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In America, it seems like we’re getting new COVID-19 news each day. U.S. government leaders have had a tough time enforcing the rules of social gatherings and social distancing. Some states have lifted their lockdowns. Meanwhile, the number of Coronavirus cases and deaths increase in other states. With all of this still going on, parents are left wondering — is it safe to go back to school? Parents want their kids to get the best possible education while also having great experiences they’ll remember all of their lives. But is it really safe to reopen schools?
The CDC is supporting the idea of reopening schools in the fall, but they have received some backlash from medical and educational professionals. Studies are still inconclusive at this point, but it seems that children may not be as much at risk as older adults. And younger children may not carry and spread the virus as easily. However, teens are still able to carry the disease and spread it to their family members. Once one student gets COVID-19, it’s likely that he or she will pass it to their friends. That’s why it’s important for kids to practice social distancing, wear masks, and wash their hands frequently. Plus, teachers, faculty, staff members, coaches, and bus drivers are also at risk of COVID-19. Here are some COVID-19 resources for schools.
There’s a lot that we have to consider about opening up schools. School officials need to look at classroom sizes, ventilation within school buildings, population density, shared equipment, high-contact areas, local amounts of COVID-19 cases, and means of transportation. Even if kids are able to sit in their assigned seat with a mask on all school day, they need to get up at some point. They have to be able to eat their lunch and use the bathroom.
It’s also important to note that physical schools offer more than just an education. In addition to the STEM subjects, children gain friendships and emotional skills. Also, students have access to support programs, internet usage, and healthy meals when they’re at school.
The new year is upon us, and we still don’t really know what’s going to happen. Some schools are talking about using distance learning. Meanwhile, other schools are considering hybrid schedules. Students will spend some days in school and other days at home doing virtual learning. And then there are other schools that want to give parents a choice of sending their child to school or keeping them home. You may not think that you have a choice in this matter, based on the state or school district you live in. But that’s not the case. You can still enroll your child in a cyber school.
With very little warning, brick-and-mortar schools were forced to provide remote learning. While your local school may not have much experience with online learning, virtual charter schools have years of experience with it. Plus, several online schools are already set up to provide learning support services and other resources and technology for their students. A lot of parents are wondering — is cyber school a good choice during the pandemic? If you’re asking yourself, “Is it safe to go back to school?” virtual education might be the right option for your family. At this point, at least, it seems to be a safer educational option. Here are some tips for picking one of the top online schools.
