Preparing for the Fall Semester
With September right around the corner, New York City’s public schools are gearing up to reopen. The COVID-19 pandemic is new territory for educators, parents and students alike, and the case numbers that largely influence government policy fluctuate every week. Naturally, parents are concerned over what public education will look like in the fall, and what they can do to prepare themselves and their children for a radically different learning environment. Though much of the DOE’s policy remains up in the air, the general outlook for the coming semester has largely been defined.
Returning to School
Taking into account over 400,000 survey responses from students and their families, the DOE is solidifying its return-to-school policy. As of now, the DOE is enforcing blended learning across the board, and public schools are required to submit their plans for blended learning by August 14th for approval. The DOE may also consider applications for an exception to blended learning from schools that can only operate under a fully-remote model, but it seems highly unlikely that these applications will be successful judging from schools like NEST+m that have already been denied exemption from the standard model. For specifics on individual schools’ preferences between the models and plans for reopening, it is best to reach out to the administration or other resources available to parents. Regardless, every family has the option to opt-out at any time in favor of full-remote learning.
Despite incorporating elements of in-person instruction, it is important to note that blended learning is a far cry from the standard five-day schedule. Students will be split into cohorts, whose number and size will be dependent upon building capacity with social distancing, that will take turns entering the building for in-person instruction one day a week. Course offerings will also be limited; in particular, “singleton” courses– courses with only one section of students– are being cut out, resulting in the loss of many electives and smaller AP courses. Schools are shifting in favor of more generalized electives in each department, and though teachers will be able to customize their courses, students this year will see a notably smaller list of courses offered.
The benefit of blended learning is the same as any in-person instruction: child supervision and care, an enhanced learning environment, and the presence of a social atmosphere. Of course, the extent of these benefits is limited by necessary restrictions on student interactions in and out of the classroom. Furthermore, the balance between remote and in-person instruction is highly dependent on health and safety conditions, and the DOE is maintaining a flexible stance to be able to respond to any spikes in the presence of COVID-19. Teacher attendance is also a limiting factor, as many instructors are choosing not to come in due to safety concerns.
How to Prepare
Though the DOE has stated that it intends to maximize in-person instruction whenever possible, it is almost certain that blended learning will continue to include more remote learning than not. It is crucial that students entering into remote learning are able to maintain a routine and adequate learning environment as much as possible. Ensuring that your child has a dedicated space for classes and schoolwork can have a substantial impact on their attitude towards schoolwork, sense of productivity, and academic performance. Even if it means simply making sure that they work on a desk rather than on a couch, it can go a long way towards helping establish a clearer “school” atmosphere.
The limitations on courses and standardized testing understandably raise concern, especially for 11th and 12th graders. While this situation is unprecedented, many colleges have already made statements demonstrating an understanding of these changes in their admissions policy. The best thing to do is to stay as updated with school and DOE news as possible and to keep a watchful eye on SAT or ACT test offerings. However, if students are somehow unable to take the courses or tests that they want, parents can rest assured that admissions boards across every college are taking this into consideration: it does not benefit colleges to rule out high-potential applicants on conditions stemming from the current pandemic.
The primary concern for middle schoolers is high school admissions in light of the new education model, including the SHSAT. Unlike high school students, middle school students have to prepare for this standardized exam, as it remains the sole admission standard for New York City’s eight specialized high schools (not including the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, which is audition rather than test-based). Despite the best efforts of middle schools across New York City, 7th-grade education was notably hindered by the shift to online learning earlier this year. While specialized high school admission standards are relative, it is critical that any student planning on applying to these schools begin to prepare extensively for the exam, if they have not done so already. Under these present circumstances, the difference in preparation between applicants will likely manifest in an even greater degree, as students not only have to study for the SHSAT but catch up on subjects that were weakened by online learning.
The coming semester has no shortage of challenges, but THiNK PREP is here to help! Whether through SHSAT prep or general subject refreshers and lessons, we can get your child up to speed. Let us know how we can help or what you’d like to learn about next through by going to “Contact Us”.
