ERN Urges Guidance on Safe School Reopenings

February 5, 2021

Washington, D.C. (Feb. 5, 2021) — Education Reform Now (ERN) National President Shavar Jeffries released the following statement urging the Biden administration to issue guidance in support of safe school reopenings.

“We are pleased the Biden administration is creating national guidelines based on the input of health and medical experts for the school reopening process so that it is safe for our students and educators. Studies continue to show that historically underserved students are falling behind as a result of this pandemic and that there are serious effects on mental health for all of our children. The longer we keep our students out of the classroom, the greater the risk of generational harm.

We urge President Biden and his administration to support states, local school districts, and colleges by providing as quickly as possible clear, detailed guidance of objective, measurable benchmarks that schools must meet and processes that must be in place so that all children and educators may return to in-person learning safely. We also urge the Administration to provide guidance and resources to schools and families so that in cases where schools have not fully reopened, students have access to small group in-person learning and tutoring, especially those who have fallen furthest behind.”

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