Distance learning may not be in place next year
Tallahassee, Fl (treasurecoast.com) -Florida’s top education official on Wednesday hinted that distance learning related to the COVID-19 pandemic may not be in place next school year.
During a news conference in Pinellas County about teacher bonuses, Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran was asked whether the state will continue funding online learning for the 2021-22 academic year.
“The goal is to get everyone back in the classroom,” Corcoran said.
And that may force countless children back into classrooms just months from now.
Under the “traditional funding” model before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Florida Department of Education would set aside financial resources — also called “full-time equivalent credits” — for students enrolled in the Florida Virtual School, or a “full-time virtual instruction program” that’s “approved by the Department of Education… the Florida Virtual School, a franchise of the Florida Virtual School, or a Florida College System institution.”
However, when the COVID-19 pandemic swiftly forced millions of Florida students out of classrooms in March of 2020, the state had to pivot and reroute some of that funding for “innovative learning modalities,” more commonly known as distance or remote education.
Under an executive order issued by Corcoran on Nov. 30, “school districts and charter schools are authorized to continue the innovative learning modality in the Spring semester.”
The order added that “school boards and charter school governing boards with an approved reopening plan are authorized to report approved innovative learning students for full full-time equivalent credit.”
Corcoran’s order provides funding for pandemic-related distance learning until the end of the 2021 summer semester.
It’s unclear if the Florida Department of Education will continue funding remote education beyond that, or require all students to return to brick-and-mortar schools.
Since Florida schools reopened in August, educators throughout the Sunshine State have been forced to deal with the struggles of simultaneous teaching, instructing students both in-class and remotely at the same time.
DeSantis on Wednesday praised Florida for being “only one of a handful” of states where all parents have ability to send their children to school for in-person instruction.
President Joe Biden has set a goal to have a majority of elementary and middle schools reopened for full-time, in-person learning within his first 100 days in office.
The Martin County School Board is set to begin having discussions about the 2021/21school year in the coming weeks, according to Jennifer DeShazo, the director of public information and community relations for the Martin County School District.
The Okeechobee County School District, which offers face-to-face and online options for students — but not simultaneous teaching — said it plans to have the same options available at the start of the 2021/21 academic year.
The School District of Palm Beach County and School District of Indian River County have not responded yet.
