October 30, 2020 2:30 p.m. 

On Friday, Governor Kate Brown announced updates to Oregon’s school metrics that will allow more students to return to classroom instruction with health and safety measures in place.

A release said the updated metrics reflect CDC guidance and lessons learned from school districts across the country for best practices to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in schools. That means, close to 130,000 students will be eligible to return to school classrooms.

Brown said the change will “….bring Oregon in sync with the standards of other states like California”. Brown said, “Schools do so much more than teach and inspire our kids. They make sure students who are hungry receive warm and nutritious meals. They are places that provide care for students and identify those who are at risk or in need. They help provide support for student’s mental health and well-being”.

Brown said schools are at the center of it all. That includes the personnel, teachers, nurses, counselors, librarians, and education support professionals “…who every day, build the personal, individual connections with students that are so crucial to their lifelong success”.

The release said the Oregon Department of Education has released an update to its Ready Schools, Safe Learners guidance, which outlines strict health and safety protocols to lover the risk of COVID-19 infection among students, parents, educators and support staff.

A link to the ODE 90-page release with details on the new metrics is posted with this story at www.541radio.com.  https://www.oregon.gov/ode/students-and-family/healthsafety/Documents/Ready%20Schools%20Safe%20Learners%202020-21%20Guidance.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery