'We are confident that districts, following the advice of Public Health, will be able to safely allow school staff access to facilities to complete their work for the school year'
Nova Scotia will allow teachers to return to schools as early as June 1, according to the government.
“As restrictions are easing, public health and safety remains our top priority,” said Dominic Cardy, minister of education and early childhood development. “At this time, we are confident that districts, following the advice of Public Health, will be able to safely allow school staff access to facilities to complete their work for the school year.”
The coming weeks will allow staff and teachers to complete any outstanding tasks for the school year, including finalizing home learning options, participating in professional development opportunities, and preparing for the next school year.
These returns to school may be staggered or based on schedules or shifts, depending on the school or district. Each district will be responsible for developing and communicating their return-to-work policy for staff, including providing orientation. The final day of work for teachers will be June 23.
Schools will not reopen to students and the school calendar will not be extended, according to the government.
Ontario
Ontario has also decided to keep schools in the province closed for the rest of the school year after consulting with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, health experts on the COVID-19 Command Table and medical experts at The Hospital for Sick Children.
All students who were on track to graduate from secondary school before the initial school closure order was made in March will be able to graduate, and all students will receive report cards.
Private schools, licensed child care centres and EarlyON programs will also remain closed for the safety and protection of children, families and staff through Stage 1 of the Framework for Reopening the Province.
Emergency child care will continue to operate and provide support for health care and other frontline workers. A gradual reopening of child care is expected to begin when the province is ready to transition to Stage 2 based on public health criteria, which will include robust safety protocols for the safety of Ontario's youngest learners and their staff.
The government is planning for the reopening of schools for the 2020-21 school year and the opening of summer day camps subject to the continuing progress in trends of key public health indicators.
Later this summer, the government will announce a plan to strengthen learning and safety protocols to enable students and staff to return to in-class instruction for the 2020-21 school year.
