Elementary and Secondary Educational Commissioner Jeffrey Riley speaks to reporters at the Nock Middle School in Newburyport.

Change to state regulations will curtail remote learning

Two weeks ago, Massachusetts Education Commissioner Jeff Riley announced the state would no longer count remote learning toward hours schools are required to teach students, arguing that increased COVID-19 testing of students and the availability of vaccines for teachers would make schools safer.

Last week, members of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted to give Riley the authority to roll back pandemic exemptions to state requirements for in-person learning. Riley called on Massachusetts school districts to phase in five days a week of in-person learning, beginning with elementary school students in April.

Boston Teachers Union President Jessica Tang said many of Boston’s schools appear ready to welcome students back. Air testing has been completed in all schools and the results show ventilation will be sufficient for masked, in-person learning to take place, she said.

“There were no egregious systemic deficiencies,” she said. “The bigger issue is getting teachers vaccinated.”

Although the administration of Gov. Charlie Baker has given the green light for teachers to obtain vaccinations, the state’s troubled vaccination rollout has meant long

See SCHOOLS, page 11