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The Biden administration's positions on school reopening are understandably giving parents whiplash. Just in the past month-and-a-half, their stance has shifted at least 3 times. A timeline:
December 2020: Open the schools. Biden says he wants to ensure "a majority of our schools" are open within 100 days. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/02/16/president-joe-biden-recommits-school-reopening-goal/6776406002/
February 3rd: In spirit of reopening, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky says "There is increasing data to suggest that schools can safely reopen. And that that safe reopening does not suggest that teachers need to be vaccinated in order to reopen safely." https://abc7.com/reopening-schools-cdc-guidelines-school-rochelle-walensky-covid-us/10316879/
February 9th presser: Revert to close. Psaki says Biden admin’s definition of reopening is “at least one day a week, hopefully it’s more,” for at least half of schools. In other words, 51 percent of public schools, with students attending one day per week. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2021/02/09/press-briefing-by-press-secretary-jen-psaki-february-9-2021/
Feb 12th: CDC releases Biden “school closure” plan. Includes pre-vaccine req to keep desks 6 feet apart & guidance based on community spread rather than incidence rates in schools. @ProfEmilyOster says “few places in the US meet the agency’s criteria." https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/operation-strategy.html
February 16th town hall: Actually, open the schools. Contra Psaki, Biden says he wants most K-8 schools open for regular classes five days a week by April 30. https://nypost.com/2021/02/16/biden-talks-full-school-reopening-by-end-of-first-100-days/
Instead of giving parents whiplash, schools should reopen for genuine in-person instruction (not classroom monitor-managed crisis learning from classrooms). Many districts are ready, yet face union opposition. @JM_Butcher on how states can fight back. https://www.dailysignal.com/2021/02/16/unions-are-keeping-students-and-teachers-out-of-the-classroom-heres-what-lawmakers-can-do-about-it/
