Most children across the state are returning to school in partially online , and Pennsylvania leaders say they are adding more flexibility to childcare options as parents work to balance their jobs with their children now learning from home.

That flexibility includes temporarily suspending some regulations in order to create more childcare opportunities, according to Teresa Miller, secretary of the Department of Human Services. The moves are meant to create options to “ease the burden on school-age children who are distance learning.”

“What we don’t want are parents quitting their jobs to stay home with their school-age children,” she said.

Miller also suggested learning pods — families in the same community collaborating to supervise children during the school day. It’s an option that offers childcare for parents who cannot find or afford it, and it limits person-to-person interaction to a relatively small group, she said.

There will not be a licensing process.

“This has been an extremely difficult time for families, particularly those with children,” Miller said.

The department is also working with organizations like the United Way and YMCA to develop part-day programs for kids. Those programs would have to create covid-19 safety plans and require any adults working with children to undergo background checks, as is normal procedure.

An online dashboard for families to find such services is in the works, officials said.

“We want children to be in situations where they are safe and supervised by trusted adults — where they are able to focus on their education and where their interactions with other people are limited so as to minimize the risk of covid-19 transmission,” Miller said.

Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said she can’t speculate on whether a jump in covid-19 cases in schools would lead to another shutdown but noted there are plans in place.

“It’s impossible for me to predict the future,” she said. “We would take whatever actions are necessary to protect public health.”

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