Cuomo announces all schools to reopen for in-person classes in September

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that, based on current Covid trajectory, all New York State schools will reopen for full in-person learning for the 2021-2022 school year beginning in September.

“Our children lost so much as Covid struck our state,” Cuomo said today. “A year of socialization, a year of memories, and even more.

“While teachers and school administrators did an incredible job pivoting to remote learning with virtually zero notice, there’s no denying the discrimination students who did not have the right equipment faced.

“With the way our Covid numbers are currently trending, there is no reason why our students should not get back to in-person learning as usual and we look forward to welcoming them back. If there is a change in the trajectory of the virus, we will revisit the decision.”

UPDATE: New York State United Teachers President Andy Pallotta issued the following statement today following Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s comments about reopening schools this fall:

“Educators know that being in person is the best way for students to learn and for teachers to teach. We support offering full-time in-person instruction five days a week and await formal guidance for the fall on how districts, working with educators and parents, should craft their plans to bring all students back to the classroom.”