Updates on Deaf schools reopening this fall
Going back to school will look different for us this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. There are many questions, concerns, and anxious feelings about reopening schools. These schools will need to make decisions on what to do when they reopen and also consider other decisions like technology, online friendly materials, parents’ concerns, and so forth.
We, the Daily Moth, looked at various Deaf schools across the USA to see their plans for reopening. We will share what we know so far. We did not cover every Deaf school, but we will share some.
Keep in mind that if the situation changes related with COVID cases in each state, their decisions might change. What we are sharing is based on the information we got from our contacts or on the school’s website.
I have an iPad next to me. It has a list of Deaf schools and their decisions. I will look back and forth from the list on my iPad. There are 4 categories.
The first category- schools that will be fully online (remote/distance learning).
Model Secondary School for the Deaf will provide online learning until Jan 2021 then will decide what the next step will be.
Tennessee School for the Deaf will provide online learning for 9 weeks then will evaluate what the next step will be.
California School for the Deaf Riverside will do online learning as long as needed since they are working with state offices until whenever they decide it is safe to return to campus again.
Maryland School for the Deaf will do full online learning. Their start classes on August 31st and it will be all online learning. The campus won’t be open until Jan 25, 2021.
Washington School for the Deaf will provide online learning until October 31st then will evaluate again if online learning needs to continue.
The second category are schools that are offering choices on in-person classes or remote learning.
Florida School for the Deaf and Blind plans to reopen on August 31st for in person classes, but will offer online classes for families who do not feel comfortable sending their child for in person classes.
Iowa School for the Deaf: ISD is back with full students with online options for students who are immunocompromised or have family who are high risk.
Georgia School for the Deaf’s first day of school is August 24th and GSD will offer two choices of remote learning or in person learning. The choices are for the first 9 weeks. After that, GSD will see what the next step is.
Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind- Recently, the governor of Hawaii declared a quarantine order for two weeks, and this even applies to travel within Hawaii’s islands. But HSDB is waived from that. All HSDB students will have the option of in person instruction or online.
The third category is a hybrid model or reopening in phases.
New Mexico School for the Deaf will do remote learning until September 8th then will transition to hybrid which gives a choice for students to have in person classes or online. Students who live further than 60 miles will have to do remote learning. NMSD staff will meet with students who live more than 60 miles away to provide in person support at a “learning center.”
Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf will have 3 phases: 1st phase is remote learning for 3 weeks. If cases do not spike up then they will transit to the 2nd phase which is hybrid. If it continues to look good then will transit to the 3rd phase which is back on campus.
Texas School for the Deaf will do remote learning for 3 weeks then they will decide either in person classes or continue virtual learning.
There are the three and now the fourth and last category is the “waiting” group.
Rhode Island School for the Deaf is waiting for their governor to approve of their plans. They will know more after August 16th or 17th.
The Learning Center for the Deaf is waiting until after August 10th to make a decision.
These are what we know so far. Depending on how things go, things could change. You can keep an eye out on the schools’ websites for updates. We do wish the best of luck for all of the teachers and staff at every school for this new kind phase of our lives. We also are thinking of the students who will go through this change as well. Stay safe for this fall!