Parents, teachers, students, and school administrators are working hard to determine the best way to return to school while the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues. In Pennsylvania, officials have been keeping tabs on transmission levels in the hopes that school districts will be able to reopen with full in-person learning.
Is in-Person learning the Best Option for Students?
Most parents and educators agree that in-person interactions in schools provides the most benefits for children of all ages.
Schools will offer services and protections to vulnerable student populations as well. In addition to offering special education services to students with learning issues, school support can meet the needs of students that are hungry, abused, or struggling with mental health concerns.
Is it Safe for Schools to Reopen?
Parents and educators must balance health concerns with the students’ educational needs and other support requirements. In order to safely reopen schools, district officials are aiming to mitigate the dangers by implementing safety protocols. Safety guidelines include mask mandates for students and staff, hand hygiene, and plans to break students into cohorts or learning pods to allow for proper socially distant classrooms.
There have been many studies and much debate about how likely children are to carry and spread the virus and how that probability might affect family members. Although there are risks involved in schools reopening, students can help reduce these risks by practicing safety precautions.
Are All Schools Reopening in Pennsylvania?
Depending on the level of community transmission, the state suggests that districts opt for either a full in-person model, a blended model, or a full remote model. The two transmission conditions that determine which model should be implemented are based on the incidence rate per 100,000 residents over a seven-day period and the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) method, which detects the genetic material of the virus to indicate an active infection over the same seven-day period.
Markers that indicate a low transmission rate is when there is less than 10 infections per 100,000 residents and less than a five percent PCR positivity rate, which call for schools to adopt either a full-in person model or blended learning plans.
When conditions are between 10 and 100 cases per 100,000 residents or a PCR positivity rate between five and 10 percent, either a blended or full remote learning model is suggested.
When a substantial transmission is detected in the community, which is 100 or more cases per 100,000 residents or more than a 10 percent PCR positivity rate, the recommendation is that schools employ a full remote learning model.
If a school is not following safety protocols and a child is injured or sickened because of negligence, the victim may be entitled to compensation. To determine if one has ability to pursue any type of legal action, it is important to speak to a lawyer right away.
Chester County Personal Injury Lawyers at Eckell Sparks Represent Clients Injured on School Properties
If your child was injured on school property, you may be entitled to compensation. Our Chester County personal injury lawyers at Eckell, Sparks, Levy, Auerbach, Monte, Sloane, Matthews & Auslander, P.C. help victims injured by negligent parties. Contact us online or call us at 610-565-3701 for a free consultation. Located in Media and West Chester, Pennsylvania, we serve clients throughout Delaware County, Chester County, and Montgomery County.