The following statement can be attributed to Ian Rosenblum, Executive Director of The Education Trust–New York:
“The reopening steps the Board of Regents took today mark significant progress towards raising the bar for how all students – and especially students who have been historically underserved by our education system – experience in-person, distance, and blended learning in these uncertain and difficult times.
“By emphasizing standards-based instruction regardless of whether students are learning in-person or remotely, meaningful and frequent interaction between teachers and students, feedback on assignments, academic and non-academic support, and student engagement, the Regents’ ‘unit of study’ regulation for digital or blended learning will help address many of the inequities students faced during school closures this spring.
“The State Education Department’s overall reopening guidance framework signals a clear commitment to prioritizing educational equity in school reopening, and we look forward to reviewing the final guidance document for specific, consistent, and equity-driven expectations. The framework’s focus on teaching and learning, student engagement, technology access, and authentic parent engagement – including communicating with families in their home language – are all essential components of ‘reopening stronger.’
“Building on these positive steps, we hope that the State Education Department ensures full transparency into school district reopening plans. It is of vital importance that parents, community stakeholders, and advocates be able to immediately view the plans and commitments made by their local school district and school districts across New York on a single state website once they are submitted later this month.”