Coronavirus and Schools
The coronavirus pandemic has upended America’s K-12 education system, as most schools in every state close their doors for extended periods to combat the spread of the virus. Here, find the most relevant news, information, and resources on how schools are being impacted.
School & District Management
Low Pay and High Risk: Being a Substitute Teacher During COVID-19
Many substitutes are weighing the costs of going back to schools, where they’ll be exposed to lots of people, under inconsistent safety protocols, and for little pay and potentially no health benefits.
Special Education
Students in Special Education, English-Learners May Go Back to Class First. Here's Why
Some districts are giving these groups priority to make up for lost learning and lack of access in the spring.
Classroom Technology
Teaching in an Empty Classroom During COVID-19: Benefits and Drawbacks
Some school districts plan to require teachers to deliver virtual instruction alone from classrooms.
School & District Management
COVID-19 and Schools: EdWeek Answers Your Questions
The nation’s K-12 educators have many questions about the coronavirus. EdWeek is helping answer them.
School Climate & Safety
Opinion
Here's What Parents Really Think About Reopening School Buildings
A national survey of parents offers five concrete lessons about what families want their schools to do next, writes Bruno V. Manno.
Teaching
Bitmoji Classrooms: Why Teachers Are Buzzing About Them
Teachers who are leading classes remotely are building Nvirtual environments for their students featuring avatar versions of themselves.
School & District Management
Could the 'Pandemic Pod' Be a Lifeline for Parents or a Threat to Equity?
As an uncertain school year looms, some parents are banding together to teach their children in private pods. Educators worry that the trend will worsen inequities and shrink funding for public schools.
School & District Management
From Our Research Center
Educators Losing Confidence in Trump, DeVos, Some Governors; Support for Mask Requirements Rising
Educator support for how governors are handling the K-12 challenges related to the coronavirus dropped from 57 percent to 39 percent between April and July, but opinions varied significantly from state to state, an EdWeek Research Center survey found.
School & District Management
Worried Teachers Want to Know: What Happens If I Get Sick?
In many places, teachers are preparing to head back into classrooms without any guarantee that they will stay healthy. Some are leaving their jobs rather than take the risk.
Teaching Profession
Anthony Fauci to Teachers: You'll Be 'Part of the Experiment' in Reopening Schools
Dr. Anthony Fauci said there are still many unanswered questions about how the coronavirus is spread by children.
School & District Management
Interactive
Map: Where Were Schools Required to Be Open for the 2020-21 School Year?
This national map tracked each state's mandates or recommendations on K-12 school closures and openings related to the coronavirus.
Families & the Community
Parents Mobilize as Schools Wrestle With Tough Pandemic Decisions
From demonstrations and packed board meetings to burgeoning Facebook groups, parents are putting school leaders on the hot seat. But will everyone be heard?
School Climate & Safety
Opinion
The 8 Things Teachers Know for Certain When Schools Reopen
There are some serious questions that still need answers, but there are a few certainties that teachers can hold onto, writes Casey M. Bethel.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
Forget Self-Care for Teachers. We Are Fighting for Our Lives
For many teachers facing the imminent return to school, the customary combination of nerves and excitement has been replaced by mortal terror, writes Justin Minkel.