On August 24, 2020, NYC's Department of Education provided guidance to schools for outdoor learning and sent out a survey to principals. On August 27, Garden Train provided Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon's constituents, who aren't necessarily following the outdoor learning conversation closely, a brief update on the subject.

1. Good Morning Java with Jo Anne
#OutdoorLearningNYC Presentation
for Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon’s Constituents
52nd Assembly District Coffeeshop Shout Out:
Postmark Cafe, 326 6th St at 5th Ave.
Aug. 27, 2020

2. •WHAT IS OUTDOOR LEARNING
•WHY WE’RE TALKING ABOUT IT
•WHAT THE DOE’S GUIDANCE SAYS
•HOW WE CAN SUPPORT SCHOOLS
#OutdoorLearningNYC Presentation
for Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon’s Constituents

3. #OutdoorLearningNYC Presentation
for Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon’s Constituents
Assemblymember Simon has supported Garden
Train, the D15 school gardens consortium, since its
launch in 2017. The volunteer group connects school
garden leaders with each other and community
partners, which supports public schools through a
network of resource and knowledge sharing.
School gardens are outdoor classrooms for hands-on
learning across subjects and grades, which is why
Garden Train and its partners naturally became
staunch advocates for outdoor learning in New York
City in response to the impact of COVID-19.
#wegrowcommunity
Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon spoke at the launch of
Garden Train at Central Library in November 2017.

4. •WHAT IS OUTDOOR LEARNING
A spectrum of ideas that take learning and
other school activities outside. Just as indoor
learning doesn’t mean one thing, neither does
outdoor learning.
#OutdoorLearningNYC Presentation
for Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon’s Constituents

5. •WHY WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
OUTDOOR LEARNING
-Activities are safer if they are held in outdoor spaces per CDC
-On August 12, the DOE’s Deputy Chancellor for School Planning
acknowledged:
1. Transmission of the virus is less likely in an outdoor setting.
2. Being outside is healthy in and of itself
3. This is a way to actually have more space
#OutdoorLearningNYC Presentation
for Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon’s Constituents

6. •WHAT THE DOE’S PLAN SAYS
-The Outdoor Learning initiative will allow the use of outdoor space for all classes, with an emphasis on
those that require additional spacing per public health guidance such as PE, dance, theater, chorus and
band.
-Space can include on-site school yards, public parks, adjacent streets, and previously approved play
streets.
-Principals should submit these requests through survey by Aug. 28 for a DOE response by Sept. 4 latest.
-A Working Group made up of representatives from DOT, NYPD, DSNY, FDNY, Parks and DOE will
oversee the approval process.
-Schools in the 27 neighborhoods most impacted by COVID and schools with no outdoor space on-site will
receive priority approval for outdoor space.
#OutdoorLearningNYC Presentation
for Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon’s Constituents

7. SOME PROS
-Empowers schools that want to and can safely utilize outdoor space
(option, not a mandate)
-Without the DOE guidance, schools could not use their own
schoolyard for classes
-New York City has a long tradition of safely using Play Streets by
schools (not new), learning in parks and taking field trips
-Outdoor air is safer than indoor air for COVID
-Resourceful
-Recognizes community partnerships support schools
#OutdoorLearningNYC Presentation
for Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon’s Constituents

8. SOME CONS
-The DOE’s guidance was announced on Aug. 24, 14 working days
before the anticipated first day of school, Sept. 10
-Equity is a central issue that hasn’t been fully addressed
-Some school communities have said it’s just not safe to be outside,
highlighting disparities
-Some have said this delayed guidance is another burden on principals
who are working so hard to reopen schools safely
#OutdoorLearningNYC Presentation
for Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon’s Constituents

9. •IDEAS FOR SUPPORTING SCHOOLS THAT
WANT TO UTILIZE OUTDOOR LEARNING
-Principal Survey awareness
-Material/supplier connections and donations
-Free outdoor learning resources
-Donating to a local PTA
-Asking the parent coordinator the above+
#OutdoorLearningNYC Presentation
for Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon’s Constituents

10. THE DOE’S OUTDOOR LEARNING PAGE
infohub.nyced.org/outdoorlearning
DOE CONTACT: OutdoorLearning@schools.nyc.gov
Garden Train’s next meeting is on Sept. 17
#OutdoorLearningNYC Presentation
for Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon’s Constituents

11. THANK YOU JO ANNE SIMON,
Susannah, Jessie, Alexis and
neighbors!
Contact me for outdoor learning
and/or school garden support:
Kathy Park Price
GardenTrainD15@gmail.com
@gardentrainD15 @kathyparkprice
#OutdoorLearningNYC Presentation
for Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon’s Constituents