Reopening K-12 Schools in the Era of Coronavirus Disease 2019: Review of State-Level Guidance Addressing Equity Concerns

Abstract

Objective To determine how state guidance documents address equity concerns in K-12 schools during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Study design Using online searches, we collected state-level documents from all 50 states and the District of Columbia discussing reopening plans for K-12 schools in the 2020-2021 academic year. We examined whether these documents explicitly mentioned equity as a concern, as well as if and how they addressed the following equity issues: food insecurity and child nutrition, homelessness or temporary housing, lack of access to Internet/technology, students with disabilities or special needs, English-language learners, students involved with or on the verge of involvement with the Department of Children and Family Services or an equivalent agency, mental health support, students/staff at greater risk of severe illness from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, and students/staff living with someone at greater risk of severe illness from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results Forty-four of 51 states (86%) explicitly mentioned equity as a concern or guiding principle. At least 90% of states offered guidance for 7 equity issues. Fewer than 75% of states addressed homelessness or temporary housing, students involved with or on the verge of involvement with Department of Children and Family Services or an equivalent agency, and students/staff living with someone at greater risk of severe illness from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Conclusions Wide variability exists in state-level guidance to help K-12 schools develop reopening plans that protect those who are most vulnerable to learning loss or reduced access to basic needs. Interpretation and implementation by local educational agencies will need to be assessed.

Frequency of asymptomatic carriers of SARS-CoV-2 among children and adults after school reopening

“…Considering that children are likely to be less contagious than adults [13,14], the burden of the school closure and confinement on their life [3,15] and that data about a possible spike in SARS-CoV-2 cases during school reopening are contrasting [16], the costeffectiveness of this measure should be carefully pondered by policy makers.…”

“…One rationale for school closures is that children may asymptomatically spread the virus among their peers and school staff [2]. Whether such a measure is effective for this purpose is still debated [3]. The few available data from other parts of Italy have suggested a non-negligible risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the schools [4], while other studies conducted in other European Countries such as Germany [5] and Ireland [6] have reported a very low risk of secondary infection from children attending schools.…”

COVID-19 Infections Following Physical School Reopening

“…Remote learning consequences are not clear cut as there are tradeoffs, including increased inequities, less efficient learning and less monitoring for the growing risk of suicidality. 6,7 Counties that reopened physically and had increased COVID-19 incidence could consider remote learning, especially at the high school level.…”

Segurança e educação durante a COVID-19: prevalência, fatores associados e planos de reabertura da Faculdade de Enfermagem

“…Discussion of the susceptibility of children and young adults in the COVID-19 transmission chain accentuated the need for decision making pertaining to the reopening of schools and universities and in the individual decision to adopt or not the health strategies to prevent contagion. [6][7][8][9][10] Beyond science, denial and misinformation as a policy took place in some countries, including Brazil. 11,12 Additionally, there were key failures by the Brazilian Federal Government in tracking the disease and in providing coordinated care to patients.…”