LOUISVILLE, Ky. ⁠— Jefferson County Public Schools announced the launch of its webpage “Preparing for Our Return to School in the Fall,” providing students and families with some insight into what school may look like this fall. 

What You Need To Know


  • JCPS launches "Preparing for Our Return to School in the Fall" web page

  • Web page provides guidance, infomartion on returning to school

  • Guidance includes wearing masks, sanitizing often

  • Final decisions won't be made until mid-July

"One thing we do know is that the health and safety of our students and staff is our top priority as we search for the best solution for educating more than 98,000 students during a difficult circumstance - in the middle of a pandemic," said an email from JCPS's communication team sent out today. "School districts across the country are dealing with this same dilemma."

The web page provides the latest guidance from the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) and information from Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman (D), who is leading the commonwealth's effort to provide school's with guidance during the pandemic. Coleman is working with five principles for local districts to consider while preparing to return, including wearing masks, practicing social distancing, santizing hands and surfaces, conducting temperature checks and doing contact tracing.

KDE is also surveying families about their experiences with at-home learning in both English and Spanish. 

The site also says that JCPS has eight work groups from a number of departments which are developing scenarios that will be shared with focus groups this month. The groups will include parents and civic leaders, and once feedback is gathered, ideas will be shared via an online town hall discussion. From that feedback will come a final decision on class scheduling, transportation and required health and safety measures by mid-July. 

Some of those measures, the website says, include requiring students to wear masks for the majority of the school day. JCPS is also considering square footage in its classrooms and common areas to allow for social distancing. 

On the website, JCPS stresses that it understands the frustrations faced by students and families, including the fact that children learn better in traditional classroom environments and that some children live with at-risk family members. 

The page will continue to develop as information from health experts evolves and prompts changes in Kentucky's public health and education departments. 

 

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