BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker on Friday signed an executive order allowing for students who can’t learn in classrooms to learn remotely in child care programs during the school day, expanding options for families whose children aren’t going to back to class this school year.
The order grants after-school and out-of-school programs the ability to operate during school hours for children who learn remotely. Such programs had been exempt from caring for children during school hours.
The order allows the Department of Early Education to authorize child care programs, such as YMCAs, family child care homes and others to offer supervised care for children while they participate in remote learning.
The state is also allowing for informal, remote learning parent cooperatives organized by families. A parent can supervise children from no more than five families, as long as the parent isn’t paid for their time. Another person who does not have custody of the children may be employed to help with learning during school hours.
Municipalities will also be able to temporarily approve remote learning enrichment programs. Once approved, the programs must apply for a license exemption to supervise students during school hours. Programs run by a school district will not need an exemption.
Students who can take part in the programs must be in kindergarten or of age for first grade and not be older than 14 (or 16 if the student has special needs.)
The state’s COVID-19 guidelines must still be followed in all programs, including the family-run ones.
The order was designed to provide relief for parents unsure of how they would act as a part-time teacher while working from home, something that plagued many during the spring’s remote learning. For others who don’t work at home, it means more child care options.
“We all want our children to get back into school as soon as possible and we applaud the schools and districts that are making the extra effort to bring their students back in some form,” said Education Secretary James Peyser in a news release. “At the same time, we know that remote learning will be part of the educational experience for many students this fall, so it’s critical that we enable parents, after-school providers, and community organizations to offer additional childcare options and learning supports when students are unable to attend school in person.”
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