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With new guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention that addresses the need to keep students in
classrooms while protecting residents from the virus, the
Illinois State Board of Education has adopted federal guidance
that eases some restrictions. That includes dropping the
quarantine requirement and easing physical distancing.
“This updated guidance from the CDC acknowledges the importance
of in-person learning by allowing schools to more aptly adjust
to changes within their own communities,” Illinois State
Superintendent of Education Carmen Ayala said.
The
new CDC guidance notes that although COVID-19 continues to
circulate, the risk of severe illness has been reduced due to
high levels of vaccinations and infection-induced immunity,
along with the widespread availability of effective treatments
and prevention tools.
The CDC school guidance continues to recommend universal masking
when community levels are high and screening testing for
high-risk activities like contact sports.
A controversial new law could affect the school year. Gov. J.B.
Pritzker signed into law a bill that gives paid sick leave to
all fully vaccinated Illinois school staff who have to take time
off for COVID-19-related reasons and provides wage protection
for hourly employees who miss school because of closures or
e-learning.
Chicago Public Schools announced changes it will make to the
district’s handling of the virus this fall. According to Dr.
Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public
Health, and CPS CEO Pedro Martinez, CPS will not require
students to be vaccinated against the virus when they return to
buildings this fall. However, a vaccination requirement remains
in place for staff.
School District U-46 Superintendent Tony Sanders, who heads the
second largest district in the state, told ABC7 a sense of
normalcy is returning.
“The ability to come back into our schools with students having
the option to wear a mask but not the requirement to wear a mask
certainly will make schools feel a little more normal than they
did in the first couple of years of COVID,” Sanders said.
Kevin Bessler reports on statewide issues in
Illinois for the Center Square. He has over 30 years of
experience in radio news reporting throughout the Midwest.
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