NJ In-Person Graduations: Here Are The New Rules Amid Coronavirus
NEW JERSEY — Graduations will certainly have a somewhat different look and feel now that Gov. Phil Murphy has allowed live commencement ceremonies to take place amid the coronavirus crisis.
The state Department of Education and the Office of Higher Education released rules and guidance Wednesday that students, families and faculty must follow now that middle schools, high schools, colleges and universities can hold live graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2020.
Some the new rules for the live ceremonies, which would be either modified in-person events or drive-in graduations, mandate that they must held after July 6 and they will be capped at the state's maximum for gatherings.
Right now, that number is 25, but it's expected to be much higher by July 6. Many attendees will also have to stay 6 feet apart. Masks are encouraged, but not required (see list of rules below).
Also, seniors won't be gathering in the high school cafeteria before the ceremony, exchanging hugs and helping each other put one more bobby pin in place to hold their caps.
And tossing graduation caps? Even that "should be avoided," state education officials said.
Murphy's announcement came as some politicians began to join the chorus of high school seniors and parents pushing for in-person graduation ceremonies, which some see as salvaging at least one tradition in a spring where many other senior year highlights, including prom and senior trips, have been wiped out by the impacts of the coronavirus.
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Districts and colleges or universities have to submit their graduation plans, made in consultation with their local law enforcement and health officials, to the state a minimum of seven days before the ceremony, state officials said.
Here are the rules and guidance state officials provided:
They cannot be held before July 6.
They must meet the capacity limitation on in-person gatherings in place at the time of the ceremony. As of May 28, the limit is 25 people at outdoor gatherings.
Wearing face coverings is strongly encouraged, in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, except where doing so would inhibit the person’s health or for a child under age 2.
Sick individuals should not attend. Districts and colleges should discourage attendance if a visitor or someone in their household is experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness or if they have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 14 days. Schools should consider screening visitors upon arrival with non-contact thermometers and excluding any person with a temperature exceeding 100.4 degrees.
The ceremony must take place outdoors, and all attendees must remain outdoors at all times during the gathering, with the only exception being restroom use.
Open-air rain tarps, tents, and other outdoor structures shall be allowed solely for protecting against foul weather or for shade.
All students, staff, and guests at the gathering are required to remain 6 feet apart from other attendees at all times, excluding immediate family members, caretakers, household members, or romantic partners.
Schools should consider class sizes and available spaces to determine the number of ceremonies needed. If conducting multiple ceremonies, follow the CDC's and state Department of Health's recommended cleaning protocols in between ceremonies.
There should be limited contact between attendees, excluding immediate family members, caretakers, household members, or romantic partners. That means no hugs, no handshakes.
To limit person-to-person contact, districts should consider contact-less measures for providing students with diplomas and caps/gowns, such as mailing materials to students’ homes. Programs, maps, and other documents can be distributed electronically in advance of the ceremony or mailed to students and families.
Sharing or exchanging materials of any kind poses an increased risk of transmission/spread of COVID-19 and should be avoided. That includes throwing graduation caps, "sign-in" practices, gifts, flowers, among other activities.
If chairs and other equipment are provided, they should not be shared and should be sanitized before and after use.
Students may walk across a stage or area and pose for a picture individually.
Strongly encourage limiting the length of ceremonies to shorten the time the crowd is exposed to each other.
Schools should limit speakers and ensure that individuals do not share microphones/ megaphones or other equipment that may pose a health risk.
Schools should clearly communicate expectations and procedures regarding photography in order to limit crowding. They should consider using school staff to take photos and make them available to all families free of charge to minimize the need for families to gather around staged areas to take photos.
If allowing access to restrooms, take appropriate measures to prevent congregation such as marking standing locations and assigning staff to monitor these areas and consult with health officials on disinfection protocols.
Districts should assign staff to monitor entrances and exits to prevent congregation. Consider staggering arrival times to ease crowds at entries.
Districts are encouraged to ensure that graduation ceremonies are inclusive and accessible for all students and families. Accommodations should be made for families that may not be able to attend in-person.
Schools may want to consider limiting the number of guests that are permitted to attend the ceremony or holding student-only ceremonies.
Drive-in ceremonies also are only allowed starting July 6, state officials said. They "may be held in school parking lots, drive-in movie theaters, stadium parking lots, or other large parking lot venues that can be used exclusively for commencement ceremonies, and which provide sufficient space to accommodate event attendees arriving in their cars."
Projection screens or sound equipment may be used to allow school staff to call student names, display photos or videos, and provide other audio-visual support.
Accommodations should be made to allow students and families without vehicles to participate while observing proper social distancing protocol;
Weather conditions might affect attendees’ health, safety, and comfort, particularly if cars will need to be turned off during the ceremony;
If allowing access to restrooms, take appropriate measures to prevent congregation such as marking standing locations and assigning staff to monitor these areas, and consult with health officials on disinfection protocols;
Multiple ceremonies may be needed depending on class size;
People organizing or maintaining the gathering who are not in closed vehicles must wear cloth face coverings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, except where doing so would inhibit that individual’s health.
In its guidance, the state continues to urge "that districts take full advantage of virtual ceremonies, which are the safest alternative graduation ceremony at this time."
"Virtual graduation ceremonies offer a number of ways to celebrate this year’s graduating class. From airing graduation messages on local network stations to designing virtual graduations on gaming platforms, virtual graduations offer districts an opportunity to involve the community in planning and facilitating a memorable ceremony."
"As always, any event must be inclusive and accessible for all students and families," state officials said.
"Our goal is to ensure our students are given the sendoffs they richly deserve," Murphy said Tuesday. "We want them to celebrate and to be celebrated by their families, friends and educators who helped get them there, but do so safely."
Graduations, especially high school graduations, have been a hot topic across the country. While some have argued that holding any form of in-person ceremony could help spread the virus, dozens of parents and graduating seniors have created petitions and called on their governors and health commissioners to allow them.
Many school districts have scheduled virtual graduation ceremonies with the promise that they would hold in-person events as soon as the state permitted them to be held. Others have said they will stick with virtual ceremonies regardless.
The issue has stirred debate in New Jersey since April, when Murphy first extended the closure of schools across the state in the ongoing fight to slow the spread of the coronavirus. He closed schools for the remainder of the academic year on May 2.
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This article originally appeared on the Toms River Patch
