Could Wichita-area schools last into June because of coronavirus?
Most Wichita-area school districts are on spring break this week, but parents already are asking what comes next if schools close because of concerns about coronavirus and COVID-19.
The Kansas Department of Education so far hasn’t issued any directive to close schools. But Sedgwick County on Monday declared a state of local disaster emergency and banned gatherings of 50 people or more.
Education Commissioner Randy Watson said widespread school closures could mean a longer school year for students and teachers, among other options.
“If a local health department . . . requires the closure of a school because of COVID-19, schools will have three options,” Watson said in a statement last week. The options would be:
1. Make up missed school days by June 30.
2. Submit a proposal to have online instruction counted as seat time.
3. Or petition the commissioner and State Board of Education to waive the legally required minimum number of hours and days schools must be in session.
Alicia Thompson, superintendent for Wichita public schools, told families in a statement Sunday that the state’s largest district is taking a wait-and-see approach.
“I know this announcement raises many ‘what if’ questions in your mind. It does for me too,” Thompson said.
“We are . . . working to understand the wide array of plans that need to be made as our community responds to COVID-19.”
This year, the last day of school for Wichita students is May 21.
Thompson said the district should know more “by Wednesday or Thursday” about statewide instructions going forward. Officials plan to update families by phone, email, social media channels and on the district’s website: usd259.org/coronavirus.
If a school switches to online instruction, it must meet a list of requirements developed by the state Department of Education to meet the legally required instruction time.
Schools would have to track student attendance, ensure that students and teachers have sufficient internet access, and provide services to special education, migrant and homeless students and English-language learners, Watson said.
It was unclear Monday how Wichita, which has a significant number of low-income students and families, would ensure internet access for online learning.
“If a local school district decides independently (without the recommendation of KDHE and the local health department, the president or the governor) to close schools, the schools would be required to make up all lost time by June 30, 2020,” Watson said in the statement.
This story was originally published March 16, 2020 at 1:50 PM.