In the next few months, administrators, educators and staff will be challenged to devise a plan for the fall season. Although the news about global pandemic are ever-changing, there are some plans for hybrid and blended models. Some educational institutions have decided to hold fall semester remotely with virtual and online classes continuing into 2021. Meanwhile, other educational institutions have decided to start their school years in January 2021.
All of these decisions will impact individuals and systems. Some considerations during this global pandemic is the idea of promoting procedural justice. Procedural justice is used in community organizing and building where people have a stake in the plan. People are at the table and are present for decision-making processes. Procedural justice will allow for more buy-in from people who are most impacted by an educational institution‘s decisions. Students, as well as parents, teachers and faculty, will need to be a part of developing plans for fall semester. The soliciting of comments and feedback from college students, for example, will garner support and transparency.
Other considerations are the tailoring of decisions for each campus. While larger school districts may follow a district-wide plan, each K-12 school should also examine their school population to see what’s the best fit for post-quarantine instruction. Similarly, colleges and universities that are a part of a larger system should also make decisions that are tailored to their student population at their specific campuses. Overarching guidelines can be implemented, but specific guidelines will take into account the process and function of each campus. It is critical to understand that guidelines must come with tangible support and infrastructure. Students, parents, teachers, faculty and staff need to have the tools in order for them to succeed in alternative teaching and learning environments.
Because these are unprecedented times, participatory approaches are helpful to leverage the strengths of diverse individuals who bring knowledge and ideas that will help to devise creative solutions. For colleges and universities that have public health departments, including people with specific expertise will be paramount in decision making. In K-12 schools, it will be an important task for district-level administrators to work with principals and teachers as principals and teachers are the ones who will be vital in the future of instruction.