States and Cities Lean Into Reopening Elementary Schools First As Data Affirm Lower Risk for Students, But Not Necessarily Teachers

Asher Lehrer-Small, The 74 Million |

After months of highly politicized debates, and as coronavirus cases and deaths continue to rise, a new consensus is emerging on how to keep schools open during a pandemic: prioritize the youngest students for in-person instruction.

Existing data, however, raise what could be an important caveat. While in-person learning appears to be relatively safe for elementary and middle school students, the risks may not be reduced for teachers.

“[School staff] are experiencing a completely different trend than what the students are,” said Rebekah Jones, who runs a national tracker of school coronavirus cases called the COVID Monitor.

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