Folks --

This year, back to school time is going to look very different. Jill and I know how hard that is for families all across the country.

It's hard for the kids who want to get back to normal routines and see their friends. It's hard for parents struggling to balance work and childcare commitments. And it's hard for educators -- who more than anything want to be with their students.

Everyone wants our schools to reopen. The question is how to make it safe, and how to make it stick.

Our educators and students deserve a better plan.

In a moment I'll explain what I would do to reopen schools safely if I were president today. But first, I have to ask: will you join my call in demanding Donald Trump and Betsy DeVos release an effective strategy to reopen schools?

Schools and parents alike want a clear, science-based strategy, not mixed messages and ultimatums. We're all asking: How low should the infection rate be to reopen? How big should class sizes be? And if we can't accommodate everyone, which students are brought back first?

Any plan has to start by getting cases down in our communities. That's step one. That means each of us wearing masks and following social distance guidelines. It means effective testing and tracing, and ensuring that workers have the protective equipment they need to be safe.

And if I were president, I'd be sending a funding bill to Congress today so that schools and childcare centers can implement the changes they need to make -- to buy protective equipment for the staff and children, to ensure proper ventilation, to upgrade broadband technology.

As long as we have to keep learning remotely, we need to ensure students have access to broadband and other technology, no matter where they live. Every single student should be able to access high-quality, distance learning. We can't allow this pandemic to further exacerbate the educational disparities that already exist in this country.

We're going to get through this. Because our schools and students, our educators and parents -- we're resilient. We know how to find strength in each other. We know how to come together and fight for our kids. But we can't do this without help.

If I am elected president, our students and educators are going to have all the tools and resources they need to succeed -- to get us through COVID-19, and to build the strong, resilient schools we need.

But we can't wait until November to make a change. We need a plan now. I'm calling on Donald Trump and Betsy DeVos to release a clear, science-based strategy today. Will you join me? You can add your name at this link:

https://go.joebiden.com/school-reopening-plan

Thank you and stay safe,

Joe