Return to School 2020: Critical Information
Overall Guidance
The 2020-21 school year will start in September 2020. We will announce details about the first day of
school in the coming weeks.
NYC students will be learning 5 days a week, whether in-person in school buildings or remotely at
home.
We are maximizing in-person instruction as much as possible given health and safety guidance, which
includes social distancing. Students will return in either a blended learning model (a combination of
remote learning from home, and in-person instruction in school buildings), or a fully remote learning
model from home, if you so choose.
Health officials have made clear that following basic safety protocols are key to reducing the spread of
COVID-19: social distancing, face coverings (masks), handwashing, and staying home when sick.
Developing Your Child’s Schedule
As of now, given current health and safety guidance, we will not be able to have 100% of students present in a
school building on any given day. You should expect to hear from your school in August regarding your child’s
specific schedule.
Under the blended learning model, students will be taught on-site in school buildings for part of the week, and
will learn remotely from home on the other days of the week.
Schools will choose a schedule from a limited number of models that take into account the space
constraints of their school buildings, and that prioritize consistency for parents and students in their
scheduling.
You can expect your child or children to be in school one to two consistent days per week, with
additional in-person days on a rotating schedule based on groups or cohorts of students.
Schools will make every effort to safely conduct as much instruction in-person as possible, and your
principal will communicate your child’s schedule with you in August.
We know that there are families who may not feel comfortable going back into school buildings in the fall. You
can elect to choose all-remote learning for your child; a web form will be shared with you on July 15 that will
allow you to select that preference by August 7. Families who have chosen fully remote learning at the
beginning of the school year will be allowed to transition back into in-person instruction on a quarterly basis.
Once the school year begins, families can choose to go fully remote at any time.
New Health and Safety Protocols
All people (including students and adults) in a school building should remain at least 6 feet apart at all
times, including in classrooms, common areas, and during lunch periods.
Face coverings will be required for all students, staff, and visitors while inside buildings. Disposable
face coverings will be provided to students and staff who need them.
o Exceptions will be made for those who cannot wear masks for developmental reasons, including
based on their age.
Students and staff will have increased access to handwashing and sanitizer. Schools will be supplied
with additional cleaning supplies, including hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes.
All schools will identify a space to be equipped as an Isolation Room in the event a student or staff
member becomes ill while at school.
Our buildings will be deep-cleaned on a nightly basis with electrostatic disinfectant sprayers, and HVAC
systems are being upgraded to ensure better ventilation.
Equity and Excellence: Our Continued Commitment
Our vision of educational equity and excellence for all students persists even during this time of crisis. We are
laser focused on helping your child achieve academic excellence by providing key academic, social-emotional,
and other supports to unlock their full potential to learn—no matter who they are. We remain focused on high-
quality, tailored instruction for every student. In addition, here is some of what we will do to help our children
reach their highest potential:
We will allow time for students to readjust to being in school buildings, and to adapt to changes.
We will integrate social-emotional learning and trauma-informed care into core academic instruction,
and all New York City public schools will prioritize access to mental health supports throughout the
2020-2021 school year.
For students with IEPs, this fall we will continue to offer in-person services to all who opt to receive in-
person services to the greatest extent possible.
Multilingual learners will receive an instructional program that will ensure continued progress in both
their language development and content area knowledge.
Keeping You Informed
As we finalize plans for a school year like no other in our history, we know how important it is that our
students, families, and staff have the information they need to prepare. We know that for each piece of
information we are providing, more questions can emerge. Please visit the Return to School 2020 webpage at
schools.nyc.gov/returntoschool2020 on a regular basis for the latest updates.
Throughout the summer we will continue to engage with families, students, and community leaders—both
centrally through the DOE and within each school community.
Centrally, the DOE will host a series of online Family & Student Information Sessions to answer any
questions or concerns that families may have. The first of these will be held on July 16. More details and
a full calendar will be available at schools.nyc.gov/returntoschool2020.
We will be convening community and advocate roundtable meetings, briefings with elected officials and
Community Education Council leaders, and more.
Specific guidance will be coming soon for families with children enrolled in CBO-based early childhood
programs.
schools.nyc.gov/returntoschool2020
It's a truly F'd up time we're living in.
