No matter where students are learning, be it at home or in the classroom, they will need consistent access to several educational and life necessities. These include but are not limited to guardian support, good nutrition, comfortable learning environments with regulated temperature and ventilation, age-appropriate learning supplies, and modern technologies. As well, students need access to the outdoors and play, plus regular social interaction with fellow students and teachers. For some students, these necessities are not available either in home learning environments, or they are going back to a school ill-equipped for social distancing, proper hygiene, and the many CDC recommendations for returning to school.
In addition to these needs, approximately 18% of the student population in Massachusetts have Individual Education Plans (IEP). IEPs form the basis of Special Education services. These services range widely from tutoring or coaching in an individual subject, to helping with many types of physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities. Services or instructions vary in size from small group to individual instruction and even 1:1 individual care. As these tools are accommodated in modern learning environments, we must also understand that some students may not be able to grasp the ideas of social distancing, frequent hand washing, and other recommended procedures.