Earlier this week, CPS announced that starting on Monday, March 14, all CPS schools will move to a mask-optional model for students and staff. CPS will still encourage the use of masks, and I strongly encourage anyone who feels more comfortable with a mask to proudly keep it on!
I know this may be a big change for our school community. This change is not something to celebrate. It’s also not something that we need to be afraid of. It’s simply the next phase in our nearly two-year journey with the COVID-19 pandemic.
What’s worth celebrating is the fact that we are now at a point in this pandemic where far fewer people are getting sick, ending up in the hospital, or losing their lives to COVID-19. Regardless of how we feel about masks, I think we can all agree that this is welcome news.
A Decision Based on Science
Our District would not be taking this step unless our public health partners and our numbers were telling us that it’s a safe option for our schools. Here are some of those numbers at a glance:
We’re doing more testing than ever in CPS schools — 64,000 tests per week — and our COVID positivity rate is now 0.11 percent. That’s seven times lower than the rate for the City of Chicago, which is now considered low risk under CDC guidelines.
More than 90 percent of CPS staff and nearly half of all age-eligible students are now fully vaccinated.
The District’s weekly case numbers are the lowest they’ve been since the first week of this school year, and there are fewer individuals working or learning from home than at any point this year.
Watching our Data Carefully
CPS was the first large school district to implement universal masking, and we are the last of the three largest districts in the country to move to a mask-optional model. We have been extremely cautious throughout the pandemic, and we will continue to be. CPS has assured families that the District will not hesitate to require masks again if Chicago sees another surge in COVID cases.
A Promise of Respect
I know that some of you are anxious about what school will look like for your children on Monday. Will they be teased if they choose — or need — to wear a mask? And if they choose not to wear one, will they be judged? I want to assure you that neither behavior will be tolerated in our classrooms. In our school community, there must be a culture of empathy and understanding where every person’s choice is respected and where our students know positivity and peace. Our staff works hard every day to promote that culture, and we will continue to do that, especially now. We have been a united community throughout the pandemic, and this shift to a mask-optional model will not change that.
Talking to Your Children About This Change
As parents and guardians, you are the primary educators of your children, and you will have a key role in guiding our students through this transition. Please take some time to talk to your kids about what to expect on Monday, and about how important it is that they be supportive of their peers, even if the choice those students are making differs from their own. We need our students to understand that what is right for one family might not be right for another, and that either choice should be met with kindness and respect.
Embracing Cautious Optimism
It’s true that masks will be optional as of Monday, but our other COVID-19 mitigations, including school-based testing, contact tracing, and our push for more vaccinations will stay firmly in place and will remain a top priority at school. In addition, masks will still be required in certain circumstances, including when students or staff are returning from learning or working at home due to exposure or a positive COVID-19 test.
Please know that whatever your decision about masks, we will do everything possible to ensure your child feels safe, supported, and valued during this upcoming transition. I thank you for your partnership and encourage you to stay in contact with me and your child’s teachers to help us understand how we can best meet their needs.
