There’s no reason to close schools again

Although the majority of students have returned to the classroom, the vast majority still have the opportunity to make up work. Extra instruction – in the form of longer school days, summer classes and individual tutoring – is crucial for those at greatest disadvantage. Instead, several counties, from Bellevue, Washington, to Brevard County, Florida, have done the opposite. Citing staffing shortages linked to teacher burnout, among other reasons, schools added last-minute holidays, often with little notice to parents. Leading a trend toward a reduction in mental health, officials in Detroit announced that schools will only conduct face-to-face instruction four days a week in December, with Fridays all remotely.