NYC Blended Learning Opt-In Period Kicks Off

NEW YORK CITY — Indecisive and worried New York City public school parents have just two weeks to decide whether to choose in-person learning for their children.

The blended learning opt-in period starts Monday and runs until Nov. 15.

Mayor Bill de Blasio reminded parents about the looming deadline during his daily news conference on Monday. He told parents whose children are fully remote that recent coronavirus testing results indicate schools are safe.

"Every one of you have a chance to choose," he said.

The deadline proved controversial because school officials had repeatedly promised parents their children could opt into blended learning at any time. De Blasio and Chancellor Richard Carranza said they imposed the deadline to inject stability into planning for families and educators.

But Carranza later whipped up uncertainty when he hinted that the opt-in deadline may not be so final.

“If it’s possible, and if it makes sense, we can absolutely consider another time period where students and families can opt back in,” Carranza told parents, according to a Chalkbeat report.

New York City is the largest school district in the country to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic. The reopening hit several snags but largely unfolded safely — de Blasio on Monday said just 21 schools out of nearly 1,600 are currently under mandatory, two-week coronavirus closures.

But for all the apparent safety, it appears many parents have hedged their bets. Just 280,000 students were attending in-person schooling when officials announced the opt-in deadline.

Parents can opt in by clicking schools.nyc.gov/returntoschool2020.