NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Tennessee State Board of Education members are set to talk about what the rest of the school year could look like for students.
So many families are concerned about their child's education. If school starts when Gov. Bill Lee hopes it will on April 24, some districts will have been out of school for almost two months.
The board will propose a set of state emergency rules because of COVID-19. Members want to lower required credits from 22 to 20 and waive the SAT and ACT requirement.
Another important topic is attendance. Some districts could be able to take roll remotely, but unexcused absences may not be allowed.
In addition, they could also change requirements for student teachers who couldn't finish their licensing exams. They could be given a one-year license anyway, as long as they finish up the tests within a year.
Thursday's meeting is happening via conference call at 2 p.m. You can read the full agenda here.
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See all our coronavirus coverage here
COUNTY-BY-COUNTY CASES IN TENNESSEE
What is COVID-19 (a.k.a. the new coronavirus?)
According to the World Health Organization, coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases. Examples include the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV)and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. COVID-19 stands for "Coronavirus disease 2019," which is when this strain of the coronavirus was discovered.
What are the symptoms?
The CDC says patients confirmed to have the 2019-nCoV reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Or at least two of the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Chills
- Repeated shaking with chills
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Sore throat
- New loss of taste or smell
At this time, the CDC believes symptoms could appear as soon as two days after exposure, or as long as 14 days.
Prevention
The CDC is recommending "common sense" measures such as:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
