On Friday, March 19, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) revised its guidance related to the recommended physical distancing between students in classrooms, moving from six (6) feet to three (3) feet.
The new CDC guidance relies on a color-coded set of zones based on the rate of transmission in individual counties, including red, orange, yellow and blue. Throughout New York State, the majority of counties are currently in the red zone while just one is yellow and none are blue. The full guidance can be found here, which includes how cohorts are utilized, the use of barriers, and COVID-19 testing of students.
As with all changes regarding health and safety, this must be approved by the New York State Department of Health prior to school districts being able to make a decision on implementation. At this time, the state has not adopted the new guidelines, therefore, for the foreseeable future we will not be making any changes to our current protocols or instructional models.
As more information is released regarding physical distancing of students, we will keep our school community informed. The health and safety of our students and staff continues to be our top priority. Thank you for your continued support and please continue to adhere to all health and safety guidelines related to the COVID-19 pandemic.