MIAMI (WSVN) - Parents in Florida will continue to have the option of online learning or bringing their children to campus for in-person learning.
Part of the State Board of Education’s meeting on Wednesday was dedicated to how schools in Florida will move forward into 2021, and the full plan is expected to be out around Thanksgiving.
State Board of Education Member Tom Grady expressed his concerns about students learning outside of the classroom.
“There’s still an online handicap, and that handicap is severe,” Grady said. “I’d like to encourage parents to continue, as they appear now, to favor brick and mortar schools because it’s going to be best for their kids.”
Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said he agrees with allowing parents to have a choice regarding their children.
“I am, quite frankly, somewhat heartened by the dialogue that’s ongoing in Tallahassee, as the Commissioner of Education was just asked by a State Board of Education member about the viability of the online option continuing into January and beyond,” Carvalho said. “The commissioner assured the State Board of Education that that will continue to be a viable option.”
He went on to say, “We are elated to hear that because we believe in parental choice in our community and in the state of Florida. With that said, we hope that along with that viable option of online learning, goes the appropriate funding.”
Meanwhile, the Florida Education Commissioner said the state will move forward with standardized testing to identify achievement gaps brought on by the pandemic.
With around 45% of students still in classrooms, COVID-19 testing is about to ramp up in Miami-Dade County.
The district will soon offer free COVID-19 testing to all students in the county, including those in public, private and charter schools. The tests will be conducted thanks to a partnership with the University of Miami.
“We hope to start it next week,” Carvalho said. “We are in the final round of negotiations.”
For now, learning in 2021 will look like it does in 2020, but Carvalho hopes the public will do their part to keep it that way.
“It would be a shame if conditions in our community worsen to a point where drastic decisions have to be made that would eliminate that choice for parents,” Carvalho said. “Ultimately, this rests with our community’s ability to exercise self-restraint, maintain social distancing, washing their hands, not congregating and wearing a mask.”
7News has reached out Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie, but he was not available for an interview.
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