Gov. Phil Murphy on July 20 said that parents will be able to choose an all-remote instructional option for their children for the 2020-2021 school year. The option represents an addition to the state’s school reopening guidelines. The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) will issue further guidance this week, according to the governor.
Local districts have grappled with the issue in recent weeks, with some indicating that a sizable percentage of parents preferred not to send their children back to in-classroom instruction. At the virtual meeting between NJSBA’s county school boards association leaders and interim Commissioner of Education Kevin Dehmer, one board member raised the issue of how to address requests from families that wanted to continue remote instruction. Dehmer replied that the department was actively looking into the question and would provide guidance.
School Board Notes will provide information about the NJDOE guidance when it is issued.