Reopening K-12 Schools During the COVID-19 Pandemic Prioritizing Health, Equity, and Communities (2020) / Chapter Skim
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In response to this need for evidence-based guidance, the Board on Science Education of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, in collaboration with the National Academies' Board on C hildren, Youth, and Families and Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Disease, convened the Committee on Guidance for K–12 Education on Responding to COVID-19. The committee was tasked with providing guidance on the reopening and operation of elementary and secondary schools for the 2020–2021 school year.
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Opening school buildings to some extent in Fall 2020 may provide benefits for families beyond educating children and youth. Working care givers would have affordable, reliable child care for school-age children, and families would be better able to access services offered through the school, such as provision of meals and other family supports (e.g., mental health services, school-based health services)
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Weighing all of the relevant factors to arrive at a decision about reopening and staying open involves simultaneously considering the public health risks, the educational risks, and other potential risks to the community. This kind of risk assessment requires expertise in public health, infectious disease, and education as well as clear articulation of the community's values and priorities.
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Therefore, it is incumbent on school officials, in association with local public health authorities, to plan for the possibility that one or more students, teachers, or staff will contract COVID-19. RECOMMENDATIONS The committee formulated a set of recommendations designed to help districts and schools successfully navigate the complex decisions around reopening school buildings, keeping them open, and operating them safely.
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Recommendation 5: Decision-Making Coalitions State and local decision-makers and education leaders should develop a mechanism, such as a local task force, that allows for input from representatives of school staff, families, local health officials, and other community interests to inform decisions related to reopening schools. Such a crosssector task force should • determine educational priorities and community values related to opening schools; • be explicit about financial, staffing, and facilities-related constraints; • determine a plan for informing ongoing decisions about schools; • establish a plan for communication; and • liaise with communities to advocate for needed resources.
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In addition, State Departments of Education should not penalize schools by withholding statewide school funding formula monies for student absences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recommendation 8: High-Priority Mitigation Strategies Based on what is currently known about the spread of COVID-19, districts should prioritize mask wearing, providing healthy hand hygiene solutions, physical distancing, and limiting large gatherings.
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