MYTH: It’s not safe to reopen schools until everyone is vaccinated.

FACT: Getting vaccinated will help everyone and ultimately return society — and schools — to normal once a majority of the population has some level of immunity to COVID-19. However, that process takes time, and keeping students out of school until that happens will be detrimental to their education. Young learners especially need to be in school in-person to learn basic skills like reading, phonics, and math that require a very hands-on approach. These fundamental skills must be taught to students in a specific manner that DPS educators are trained to do. When students of all ages are in school, they receive the attention they need and teachers ensure students are on-track and understand the curriculum. The CDC, Ohio Department of Health, and local health department have confirmed over and over again that schools are not a source of COVID-19 spread as long as all safety measures are followed. In fact, the Governor changed the quarantine guidelines for schools in late 2020 because it was determined that staff and students so rarely spread the virus when mask-wearing and a distance of at least 3 feet is consistently in place.

MYTH: Students should continue to learn from home until COVID-19 is eliminated.

FACT: Although there are both benefits and drawbacks to in-person and online learning in the COVID-era, most agree that the benefits of in-person learning largely outweigh the risks. Online learning has less oversight, more distractions, and students must be very self-motivated. On average, students tend to perform worse in online settings. Students have more success in an in-person environment because resources and teachers are available to them, their peers provide support, their day is structured and they know what is expected of them.
Read more about online vs. in-person learning.

MYTH: If there is high community spread, there will also be high spread in schools.

FACT: This is false. Schools are very rarely the source of virus spread when masks are worn and other safety measures are in place. Governor Mike DeWine recently announced changes to COVID-19 quarantine guidelines for schools because studies showed that as long as safety measures are in place in classrooms, the virus does not spread easily, even to those in close proximity to the infected person. "This evaluation confirms for us that Ohio's classrooms are a safe place for our students and that the commitment our schools have made to keeping kids safe in the classroom is working," Governor DeWine said.
When schools do have cases of COVID-19, it is most often because someone was exposed in the community or within their own household, not from being in school.

Latest Health Guidance / Information

Governor Mike DeWine
Click to learn more. Recognizing that in-person classroom learning is critical for supporting the educational and social development of children and adolescents, Governor DeWine has set a goal of reopening K-12 schools to in-person learning by March 1, 2021. DeWine announced at the end of 2020 that Ohio is changing its guidance regarding quarantines following an in-classroom exposure in K-12 schools. Moving forward, students and teachers exposed to a COVID-positive person in school are no longer required to quarantine as long as the exposure occurred in a classroom or bus setting and all students/teachers were wearing masks and following other appropriate protocols. "This evaluation confirms for us that Ohio's classrooms are a safe place for our students and that the commitment our schools have made to keeping kids safe in the classroom is working," said Governor DeWine. Schools should continue to require quarantines for exposed students in situations where masking and distancing protocols were not followed. The updated quarantine guidance does not apply to after-school activities, including sports.
Ohio Department of Health
Click to learn more. Students and adults in K-12 schools may continue to attend in-person school, even if someone in a class contracts COVID-19, if the following conditions are met:

MYTH: It is pointless to return to school because not everyone will get the vaccine.

FACT: Vaccines are not mandated for staff or students because that is a choice an individual must make with his/her doctor based on specific medical circumstances and what is ultimately best for him/her. However, most people are excited to finally have a vaccine and the ability to take action to stop the virus in its tracks. Many DPS teachers, staff and administrators will receive the vaccine as soon as it is available to them. According to Ohio’s vaccine distribution schedule, adults who work in K-12 school can be vaccinated in Phase 1b, the upcoming phase after healthcare workers. By vaccinating school workers, the Governor intends for all schools to be able to reopen no later than March 1, 2021. Although students and families will be vaccinated later on, in accordance with Ohio’s vaccination plan, families can be confident that DPS staff members are taking steps toward protecting schools from the virus.

MYTH: Students should continue to learn from home until COVID-19 is eliminated.

FACT:
Although there are both benefits and drawbacks to in-person and online learning in the COVID-era, most agree that the benefits of in-person learning largely outweigh the risks. Online learning has less oversight, more distractions, and students must be very self-motivated. On average, students tend to perform worse in online settings. Students have more success in an in-person environment because resources and teachers are available to them, their peers provide support, their day is structured and they know what is expected of them. Read more about online vs. in-person learning in an Education Week article here.

MYTH: If there is high community spread, there will also be high spread in schools.

This is false. Schools are very rarely the source of virus spread when masks are worn and other safety measures are in place. Governor Mike DeWine recently announced changes to COVID-19 quarantine guidelines for schools because studies have shown that as long as safety measures are in place in classrooms, the virus does not spread easily, even to those in close proximity to the infected person. "This evaluation confirms for us that Ohio's classrooms are a safe place for our students and that the commitment our schools have made to keeping kids safe in the classroom is working," Governor DeWine said. When schools do have cases of COVID-19, it is most often because someone was exposed in the community or within their own household, not from being in school.

MYTH: Students will infect one another in classrooms.

FACT:

Classrooms are rarely a source of virus spread. However, safety protocols will still be in place in all classes.

These measures include:

• Limiting the use of high-touch surfaces such as door knobs and sanitizing those surfaces frequently.

MYTH: If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, DPS will not inform me.

FACT:
If a student has been exposed to COVID-19 and requires quarantine, principals will notify parents via phone call, along with a text message, email and/or letter as soon as possible. This process has been in place since students first returned for hybrid instruction in November. For the number of positive cases at each school, view the district’s weekly COVID-19 reports for staff and students at DPSRestart.com (click the "COVID-19" tab). The reports provide the number of COVID-19 cases in each school and a district-wide total. The report is updated every 7 days. Due to federal privacy laws, the names of the staff/students affected cannot be shared.

MYTH: DPS does not follow COVID-19 safety measures and cannot safely reopen.

FACT:

Since staff first returned in May 2020, the district has followed all safety guidelines set forth by health authorities.

Here is a list of the latest health protocols followed by staff and students, which aligns with guidelines set forth by local health authorities:

• Daily health screening

MYTH: DPS does not follow the COVID-19 quarantine rules.

FACT:
DPS has followed all quarantine guidelines since staff returned in May 2020 and works closely with the Montgomery County Department of Health for all contact tracing. Following the governor’s latest recommendations in December 2020:

• Students do not need to quarantine if another student or staff member tests positive as long as masks were worn consistently and a safe distance was maintained. Studies have shown that the risk of virus transmission is very low in a classroom setting when safety measures are used, even to those in close proximity to the infected person.

MYTH: DPS has had widespread, uncontrolled COVID-19 cases in schools.

FACT:
This is simply false. All COVID-19 preventative measures and quarantine guidelines have been in place consistently and staff and students are not permitted to report to work or school if they are sick for any reason. DPS also has a consistently low percentage of students and staff with COVID-19. When students returned for hybrid instruction in November, virus spread remained very low. In fact, only 1.7% of staff (36 people out of 2,035) and 0.3% of students (21 students out of 6,205 who attended in-person) were diagnosed with COVID-19. Information about the current number of COVID-19 cases in schools is always available at DPSrestart.com. The information is updated weekly. Additionally, schools are very rarely the source of virus spread when masks are worn and other safety measures are in place. When individuals become infected, it is most often due to outside exposure from the community, not the classroom.

MYTH: The safety measures mentioned are not in place at my student’s school.

FACT:

Each school has a plan in place and has received more than enough supplies to maintain a safe environment. Schools are required to follow all COVID-19 safety protocols. If you have specific concerns about your school, please contact the principal to discuss the concern.

MYTH: Buses are not safe because students are too close together.

FACT:

DPS buses implement the same safety measures that classrooms do. A barrier is in place to separate students from the driver, all surfaces are sanitized between rides, mask-wearing is mandatory and buses are loaded back to front so students do not cross one another’s path while entering or exiting the bus. Family members will sit near one another, and a seating chart will be created. When possible, windows and roof vents will be opened to allow for fresh air circulation.

MYTH: My student cannot wear a face mask all day.

FACT:

While masks must be worn a large majority of the time, mask breaks will be permitted by teachers as needed. Face shields can be worn when students are seated and appropriately distanced to allow for mask breaks.

We understand that wearing a mask may be difficult for those with sensory, cognitive, or behavioral issues and for young students who do not understand why they are being asked to wear a mask. Please be advised that teachers will work with these students. We also ask that parents please consider the CDC’s mask adaptations and alternatives in this instance.

MYTH: Students do not wear masks in the cafeteria to eat lunch, which makes it unsafe to return.

FACT: A combination of grab-and-go and hot meals will be provided to students to limit traffic flow. Students will also be seated at least 3 feet apart and will be separated by plexiglass barriers installed on cafeteria tables. Additional safety protocols may be in place for individual schools.

MYTH: Most schools are staying virtual OR Most schools are going back to in-person instruction.

FACT: Across the country, schools are embracing in-person, virtual and hybrid learning models. According to the Ohio Department of Education:

• 239 (39.4%) Ohio school districts are operating with 5-day in-person return to classes.
• 219 (36.1%) Ohio school districts are operating with a fully remote return to learning.
• 149 (24.5%) Ohio school districts are operating with a hybrid or in-person and remote return to learning.