By Megan Lowry

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine began a study this week to provide states and school districts with guidance about whether and how to safely reopen schools.

Enriqueta C. Bond, chair of the committee undertaking the study, answered some key questions about what this study will tell educators and administrators who are formulating their COVID-19 responses.

Q: What questions about reopening schools during the COVID-19 outbreak is your study going to examine?

Bond: Our report is going to look at seven questions that have emerged from state and school district COVID-19 planning efforts. One question we plan to examine that I think is in the front of the minds of a lot of school district leaders is, what indicators can we use to determine if it is safe to reopen schools and keep them open? We’ll also look into what measures will be effective and practical for schools to maintain and monitor the health of staff and students in light of the financial and logistical constraints they may be facing.

We’re approaching our guidance from the perspective that schools are more than just places for kids to learn. We all need to acknowledge that schools serve many purposes for a community. They are places where kids can get meals, health care, and develop emotionally and socially. They are also a workplace, and a place where children can be safe while their parents are at work. We know state and district leaders are thinking about their schools in this way, and are considering how to fulfill their multiple missions and make school a safe workplace for teachers and staff. We’re going to think about all of this as we formulate our responses to these questions. 

Q: How do you think school districts, principals, and teachers will be able to use this report?

Bond: Schools will be able to use our report as guidance for whether and how to safely reopen and stay open, and maybe more importantly, how to think about the risks and trade-offs involved in that decision. Our report will also cover logistical concerns, like what provisions should be put in place for high-risk staff and students. We’re also hoping to provide answers that help states and districts formulate sound, evidence-based policies to maintain health and safety once they are able to reopen.

We know school districts have many questions about how and when to reopen, and every school’s reopening considerations will look different. Our report will build out a base of information for states and districts to work from and apply to their individual situations. The hope is that the guidance will be as useful for policymakers in major urban centers as it is for school leaders in rural areas.

Q: Who will be on the committee that's writing this report?

Bond: Our committee as a whole is very interdisciplinary, and I think that’s what’s going to make our guidance impactful. We’re drawing on decades of experience from medical doctors, school superintendents, education policy experts, equity practitioners, and pediatricians. I think having such a broad diversity of voices at the table will help ensure our guidance is taking multiple points of view into account from several disciplines.  

Q: The big question that every kid and parent has on their mind right now is, when will schools be open? Will your report give them the answer?

Bond: We won’t be answering that question. Our aim with this study is to give state and local education agencies guidance. We’ll do this by finding the best evidence-based research available, and synthesizing it to help states and districts think about the risks and trade-offs.

Q: Will your report look into education equity, and how to make sure all children are able to attend and benefit from school?

Bond: Yes. Specifically, we’ll look in to how COVID-19 safety decisions and practices can avoid reinforcing existing inequities in instruction and facilities, and if new safety practices can help reduce inequities. We’re also going to try to help stakeholders consider how to equitably implement COVID-19 mitigation strategies, and how health and safety practices should take into account the needs of students with disabilities.

Q: Who is sponsoring this activity?

Bond: The Spencer Foundation and the Brady Education Foundation are sponsoring this research. We’re also working closely with the National Academies’ Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats.

Q: When will the report be available to the public?

Bond: We are moving very quickly with this study. We know schools need answers now to make proper plans to reopen. We don’t know the exact date, but we are expecting to be able to make our guidance public in July.

Learn more about this study.