BC government releases return to school plan:

[EllieBC]

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/covid-19-return-to-school

In a nutshell:

Stage 2 Details
Stage 2 is a full return to in-class instruction for all students for the maximum time possible within learning group limits.

Parents will be contacted by their school or school district/authority to confirm the educational program options available for September 2020. Visit your school and district websites for regular information updates.

Learning Group Size

Elementary: 60
Middle: 60
Secondary: 120

Density Target

Not applicable in this stage

Instruction Method

Full-time instruction for all students for the maximum instructional time possible within learning group limits.

Self-directed learning supplements in-class instruction, if required.

[Fiendish Thingy]

1. Note: learning group size is not classroom size- it is a cohort who learn, play & socialize together

So if there is an outbreak in a cohort, it is easier to do contact tracing and they don’t have to shut the whole school at once.

[EllieBC]

4. Thanks!

Forgot to point that out!

[abqtommy]

2. Oh c'mon, Canada. You can do better than that! Kids bored with remote learning

don't die from that...

[EllieBC]

3. The problem is

kids with special learning needs, those from minority communities, and those in homes of working class and lower income families were falling behind farther than their peers.

As it was in BC we returned part time in June but full time for children of essential workers (not frontline, just essential). The plan was to extend full time in class to kids who are vulnerable learners as well.

The remote Ed system was awful. It wasn’t engaging. It didn’t address diverse learning needs. Education has changed. When they just followed along in a book and heard lectures while sitting at a desk, that could have worked for remote learning. It’s not how our kids learn now in many places.

[abqtommy]

5. I guess it all comes down to choices. My choice is to survive this virus and have my children

survive along with me. I am the primary caregiver to one of my adult autistic children. He's been outside of our apartment once in the last 4 months. That's our choice...

[EllieBC]

6. And that's totally understandable.

Our provincial health officer and minister of education are trying to come up with plans that will work for the majority of the province. There is still distributed learning programs for parents who need to homeschool or keep their kids at home.