New School Rules Go Into Effect As MA Aims To Boost Live Learning

MASSACHUSETTS — New minimum standards for how much live instruction school districts must provide go into effect Tuesday, changes aimed at increasing how much time teachers and students spend together — even virtually.

The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education adopted the changes in a meeting last month with hopes of helping students struggling amid the isolation of the coronavirus pandemic.

Schools and districts running a hybrid learning model must now average 35 hours of live instruction over a 10-day school period across grades 1-12. Live instruction means a combination of in-person and remote synchronous instruction, according to the education department.

Schools and districts running a remote learning model must now average 40 hours of synchronous instruction over a 10-day school period across grades 1-12. Synchronous instruction includes live online classes, livestreaming in-person classes and small group instruction.

Additionally, students must be provided a daily opportunity to have a "live" check-in with teachers, and students in remote learning must have an opportunity for synchronous instruction every day.

More than 70 percent of districts are already hitting the minimum standards, the education department said. Districts may apply to be exempt from the rule changes.

In making the changes, state education officials cited the mental toll the pandemic has taken on children.

"Over the fall, we have seen a distressing increase in the mental health challenges our students are facing," State Education Commissioner Jeff Riley said in a letter to the education department. "Based on discussions with the pediatric medical community, research studies, and numerous media reports, I am extremely concerned about the increased prevalence of student mental health challenges arising during the pandemic."