Stage 2 - In-class

Last updated on May 6, 2021

School districts and independent school authorities should have the necessary plans in place to be able to shift between stages if and when required.

Last update: May 06, 2021

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Five Stages Framework for K-12 Education: Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Stage 3 | Stage 4 | Stage 5

 

Instructional Delivery

In-class instruction provided full-time for all students for the maximum time possible within established public health learning group limits[1]:

  • Elementary & Middle School: 60 people
  • Secondary School: 120 people

School density targets are not applicable for this stage.

Self-directed learning supplements in-class instruction, if required.

Curriculum, Report Cards & Assessment

  • Full breadth of provincial curriculum for all students at all grade levels
  • Educators plan for and deliver learning through a variety of methods appropriate to the stage and the needs of their students
  • Student Reporting Policy remains in effect for K-12
  • Provincial student assessments (Foundational Skills, Numeracy & Literacy) remain in effect for K-12
  • Individual Education Plans (IEPs) must be updated annually and progress reports provided for each reporting period for all students including students who have an IEP

Health & Safety[2]

  • Physical distancing (2M) for staff and for Middle and Secondary School students when interacting outside of their learning groups
  • Hand hygiene upon school entry and before/after breaks and eating, using washroom and using gym/playground equipment
  • Visitor access during school hours prioritized to those entering to support activities that benefit student learning and well-being
  • After hours community use of facilities allowed in alignment with other health and safety measures
  • Cleaning and Disinfecting:
    • General cleaning and disinfecting of school premises at least once in a 24-hour period
    • Cleaning and disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces at least twice in 24 hours, including at least once during regular school hours 
  • Additional hand hygiene stations and provision of regular opportunities for students and staff to practice hand hygiene
  • Floor markings, signage and education to support physical distancing, hand hygiene and other behaviours that reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19
  • Any student or staff who has symptoms of COVID-19 OR has travelled outside Canada in the last 14 days OR was identified as a close contact of a confirmed case or outbreak must stay home and self-isolate, including children of essential service workers
  • Daily assessment of children for symptoms by parents/caregivers, and staff self-assessment - students and staff stay home if symptomatic
  • For Elementary School students:
    • Minimize physical contact within learning groups or when outdoors.
    • Physical distancing (2M) when interacting outside of their learning groups while indoors.
  • Personal Protective Equipment:
    • Non-medical masks or face coverings are required for all K-12 staff, visitors and students in grades 4 to 12[3] when inside a school, except when eating/drinking, a barrier is present, or while engaging in an educational activity that cannot be performed while wearing a mask (e.g. playing a wind instrument).
    • Exceptions will also be made for individuals who cannot tolerate masks for health or behavioural reasons
    • Students and staff will each be given two re-useable face masks
  • Student transportation on buses:
    • Use consistent and assigned seating arrangements; support buses being loaded from back to front and offloaded from front to back
    • School bus drivers and students in grades 4 to 12 are required to wear non-medical masks[3]
  • Site committees and Joint Health and Safety committees in place and meeting regularly, including prior to any transitions between stages

Students Requiring Additional Support

Offer full-time in-school support and instruction to students with disabilities/diverse abilities and students requiring additional support.

  • If required due to public health learning group limits, prioritize in-person supports based on needs assessment
  • Teachers and support staff assist students and families with remote learning as required to balance any in-person supports provided
  • Consideration should be given to monitoring and responding to the needs of children and youth in care and Indigenous students as appropriate

Children of Essential Service Workers

  • Accommodate older children of ESWs if the child has a disability that precludes them from being alone in a home environment
  • If desired, school districts/authorities can partner with a licensed child care provider or become licensed to provide before and after school care

[1]School districts/authorities are encouraged to work with onsite child care providers to support continuity of learning groups during before/after school care, where possible.

[2]Stage-specific health and safety expectations are subject to change further to updated public health guidance from the Provincial Health Officer and the BC Centre for Disease Control.

[3]Students in Grades K to 3 are encouraged to wear a mask indoors in schools and on school buses, but are not required to do so - mask wearing remains a personal or family/caregiver choice for these students, and their choices must be respected.