For years, Democrats have sold local tax increases and pushed regressive education initiatives, claiming they were doing so "for the children." Now, they've applied that argument to reopening schools, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi saying last month, "We don't want our children to take risks to go to school.” But as we race toward the start of the new school year, we are witnessing just how much Democrats have been lying.
In fact, the current political and education landscape has reinforced exactly what those of us who have served in elected offices such as local school boards have long known: Republicans are the advocates for children, families, and educational excellence.
As the president said this week, “we believe [schools] can now reopen safely, provided they implement mitigation measures and health protocols to protect families, protect teachers, and to protect students.”
President Trump is entirely correct. It is time to safely reopen America’s schools. Our children’s health and well-being demand it.
President Trump, in collaboration with the CDC and public health and education experts, has released guidelines to help schools reopen safely, while protecting both students and faculty. These are available now for all school administrators—a benefit that grocery stores and other retailers were unable to enjoy, instead having to adapt on the fly often with little or contradictory information. Schools, on the other hand, have had since the Spring to adapt, many since mid-March.
In addition to the science-based guidance put out by the Trump administration, the president delivered $13 billion in funding to states to support K-12 education, which is available right now to help schools reopen safely.
Immediately, indefinitely, and safely reopening our schools is crucial for the well-being of all students. The American Academy of Pediatrics has made it clear that in-person school greatly reduces the risk of abuse, drug addiction, and suicide for America’s children. The Academy further argued that school closures have had, and will continue to have, a significant impact on “food security and activity for children and families,” including the more than 30 million low-income and minority children and families that rely on the school lunch program for free or reduced meals.
As a former school board member, current city councilman, and soon-to-be state representative, I hear from the squeaky minority who claim in-person instruction puts lives at risk when “distance learning” is a viable option. As a father of five, ranging from age 2 to age 10, I can assure you, online-only distance learning is not a viable option.
Don’t believe me? The data back me up.
The online-only model disproportionately harms lower income students. In fact, EdTrust conducted a survey and found that 50 percent of low-income students and 42 percent of families of color do not have the required devices in their homes to access online-only education.
Moreover, during the state and local government-mandated school closures in the spring, students’ math progress in low-income zip codes fell by a staggering 50 percent. Students in middle-income zip codes decreased by 33 percent.
The evidence, data, science, and President Trump are clear: it’s time to safely reopen schools. Refusing to do so would significantly hurt all of America’s children and would disproportionately disadvantage the children and families that rely on the education system the most.
If the teachers' unions and government-run school administrators continue to reject the science and refuse to safely reopen the schools, then it is incumbent upon all of us to find another way to protect America’s children. Should they continue to hold our children’s education and future hostage, we must act swiftly to provide all children, regardless of zip code, with educational freedom, wherein funding is attached to the child and parents are empowered to seek out the educational environment best suited to help their child continue to grow, learn, and explore knowledge through this time of uncertainty, and beyond.
After all, it’s for the children, right?