Team,
The coronavirus pandemic has been challenging for so many Kansans, but it has been especially hard for parents and school-aged kids.
Throughout Kansas, we've seen a patchwork of school closures, with some districts going fully online, hybrid, or fully on-ground. Local control is important for these decisions, but it's also critical that our kids are in the classroom – especially now.
We know just how important quality education is for young Kansans. Some parents have chosen homeschooling even before the pandemic, as that commitment is the right choice for their families. Others have children in private schools. And online learning has been an option before this year for those who learn better in a virtual environment.
But many families choose public education, and some of those children are lacking needed interaction and instruction from in-person learning.
The Topeka Capital-Journal recently reported on the Kansas State Board of Education's December guidance, stating that, "Elementary school students throughout Kansas should remain in school, even if COVID-19 spread in a community is so high that schools would otherwise close."
Science and data are backing up their recommendation. KSNT reported State Education Commissioner Randy Watson's comments, saying, "The chance of the virus impacting elementary schools, both from a student and a teacher standpoint is so low that the risk of not being in school is greater than the risk of being in school."
And just recently even the liberal Washington Post said the "CDC finds scant spread of coronavirus in schools that take proper precautions." They cite the CDC as saying, "There has been little evidence that schools have contributed meaningfully to increased community transmission."
The science is clear – unless a parent has chosen virtual learning or homeschooling because it is right for their family, students should have the option to learn in the classroom.
As we continue through the spring semester, school boards need to follow the science and allow our students to benefit from in-person learning.
Sincerely,
-Team Estes
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