Blizzard warnings in Northwest Minnesota, winter weather advisories across the state

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Updated: June 22, 1:08 p.m. | Posted: June 18, 6:31 p.m.

What will school look like this fall in Minnesota? The short answer is — we don’t know yet. On Thursday, Minnesota’s health and education officials released guidance to help 

Under the planning guide, schools are being asked to have three plans on hand so they can pivot quickly from one to another if needed, depending on how widespread the virus becomes in the fall.

Officials have said they won’t release their decision on what form the upcoming academic year will take until late July.

Here are six things we know about Minnesota's upcoming school year:

1) What are the three different scenarios for school the next academic year? 

Minnesota officials are telling districts to plan for 

It’s possible they’ll start the year with one scenario and then ask all or some schools to switch to a different scenario part way through the academic year, depending on what happens with how the virus tracks in the state as a whole or in certain regions of the state. 

2) What if families, students, teachers or staff don’t want to go back to in-person classes because of health or other reasons? 

Schools are supposed to offer a distance learning option to any students or families that want or need it. So, if schools open up, and a family doesn’t want to send their student back to in-person learning for any reason, the school is supposed to provide them an option for continuing to learn while staying at home. 

Schools also need to make accommodations for staff in high-risk health categories if there is a return to in-person learning this fall. Although the guidance doesn’t specifically address it, a state education spokesperson confirmed to MPR News that the accommodations do extend to educators and other staff, and that schools must follow any applicable labor agreements and employment policies.

State urges districts to prep for it all this fall

Spotlight on parenting during coronavirus

Don’t forget about kids’ mental health

3) What do school leaders think of this plan?

This is an extremely ambitious plan that gives school leaders, teachers and families only a few weeks to prepare. They need to hire staff, figure out budgets and work out multiple physical-distancing scenarios to feed and educate all of their students. 

Many school leaders have expressed both understanding of the need to take this approach, and frustration with how late this guidance is coming. 

4) What do state Republicans think of this plan, which is coming from the administration of DFL Gov. Tim Walz? 

Senate Republicans say state education officials shouldn’t be making this call for the entire state. Instead they want locally elected school boards and superintendents to make decisions for themselves about what the upcoming school year should look like.

“Gov. Walz should allow each district and school to make the decision that is best for them, just like the colleges and universities have done,” said Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-East Gull Lake, in a statement.

A few schools reopen, but remote learning could go on for years in U.S.

Homeless students hit hard by shuttered schools

Students with special needs could slip behind

5) Why are state officials waiting until the end of July to make a decision? 

Minnesota officials say they are watching COVID-19 metrics in the state to make their decision about which scenario to choose. They say they’re trying to balance the critical role education plays in society with public health goals and public health needs. 

“We’re trying to balance the importance of education with public health goals,” said Kris Ehresmann, Minnesota’s infectious disease director.

Opening schools is going to be key to opening Minnesota’s economy, to the well-being of children and families and to educating future generations. But there are a lot of obvious risks for public health that happen when you gather hundreds of children and adults in crowded  buses and school buildings during a pandemic.

6) Does state education officials’ new guidance contain any specific measures to address the unequal ways Minnesota students are being impacted by distance learning and COVID-19? 

Distance learning has been very difficult for a lot of Minnesota students. Among those who have been disproportionately affected are 

 from immigrant families. What’s more, decades of metrics show that Minnesota schools are much better at serving white students than students of color. 

The new guidance from the Minnesota Department of Education instructs school leaders and educators to “ask how your actions are reinforcing or removing structural inequity.” There are several ways the department suggests schools do that. One example: The Education Department has told schools in some cases to direct certain funds to meet “the needs of historically underserved populations.”

Immigrant families face complex challenges

Why obesity, stress and race all matter

Education News

Shows

All Things Considered

NewsPartners

Health

COVID-19

Elizabeth Shockman

Author

Minnesota health and education officials have told school leaders to plan for three different scenarios for resuming school during the 2020-2021 academic year. 

6 things to know about what school will look like this fall

Go Deeper.

Like this?