Statement: Prioritizing In-Person Learning
July 20, 2020
We need to put Iowa’s children first and support getting them back to school safely and responsibly. We need to recognize the ability of parents to choose what is best for their children.
I support Governor Kim Reynolds direction to prioritize in-person learning rather than online.
Parents who don’t want to send their children to school can certainly choose to educate their children from home, as many have done long before COVID-19.
We must take precautions with at-risk people. There is currently no evidence that shows child-to-child or child-to-adult asymptomatic transmission. Children with symptoms should be encouraged to stay home, as they have been with other illnesses.
Teachers and administrators who are considered at-risk should be encouraged to take the necessary precautions.
We cannot afford to let our children to fall behind. They are our future and early learning is critical to the rest of a child’s life of development.
The below quote from the US Secretary of Health and Human Services provides a great summary of the CDC’s guidance:
“Our CDC guidance is guidance. When it comes to reopening our schools, nobody should hide behind CDC’s guidance as a way to not reopen schools. Our guidance is to enable and empower the reopening of schools and physical attendance by our kids.”
-Alex Azar, US Secretary of Health and Human Services
[SEE FULL QUOTE and guidance core elements at 11 min+ in the following video link]
Referenced Des Moines Register Article