Kids at school at P.S. 124 in Manhattan on February 2, 2022. Attendance charges have rebounded in metropolis colleges for the reason that peak of the Omicron variant wave.
Photograph by Michael Loccisano/Getty Photographs
Metropolis youngsters are lastly trickling again to class after a rash of widespread absenteeism final month, in line with Division of Schooling figures.
Wednesday’s attendance was 88 % — up from a low of 67 % early final month, the numbers present.
Stricken by skyrocketing COVID-19 infections in colleges after the winter break, the DOE noticed a whole lot of hundreds of children lacking from their buildings every day.
Absenteeism grew so dire that guardian, trainer and activist teams pressed for a distant studying possibility to achieve these not coming to class.
College students at some metropolis colleges additionally staged a walkout to again that push.
Whereas attendance remains to be not at pre-pandemic ranges, absenteeism has waned considerably in current weeks.
“Our younger individuals be taught greatest and develop as people after they attend faculty in-person, and due to our ‘Keep Secure, Keep Open’ plan our colleges are additionally a number of the most secure locations for them to be throughout this pandemic,” colleges Chancellor David Banks stated. “The secure atmosphere our colleges present is a life changer for younger individuals, and yesterday’s attendance is proof that households are responding to this success.”
That pattern has coincided with a pointy decline in scholar and staffer COVID-19 circumstances.
Greater than 10,932 college students examined optimistic for the virus on January 6 — the best one-day complete this 12 months. A complete of two,247 faculty staffers additionally got here up optimistic that day for a complete of 13,179 circumstances.
On Wednesday, 672 youngsters and 163 staff examined optimistic for COVID-19.
COVID-19 classroom closures have additionally dwindled to zero in current weeks.
The DOE has not closed a complete class as a result of coronavirus infections for over a month, in line with DOE figures.
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