Interesting Article.
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/06/will-schools-reopen-fall/613468/
I will sum up. This whole situation sucks for every stakeholder involved in education.
My wife and I talk everyday and it seems to be, "But, How will they......". The more I keep hearing the more districts are giving parents the choice to choose to send or not to send.
You either turn a blind eye to the fact that children are going to be healthy through this even if they catch it, but knowingly are going to act as a swarm of bees/locusts in transmitting this disease to every corner of their respective counties and infecting those less fortunate
or......
you create a very complicated system for educating young people. The virtual schooling isn't a joke but it isn't far from it. Many districts didn't take grades, because of equity issues, which was a disaster for many. You can pass on basic low level skills, but collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, problem solving is very difficult through a computer. Kids are definitely experiencing a long term brain drain and obesity from lack of physical activity will get worse. No competition, teamwork, etc because there won't be sports if we are doing virtual or hybrid. Elementary kids are still learning the building blocks of life including socializing. Them missing a year in person will be devastating (let alone the logistics of leaving a 7 year old at home).
Pick your poison. It all sucks. I pick the first choice, have the kids wear masks and build a plexiglass pod for all the bus drivers, and hope for the best.
The long term ramifications of the depressed property values from homes and closed commercial real estate will be felt in a couple years when taxes are reassessed. That is a major long term problem.
It all sucks. Been waiting for my kids to get to middle school to participate in athletics and other extracurricular activities. At least they aren't seniors. I do think you will see parents reclassify their children (not sure if that would fly at the high school level) and it won't be just for sports, but actually make up for lost education.