LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Gov. Steve Sisolak signed a directive on Tuesday allowing local school districts, charter schools, and private schools in Nevada to immediately reopen for summer learning and activities while implementing the Phase 2 protocols designed to keep students, staff, families, and communities safe.
The directive and accompanying guidance come just in time for summer school but cover a wide range of topics.
The guidance provides support for districts and schools to make local decisions regarding re-opening facilities, offering in-person instruction, and hosting meetings and events under the proper social distancing protocols.
Districts and schools may offer summer learning opportunities through distance education, in-person instruction, or a combination of both.
In the interest of the health and safety of local communities, districts and schools may continue to keep school facilities closed to students, staff, parents, guardians, and/or the public at their discretion.
In a statement to the media, Gov. Sisolak said:
For the last three months, our students, families and educators demonstrated tremendous flexibility and resiliency when asked to stay at home and switch to distance learning to flatten the COVID-19 infection rate curve. I know this hasn’t been easy, but I’m proud Nevadans took this seriously. This directive will allow schools to return to a sense of normalcy while keeping the health and safety of students and staff at the forefront.
The Directive requires districts, charter schools, and private schools to develop plans for reopening school facilities for the 2020-2021 school year based on Nevada’s Path Forward: A Framework for a Safe, Efficient, and Equitable Return to School Buildings or Framework. It also requires districts and schools to communicate their locally developed plans to their school community, including parents and staff. Districts and schools must present their plans to their governing body for approval in a public meeting at least 20 days before the first day of the 2020-2021 school year.
Jhone Ebert, superintendent of public instruction, said:
The guidance released today provides districts and schools with the flexibility to make decisions about summer learning and activities based on their local circumstances. As always, our top priority is the safety and health of students, staff, and communities. Districts and schools will continue to work with local public health officials to make determinations regarding re-opening and work with their staff, parents, students and community in adopting these plans.
In addition to the Summer Learning and Activity Guidance and school reopening Framework, the Nevada Interscholastic Athletics Association is also providing guidance regarding athletics practices and contests.
This guidance is in in alignment with guidelines provided by Nevada’s Local Empowerment Advisory Panel and the National Federation of State High School Associations’ Sports Medicine Advisory Committee.
