Teaching & Learning
Safety, Above all Else Key Take-Aways in the Ready Schools, Safe Learners (RSSL) Plan BY ANDREA SHUNK / OEA Education Policy & Practice Strategist
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his spring, many Oregon students and school staff are returning to school buildings after a year of remote and distance learning. This return brings excitement and “first-day” jitters and pictures for many but also comes with concern about safety. Oregon educators want schools to be safe for families, students, and all school staff. “Ready Schools, Safe Learners” (RSSL) from the Oregon Department of Education outlines the many requirements and recommendations for schools to be healthy and safe. We’ve learned during this global pandemic that all activities come with some risk. However, schools can greatly minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19 by following “Ready Schools, Safe Learners," teaching
students how to be safe at school, and working collaboratively to address safety concerns. RSSL contains more than 160 requirements and has been updated several times in the 2020-21 school year as we learn more about how the virus spreads, what safety measures work best, and learn from the experiences of schools that expanded in-person instruction early. In this article, we will outline the top safety recommendations that when layered together, do the most to prevent the spread of COVID-19. There are many more resources available through ODE, the CDC, and both NEA and OEA. We encourage members to explore those resources. You can also reach out to OEA with questions at oea-gps@oregoned.org.
Face Coverings All school staff and all students in kindergarten and up must wear a face covering at school at all times. This requirement extends for all outdoor activities like recess or learning outside. A face covering is a cloth, polypropylene, paper or other face covering that covers the nose and mouth. Students and staff can bring and wear their own coverings from home, and the school must also provide face coverings for students and staff who need or request one.
Face shields are not preferred but can be worn in conjunction with a mask. Additionally, some staff might only wear a face shield for a short period of time for specific kinds of instruction such as language instruction or one-on-one and group work led by speech language pathologists.
Students can also remove face coverings during mealtimes but schools should add additional safety measures during these times such as increasing the physical distance between students, moving mealtimes outdoors when possible, and ensuring good hand hygiene before and after meals. A very limited number of students will need accommodations based on a disability. ODE has provided supplemental guidance on this issue. Most students will successfully be able to wear face coverings. Schools can require that students who refuse to wear a face covering receive instruction though Comprehensive Distance Learning when that decision is values-based.
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TODAY’S OEA | SPRING/SUMMER 2021
