School Re-Opening and COVID-19—What Should Be Done?

Today's guest hosts are Brent J. Cohen and Edwith Theogene, Executive Director and Organizing Director for Generation Progress.

During today's episode, they discuss how school districts across the country are prepping for (or already in the thick of) back-to-school season. This year will look different for many schools as they attempt to navigate the threat posed by the pandemic—which has loomed even larger as the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths have climbed in recent weeks. While Donald Trump and Betsy DeVos have pushed hard for in-person schooling to resume—even threatening to withhold funding from schools that choose to stay online—many experts are wary of the inevitable safety risks that will come from bringing students, teachers, and staff back on campus. 

Aside from the academic challenges of distance learning, schools are also working to figure out other challenges that will arise if students aren’t physically at school, such as how to get supplies and food that they normally provide students to children and families learning at home and what will happen with childcare for families with parents who are working. As always, many of the downsides of both returning to school during the pandemic and pursuing fully remote learning will disproportionately impact low income families and families of color. 

To talk with Brent and Edwith more about how COVID-19 will impact K-12 education this year, they’re joined by Elizabeth Davis, the president of the Washington Teachers’ Union in D.C, and Khalilah Harris, the managing director of the K-12 policy team at the Center for American Progress. 

Here are the Twitter handles for today's guests and their respective organizations: Elizabeth David - @davis704, Washington Teachers’ Union - @WTUteacher, Khalilah Harris - @Ed2BeFree, K-12 Policy Team at the Center for American Progress - @EdProgress

The website for "Generation Progress" is www.GenProgress.org and their Twitter Handle is @GenProgress.  Brent J. Cohen's Twitter handle is @BrentJCohen and Edwith Theogene's handle is @WhoIsEdwith.