Mayor Bill de Blasio outlined the threshold to open and close NYC schools

Summer is winding down, and the back-to-school season is inching closer. But this forthcoming term will be unlike anything we've ever experienced. 

On July 31, Mayor Bill de Blasio outlined city schools' new procedures during his press briefing. According to the meeting, NYC schools will be allowed to open their doors if the percentage of citywide positive tests is less than 3 percent (as compared to 5 percent for the rest of the state). If it is equal to or greater than 3 percent, schools will close. Face masks and social distancing will be required, there will be daily cleaning and disinfecting procedures in each building and there will be an isolation room for those who appear to show symptoms. 

Science will dictate how we reopen @NYCSchools and keep our kids, teachers and staff safe:
• Physical distancing and required face coverings
• Cleaning throughout the day and each night
• Clear communication with parents pic.twitter.com/NLZjvT7qEb

— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) July 31, 2020

It is expected that the fall term for NYC schools will be a blended learning model, a mix of both online and in-person learning. However, statewide reopening approval will be revealed next week. 

The mayor also outlined what individual schools could possibly look like should a positive test case surface: Two positive cases in different classrooms can shut down a school and result in remote learning for two weeks. One positive case will shut down a particular class and shift learning to a remote environment. (See the full breakdown on Twitter @NYCMayorsOffice.) 

Join us at City Hall. https://t.co/YRs4msMXsZ

— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) July 31, 2020

Although officials are aiming to keep moving inside schools to a minimum, there are lawmakers and officials who are proposing that schools implement outdoor learning. Some lawmakers are asking that the school year be delayed. Regardless of what happens in September, we'll be here for you every step of the way. Tune in for more details, as we'll update this page as news surfaces. Be sure to sign up for the DOE's virtual city-wide information sessions in August. 

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