During his Wednesday afternoon media briefing, Governor Phil Murphy announced that schools which cannot safely reopen with students in the classroom come September, can begin the ’20-’21 academic year in an all-remote manner.
Saying this was not a change of course, the Governor stated that schools choosing to reopen remotely must show the State Education Department their plans for satisfying the state’s standards. Murphy also said these schools have to provide a date which they anticipate will allow students to return to the classroom for in-person instruction.
In doing so, the Governor also signed an Executive Order permitting the reopening of school buildings for classroom learning. “When our schools open in September, they must be ready to safely provide the high-quality education to all students that is a hallmark of New Jersey.”
Murphy was joined at the press briefing by the Superintendents of School of the Willingboro and East Brunswick districts.
New Jersey’s largest teachers union, and groups which represent school administrators from the state’s 2,500 public schools, have been calling for all-remote learning over concerns for the health and safety of students, teachers and administrators. The Governor maintains his administration has not changed its beliefs since he announced the school reopening guidelines back in June.
At that time the Governor said schools must provide some in-person instruction to students.
