Since the start of the pandemic, schools and universities across the world have been facing a daunting challenge as they re-opened their campuses while protecting the health of students and faculty. While keeping schools open to in-person learning poses epidemic risks, keeping them closed poses educational and social-emotional risks to all students, which can have severe long-term consequences especially to K-12 students.
Students of all ages benefit from in-person learning experiences in ways that cannot be fully replicated through distance learning. The educational risks of extended distance learning may be higher for young children and children with disabilities. In addition, without careful implementation, virtual learning alone runs the risk of exacerbating disparities in access to high-quality education across different demographic
groups and communities.
What is more, with schools open to inperson learning, there are benefits for entire families that go beyond educating children and youth. Working caregivers have affordable, reliable childcare for school-age children, and families are better able to access services offered through the school, such as provision of meals and other family supports such as school-based health services.