Schools Should Prioritize Reopening, But They Need A Lot More Money: New Report
Communities most impacted by COVID-19 could see even worse outcomes if they reopen schools too quickly, according to education and medical experts.
Schools should try to reopen if they think they can do so safely,
prioritizing students with disabilities and children in kindergarten
through fifth grade, according to a report released Wednesday. However,
schools likely won’t be able to take all the necessary precautions without
an injection of resources from states and the federal
government.
The new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and
Medicine, which compiles months of research from education and medical
experts, offers one of the most comprehensive looks at the costs and
benefits of U.S. schools reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic. Over its
more than 80 pages, the report outlines the potentially dire health risks
communities could face if schools are reopened hastily and asks school and
community leaders to engage in constant risk assessment.
Although the report ultimately stresses the importance of providing
students with in-person learning opportunities, it also details the
tremendous challenges that schools could face, especially without a major
influx of funds.
Implementing the necessary safety strategies could collectively cost
schools an estimated $20 billion — even as shortfalls at the state and
local levels mean many schools are currently tightening their budgets.
“In the absence of substantial financial support from the federal
government and state CONTINUE READING: Schools Should Prioritize Reopening, But They Need A Lot More Money: New
Report | HuffPost
