Not yet, but it is probably wise to do distance learning part of the time this fall. There is a new syndrome circulating among youth due to COVID that is causing toxic shock-like symptoms and has killed at least 3 kids in NYC. I know we can't "live in fear" forever, but getting some additional data on this syndrome is probably smart before shoving kids together in poorly-ventilated classrooms.

How to create more distance for students in halls and classrooms.  I've heard plans to have kids at school on alternating days to reduce exposure.  Schools are hotbeds for germ sharing.

No word here on anything relating to school next year other than that kids have to screw up royally to not advance to the next grade.

Where I live, school districts are currently "scenario planning", those scenarios include return to classrooms with social distancing, shorter days / fewer days in a week, hybrid (part classroom / part remote), full remote. I don't think any districts have made decisions, yet.  Districts in the South usually start in early August, so they would likely be reaching decisions first. 

are said to be starting in Aug.  LAUSD is talking about stagering classes. I am guessing that may be 1/2 the students go Mon,.Wed and Friday/ the other half goes Tue /Thur with altering weeks. We shall see..  With states lifting stay at home orders the next few weeks will tell us if that was a mistake or not?

I am in Florida and they haven't said anything about it yet. I will have a freshman and a senior this fall.

My oldest was accepted into the EMR program. That's Emergency Medical Response. He's been waiting 3 years for this class. It's highly competitive, requiring an interview. I thought for sure that my illness blew his chances because he missed days of school visiting me in the hospital, but he was open with his instructor and the interview team. He wants to be an occupational/physical therapist when he 'grows up.'

Youngest is having a hell of a time with online learning. They were a week away from certifying for webpage building. It was the only thing he was looking forward to, other than high school. He is registered for welding and beginning engineering.

This is hard.

Today is the first day of schools reopening here. They're starting with nursery schools (ages 3-5), then, next week, if all goes well, they'll do primary schools and so on. The rules are pretty strict so far for nursery schools: 

• Teachers must wear masks all the time,
• Classes will be allowed out for playtime separately, 
• Ball games/games with physical contact are banned,
• The kids must wash their hands at least 8 times a day,
• Parents must take their child's temperature every morning before taking them to school,
• All desks will be spaced to give 4m2 around each child - this is going to be particularly hard on the youngest ones who didn't have desks, only "areas" - painting area, reading corner, handicraft area, etc - before,
• Ditto for the canteen,
• No more than 15 kids per class.

And I'm sure I've missed some. It's my opinion that these kids will be bouncing off of walls by the end of the week and the teachers will be basket cases.

However, going back to school will be on a voluntary basis only. I have opted to keep one of my daughters (she has two auto-immune conditions) at home for another week or two to see how things develop at the centre she goes to (it opened today). Her sister is in her last year in secondary school and the fate of her year wil be decided at the end of the month. I don't see the point in going to so much trouble to take them back only 3 weeks before the summer holidays. Their exams were all cancelled and whether or not they get their diplomas depends on their work over the last two years. 

I swear to DOG I will lose it if they don't reopen in the fall!

I was just talking to one of my bosses (My son is tutoring her's right now because she can't take it anymore) and we decided that if they don't reopen we will get together with another family and just hire a teacher and do our own little homeschool co-op. It has been nothing but melt down and frustration at my house with my daughter. Thankfully my son has it under control because I couldn't take 2 kids with all of these issues!

Maryland released their statewide plan this week. The details aren't finalized, but they give some good information on possible scenarios. 

http://marylandpublicschools.org/newsroom/Documents/MSDERecoveryPlan.pdf