Phase-in for schools

CDC plan to get kids back into classrooms

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday released a color-coded guide for the phased reopening of schools as the COVID-19 pandemic recedes.

The 33-page guidance comes after the White House repeatedly declined to wade into a battle between teachers unions and fed-up parents by deferring to the looming CDC release.

The CDC outlined four color codes for school districts — blue, yellow, orange and red — that contain different guidance.

Even in the most restrictive category, schools could reopen if they regularly test students and staff, according to the medical authorities.

A rep for Mayor de Blasio, Bill Neidhardt, took to Twitter to siphon some credit after the CDC release.

“Truly remarkable how ahead of the curve @nycschoolsand @nycmayor were here,” he wrote. “New York City’s reopening plan remains the gold standard, with many of our protections now included as federal guidance. That’s what happens when you put the safety of students and teachers first.”

But City Hall has taken heat from all directions during this disrupted school year — from parents, teachers and administrators.

“At best, the DOE stumbled into the right path after multiple miscues,” said David Bloomfield, a Brooklyn College and CUNY Graduate Center professor. “It’s great that some students are in school some of the time. But we still have to do a lot better.”

“Blue” and “yellow” areas of the country have lower rates of coronavirus transmission and will be encouraged to reopen full in-person learning, with standard precautions like mask-wearing and social distancing.

“Orange” areas will be encouraged to adopt a “hybrid” model with some in-person learning or reduced numbers of students at a given time.

The “red” zones would be most restrictive. If red districts don’t routinely test students and staff, they would be encouraged to use hybrid models for elementary schools but remain virtual-only for middle and high schools. Schools that do routinely test, however, are given a green light to resume classes with reduced attendance or to begin hybrid models.

“When determining which individuals should be selected for screening testing, schools and public health officials may consider prioritizing teachers and staff over students given the higher risk of severe disease outcomes among adults,” the CDC report says.