Begin again primary schools during the pandemic

Abstract

For the past6 months, policymakers have weighed economic against publichealth considerations in debating what limitsto set on individual and collective behaviors inattempting to control the Covid-19 pandemic. Asfall approaches, attention has turned to a thirdpillar of a pandemic-resilient society: schools.Under ordinary circumstances, about 40 millionchildren would be entering classrooms this year, includingnearly 27 million students inhigher grades, Until these children physically returnto school full time, many will lose out onessential educational, social, and developmentalbenefits.We believe that safelyreopening schools full-time for all elementaryschool children should therefore be a top nationalpriority.