Under new directives from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, high schools will be forced to return to full in person education this year. However, we are not expected to receive a timing plan for return from the state until April. Furthermore, once this date is announced, remote and hybrid days will no longer satisfy the required number of learning hours. A limited number of waivers will be given to districts with extenuating circumstances, and individual families may decide to have their child be remote; however, the vast majority of the district has to be fully in person. 

This is dangerous because not all teachers will be vaccinated by this time and very few students will be. Also, teachers and students can still transmit the virus to others even if vaccinated. A full reopening would present logistical issues as well, including a lack of space, having to re-do schedules, and a lack of in person staff. If a district has the ability to safely re-open, then they should be allowed to do so. However, not all districts should be forced to fully reopen—especially if their hybrid system is currently working. Also, there would only be about 1.5-2 months left of school once these plans are implemented, so it would make a negligible difference in our education.

If this petition is successful, then Massachusetts students will not be mandated by the state to return to complete in person schooling. It is better to delay gratification until the fall when more people will be vaccinated, because it is better to lose a few weeks of schooling than even a single life.