The Demand for Virtual Learning
Last week, I chaired an emergency hearing on the many inexcusable facility issues in schools across the District, like broken HVAC systems and alternative cooling systems that are loud and not reaching adequate temperatures. At our hearing, we heard emotional and powerful testimony from Charmica Payne-Evans, a DC Public Schools (DCPS) parent who suffers from lupus and is a cancer survivor. Her mother, who also lives with her, has stage IV cancer. Ms. Payne-Evans has a 10-year-old daughter who is ineligible for the COVID-19 vaccination.
The Payne-Evans family does not qualify for virtual learning because Ms. Payne-Evans’ daughter does not have a weakened immune system herself. Less than two weeks ago, there were two reported cases of COVID in her school.
Ms. Payne-Evans described being afraid to send her daughter to school and have her come home every day to family members who have weakened immune systems:
“What would you say to me if my daughter would have been in-person at school, gotten exposed, come home to just give me a hug to tell me about her day? And then the next thing you know, she’s got symptoms. And then the next thing you know, I’ve got symptoms. And the next thing you know, her grandmother, who has stage IV cancer, is exposed and, God forbid, someone succumbs. Who can make up for that? Who’s responsible for that? No one should have to beg and plead. Please. Reconsider the stance on virtual learning for the parents who need it just to keep us and our unvaccinated children safe.”
We all agree that in-person learning is best, and almost every family prefers to have our kids in school, but for some families the risk is too dangerous, and even life-threatening. DCPS is using a rigid standard for virtual learning that is out of touch with parents and reflects a sad level of bureaucratic thinking. Currently, only students whose doctors attest that the student has a condition requiring them to learn remotely are eligible to do so. This rigid approach has led some families to keep their children home without virtual learning, and some to send their kids to school over their parental judgment. That’s not fair to our families.
Last week, I drafted emergency legislation to narrowly expand distance learning for students with high-risk medical conditions, and students who live with someone who has a high-risk medical condition and is ineligible for the COVID vaccine. Unfortunately, the Mayor claimed that there would be a great cost to this legislation, which would have killed the bill. Thankfully, Chairman Phil Mendelson narrowed the language in order to save the bill. The emergency bill the Council passed today expands virtual learning eligibility to students who are ineligible for the vaccine and for whom a doctor recommends virtual learning either because the student has a high-risk medical condition, or the student lives with someone who has a high-risk medical condition. We also had to include a cap of 350 students in order to meet DCPS’ cost constraints. It’s unfortunate that it was necessary to further tailor the language, but I still feel we are on the path to meet the needs of families. If we have more students who require virtual learning than the current bill allows, then I’m happy to go back to the drawing board.
With the surge in infections among children, we must take a reasonable approach to virtual learning that respects parents’ legitimate concerns for their families’ safety. During an active pandemic, we must be less rigid and bureaucratic and more sensitive and flexible.
