Do the school choices for fall seem overwhelming? Reviewing options for going back to school and fall school reopening schedules for your kids may seem confusing. We’re breaking down the choices you have for school this year for school reopening by state.
When Is School Reopening?
SCHOOL CHOICES: WHAT WILL SCHOOLS LOOK LIKE IN THE FALL
As we ask When will schools reopen? and How are schools reopening? and states struggle with reopening of school plan, you may be wondering:
What will learning look like for kids?
Will schools reopen?
Yes, most schools are currently planning to re-open in the fall school. Most will go back during the normal school return times, which is usually end of July or into August, depending on the state.
States are slowly releasing guidelines for the 2020-2021 school year. And, let’s be honest, they’re pretty overwhelming.
Most of them require wearing masks all day.
Some require staggered schedules and all have social distancing in place.
Many are offering some type of virtual learning.
But, what with all those school choices, what’s the best school option for your family?
Let’s take a look at school reopenings in the 2020-2021 academic year and what choices exist, because — more than likely — you will be asked to choose the instructional path for your child very soon!
SCHOOL CHOICES FOR 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR
What Instructional Paths Are Available?
School Choices Option #1: Going Back to School
Going back to school at your previous school is definitely a choice, but will clearly look very different than what your child was accustomed to before.
When will schools reopen are decisions that are being made at state levels, so first check with your state and local school.
What will schools look like in the fall?
Here are some of the back-to-school guidelines some districts are discussing:
- Alternate schedules or half days to minimize amount of people in the building at one time / fully virtual option
- Masks required all day for all grades or partial mask times
- Social distancing
- Pre-packed lunches, including utensils, and no money exchanges
- Closed communal spaces, like playgrounds and cafeterias
- No changing of classes and keeping kids in the same classroom all day or block schedules to travel between classes less frequently
- Staggered drop off and pick up times
- No or limited bus service
- Little or no extracurricular activities or clubs, at least in the beginning (some are listing at least 90 days)
Again, these are just some of the reopening guidelines being discussed by some school districts. Be sure to check your state and local district to see their specific plans.
Over the next few weeks districts will finalize their plans, so keep a close eye on your local district.
What will this school option look like for parents?
You will need to adjust to the new guidelines and requirements. But, from a school work perspective, it should be the same kind and type of school work and homework that you and your kids were accustomed to in prior school years.
►MORE HELPFUL RESOURCES:
Reopening statuses vary by state, but you can see the full list here.
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School Choices Option #2: Distance Learning With Your School
Most schools are offering some type of distance learning option (also called e-Learning, remote learning, continuous learning, teleconference, or virtual school), either part-time distance learning or a full-time e-learning option.
Also, instead of fully re-opening, some schools are putting in place partial reopen plans. That means your child may spend a portion of the time at school and then a portion of the time remote learning from home to mix with in-person classrooms.
Some parents may choose to send their kids back to school, while other parents in the same school district may choose distance learning for their child. In this case, the children who are distance learning will probably be expected to follow the same schedule as the kids at the brick-and-mortar school (physical location) and log into the classes remotely.
What will this school option look like for parents?
Hopefully, schools will be more prepared than the emergency home schooling you experienced when this all started. This time around, you’ll probably spend less time trying to find things for your kids to learn and more time following the lesson plans provided from your child’s teacher.
However, you will need to plan around work (if applicable) and having your child at home part-time and dealing with any computer, connection, and e-learning issues at a moment’s notice.
►MORE HELPFUL RESOURCES:
School Work At Home: 10 Tips for Remote Learning
Laptop vs Desktop: Which Is Best for Learning At Home / Home School?
How to Balance School, Work, and Home
School Choices Option #3: Virtual Public School At Home (Not Affiliated With Current School)
Another option for you in the new school year is to choose a virtual school at home option. Virtual schools are often seen as alternative to brick-and-mortar education.
Virtual school at home is sometimes called Tuition-Free Online & Virtual Public School Programs. You may have seen commercials for them like K-12 schools or Connections Academy.
Many times, virtual school is offered through traditional schools (like public schools), while some other virtual online learning (or e learning) is offered through private educational organizations.
The virtual school you choose may not be affiliated with your local school, but most likely follows state public school guidelines where your child will need to take standardized tests, etc.
What will this school option look like for parents?
Virtual schools are all done from home and students are provided lessons plans and curriculum. Parents don’t need to search out/plan a curriculum, but, again, you will need to plan around work (if applicable) and having your child at home and dealing with any computer, connection, and e-learning issues at a moment’s notice.
You will also need to help your child plan their schedules and oversee some of their work. Many virtual schools have a mix of teacher-led classes online (sometimes at specific times) and offline learning to complete their lessons and homework.
►MORE HELPFUL RESOURCES:
Learn More About Virtual School Options
How To Keep Kids Connected When Stuck At Home
School Schedule at Home and Free School Schedule Printable
School Choices Option #4: Home School
If you want to have complete control over your child’s education and what/how they learn, you can also switch to fully homeschooling your child for the upcoming academic year.
With full homeschooling, you are not affiliated with your local school district (or any public school or private school). Your kids will complete their school work based on a schedule that works best for your family and from a curriculum or courses that you choose.
What will this school option look like for parents?
You will first need to check your state laws on homeschooling. Then, if applicable, you will need to unenroll your child from their school. (If you don’t do this, your child may be considered truant.)
If you are going this route, I highly recommend you spend some time deschooling. It is one of the most important things you can do when transitioning from traditional school to homeschool and will help your child (and you!) tremendously in this transition!
After that, then you can spend time choosing homeschool curriculum or courses that best suit your child’s needs.
►MORE HELPFUL RESOURCES:
How do I start homeschooling today?
Which homeschool curriculum or homeschool program should I use?
What are the parent qualifications to homeschool?
18 Common Home School Questions Answered
WE HOPE THIS HELPS YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR SCHOOL CHOICES FOR THE UPCOMING ACADEMIC YEAR!
STARTING HOME SCHOOL? CHECK OUT OUR HOW TO HOMESCHOOL GUIDE
