Thousands of New York City students will continue remote learning as part of summer school programs this year, the mayor and schools chancellor announced Tuesday morning.
The city says 177,700 students have been identified for summer program enrollment.
Enrolled students will meet with guidance counselors or social workers regularly. The academic programs for 3 - 8 grades will cover math and English language arts. They will be taught live or with pre-recorded instruction.
The programs will run four days a week for six weeks "on a required or recommended basis."
High school programs will cover only subjects students did not pass. They will run five days per week for six weeks, with up to five hours per day of instruction.
"We see this as a summer where unprecedented learning can happen, and it can propel us forward into the next school year," Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
With schools having transitioned to remote instruction in March, due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, de Blasio said, some students may need extra help in the coming months.
Community building and social learning are also part of the summer learning curriculum for all students.
The mayor added that the city is working with museums, libraries and the private sector to device virtual self-directed and group activities for students. Some include virtual field trips, new educational programming, ebooks and virtual clubs.
With the fall semester still in doubt, de Blasio emphasized that the city will prioritize safety above all else.
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