded into a re-entry plan.

Be sure to check out my entire #remotelearning series. 

Protecting Kids During and After Remote Learning

With more and more schools either extending school closures or completely shutting down for the remainder of the academic year, a focus on remote learning will continue into the foreseeable future. While many schools and districts have had to grapple with digital equity issues, their focus will continue to be offering a blended approach to meet the needs of all learners best.  However, a good amount of schools were either well-prepared before or purchased devices and WIFI for all students at the onset of the pandemic and, as a result, have been able to leverage technology to meet specified learning goals. In both cases, I can't commend enough the efforts of teachers and administrators for rising to the challenge.

For the sake of this post, I want to focus on keeping kids safe when they are engaged on devices as part of a remote learning plan.  It is imperative to know the laws in each respective country to ensure student safety. Here in the United States, there are two in particular that I am going to focus on briefly.  I go into more depth on these in Digital Leadership. Each is designed to ensure that identities and information of minors are protected.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) - A Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records. As with any other "education record," a photo or video of a student is an education record, subject to specific exclusions when the photo or video is: (1) directly related to a student; and (2) maintained by an educational agency or institution or by a party acting for the agency or institution. You can review the entire FAQ's as it relates to photos and video HERE.

The Children's Online Privacy and Protection Act (COPPA): A law that gives parents control over what information websites can collect from their kids. It outlines explicitly how websites, apps, and other online operators collect data and personal information from kids under the age of 13. Schools can grant COPPA consent if the tool is used solely for an educational purpose. The information collected must be "for the use and benefit of the school, and for no other commercial purpose." It should be noted that this can be a slippery slope for schools. For more information, check out this article from Common Sense Education.

Here's the bottom line. During synchronous instruction using Zoom or Google Hangouts, don't take pictures of kids and post them to social media. Even if waivers have been signed, it is better to err on the side of caution. The same can be said about recording and sharing a video with kids' faces displayed.  When it comes to COPPA, make sure students meet the age requirements for any tool that you plan to have them use. I know that this might make some educators unhappy, but Zoom is not COPPA compliant. Below is a snippet from the Zoom Terms of Service:

You affirm that You are at least 16 years of age and are otherwise fully able and competent to enter into the terms, conditions, obligations, affirmations, representations, and warranties set forth in this. The Services are intended for business use. You may choose to use the Services for other purposes, subject to the terms and limitations of this Agreement. Zoom is not intended for use by individuals under the age of 16 unless it is through a School Subscriber (as that term is defined in Exhibit A) using Zoom for Education (K-12). Individuals under the age of 16 may not create accounts or use the Services except as described herein.

That's it in a nutshell when it comes to keeping kids safe during remote learning.  There is, however, another aspect of this new normal that needs some attention, and that is helping to ensure student safety when kids are online in general.  Gaming and social media use by kids has risen dramatically during social distancing. Thus, it is vital to remind parents and students to be vigilant online.  Below are some important considerations when it comes to keeping kids safe online.

• Utilize strong passwords
• Regularly update software
• Upgrade the security of your home network
• Always back up files both offline and online
• Manage social media profiles
• Get passwords to all of your kids' accounts
• Diligently check security and privacy settings
• Never open up suspicious emails or attachments
• Don't friend anyone you don't know
• Use devices in common areas of the home
• Invest in a VPN and anti-virus protection for all devices

The safety of our kids and abiding by the laws set by our respective countries is of utmost importance as learning continues during the pandemic. However, many of the tips shared in this post will be just as important as schools begin to move towards some sense of normalcy when they reopen.  The role of technology to personalize learning through blended approaches will only become more prevalent.  Stay vigilant my friends and keep up the great work.

Be sure to check out my entire #remotelearning series.