American Federation of Teachers New Jersey, AFL-CIO

Around 70 percent of parents and guardians prefer a learning model for their children that has some classroom instruction, according to a Reuters survey of 217 school districts in 30 states.

Meanwhile, many districts “have been forced to raid their regular budgets and reserves,” write Kristina Cooke, Benjamin Lesser and M.B. Pell for Reuters, “creating the potential for cutbacks later affecting anything from textbook purchases to payroll.”

Also, roughly two-thirds of the 217 districts surveyed said they collect data on positive COVID-19 tests among students and school staff.…

Nearly 90 percent of respondents to a recent EdWeek Research Center survey said teachers should be considered essential workers who receive early access to COVID-19 vaccines.

The nationally representative survey of 913 educators (prekindergarten through 12) was conducted this month after Pfizer and Moderna reported promising clinical trial results of their respective vaccines.

Finishing second to teachers were school nurses (85 percent), followed by school bus drivers (84 percent).…

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy appeared Nov. 23 on “Good Morning America” to discuss coronavirus restrictions in the Garden State and was asked by George Stephanopoulos whether schools can remain open.

“Assuming we can do it safely, and keep our case transmission as low as it has been, I hope we can keep schools open,” Murphy said.…

During the Q&A portion of his Nov. 20 coronavirus briefing, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy was immediately asked whether he’s downplayed the danger to students and school staff by allowing in-person instruction to continue and if the data he’s using to support keeping schools open is misleading.

“Educators are on the pedestal … I can’t say enough good things about them,” Murphy said.…