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The Trump administration wants students to back to school with their teachers this fall. That was the topic during a round table discussion about how to reopen schools in the White House.
“Our country has got to get back, and it’s got to get back as soon as possible. And I don’t consider our country coming back if the schools are closed,” President Donald J. Trump.
President Trump hosted a national dialogue with State, local, and tribal leaders, educators, and families to discuss the importance of reopening all of America’s schools in a safe way, starting from the premise of what is best for the children of America.
President Trump knows that, for the wellbeing of children and country, students must begin safely learning again and receiving supportive services from schools.
As the American Academy of Pediatrics has said, “all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school.”
The President has made more than $13 billion available to support continued education for K-12 students enrolled in public, charter, and private schools affected by the coronavirus. Through the Treasury Department’s $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund, State and local governments can access funding to help school districts affected by the coronavirus.
The White House believes that time away from schools – and associated interruptions in supportive services – make it difficult for schools to best serve their students’ wellbeing.
First Lady Melania Trump urged parents, teachers, and schools to inform children about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines on coronavirus at the start of the school year and to implement those guidelines when appropriate.
“When children are out of school, they’re missing more than just stuff in the classroom,” she said. “They’re missing the laughter of their friends, learning from their teachers, and the joy of recess and play.”
While children are away from schools, The First Lady said, educators are unable to effectively address important learning deficits, child and adolescent physical or sexual abuse, substance use, depression, and suicidal ideation.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released detailed guidance to ensure school officials understand how to prepare for, prevent transmission of, and react quickly to coronavirus cases within an education system.
The CDC has offered schools supplemental considerations on how to assess risks of in-person classes, class sizes, behaviors, and cleaning techniques and provide guidance to help schools determine the necessity of conducting screenings, testing, and contact tracing.
The Trump Administration has provided flexibility for school breakfast and lunch programs, helping children access nutritious meals in a safe manner for the entire school year.