Duval County

Child care crisis looms over the start of school

JACKSONVILLE, Fla — Local students are about six weeks away from the start of a new school year. In Duval County, some students are required to learn from home part of the week to allow for social distancing, posing a child care concern for working parents.

The Duval County Public School District released a reopening plan in June. It includes a different schedule for each grade level.

RELATED: Duval schools superintendent presents plan for reopening schools in 2020-21 school year

Under this plan, elementary school students can either go to class five days a week or participate in home-based education full time. Middle and high school students do not have that option. Depending on the grade level, students will have to learn from home at least one day a week to allow for social distancing.

For working parents, there’s a question of child care for younger students.

The Center of America Progress projects that the pandemic will put up to 50% of day care centers out of business, erasing some 4.5 million slots for young kids.

In Florida, there is no age when a child can be legally left home alone. However, the recommended age starts at 12.

“When a child is between the age of eight and 12, they can be left alone for short amount of times. We’re talking an hour, hour and a half, three hours tops. That’s what recommended,” Action News Jax Medical Expert Dr. Michelle Aquino said.

The older they are, the longer they can go unsupervised at home, according to Dr. Aquino. However, she said it all depends on the child.

“You have to decide the maturity level of the child, what environment are you leaving them in? Is there any danger in the environment that you’re concerned,” Dr. Aquino said.

She also recommends finding a close neighbor or friend that is near the home if the child needs it.