The reopening of schools is a critical step for educators and kids. But it’s not without risks. AFT leaders are calling for a reopening that focuses on safety, instruction and well-being. It must be based on science and public health protocols and expert guidance from educators, school staff and healthcare professionals. It must also provide the resources to enact these safeguards and ensure that all students have the opportunity to reach their full academic potential.
It’s time to make sure that children’s lives and learning are not put at risk because of the dangerous stance taken by President Trump, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and their allies. These ideologues have pitted parents and kids against educators, and rushed into reopenings that will not only increase the number of COVID-19 cases but undermine safety.
When schools return, it’s critical that they follow strict quarantine procedures and keep classrooms closed if there’s a confirmed case of the virus. It’s essential that districts have the resources to monitor every student for symptoms, and that all high-touch surfaces are regularly cleaned and disinfected with products that have been approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Emily Niehaus didn’t set out to start her own school, but when the options in her rural Utah community failed to meet the needs of her twice exceptional (also known as 2e) son, she took action. Niehaus’s microschool, Moab Academy of Innovative Learning (2e), combines Montessori and special education in a one-room schoolhouse. It offers a flexible curriculum and smaller class sizes for students with unique educational needs.
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