Infante-Green: Return to school in R.I. will involve hybrid of in-person and online classes

PROVIDENCE — When Rhode Island’s public-school classes begin again this fall, students will take a mix of online and in-school classes, and districts will have some flexibility over how they offer this hybrid model.

Although the state Department of Education is mulling over several different learning scenarios, State Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green did offer the following broad outlines at a hearing Wednesday before the House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare.

First, she said it was “extremely important” to get students from kindergarten to grade 5 back into classrooms because this age group learns much better in that setting.

But that will pose some tough challenges, she said, because children do not practice social distancing, nor are they comfortable wearing masks.

One possibility involves keeping the same small group of students in the same classroom, where they would eat lunch together. That way, if a child gets COVID-19, the class quarantines as a group but the entire school isn’t affected.

Infante-Green said each district will make decisions based on the needs of its community, but added that there will be “guardrails” set by the state Department of Health to ensure students’ safety.

Districts hardest hit by the coronavirus, such as Central Falls and Providence, will need their own set of rules, Infante-Green said, adding that the department is still working on solutions.

Rep. Gregg Amore, D-East Providence, questioned whether charters would receive categorical aid, such as Title 1, from the federal government since at least one charter school received money under the federal Paycheck Protection Program. Traditional school districts did not receive PPP funding.

Deputy Commissioner Ana Riley said Rhode Island, by law, is required to share this category of federal aid with all public schools, including charters.

Infante-Green, however, said the department needs more clarity from the U.S. Department of Education, but added, “the last thing we want to do is shortchange anyone.”

Districts across the state are sending out pink slips to teachers because of expected shortfalls in state and local education funding. Amore asked what kind of guidance Infante-Green could offer districts in planning their budgets.

“This is what keeps me up at night,” she said. “We can’t use the CARES Act [the federal stimulus funding] to supplant local funding, only to supplement it. I don’t have a good answer. There is a lot of uncertainty.”

Teachers, meanwhile, will be evaluated this year since many of them have already had two classroom observations, although they won’t be judged on student learning goals because of the challenges posed by distance learning.

Infante-Green again said that Rhode Island led the nation when it came to adopting a statewide distance-learning plan, adding that it was the first New England state to do so.

In a survey of 7,500 parents, Riley said, 90% had a favorable response to distance learning, which began in late March. The Department of Education is reaching out to those who weren’t happy with the experience.

Infante-Green acknowledged that distance learning has been more challenging for students with special needs and those who are learning English.

Riley said the average daily attendance statewide is better than 90%, although teachers anecdotally have reported much lower participation rates and school districts use their own metrics for reporting attendance. In some cases, if students log on in the morning, that counts as attendance.

One nice bit of news for high-school students: some of them can get credit for working this summer, part of a work-based learning program. Applications will be available next week.

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