Keeping classrooms closed during pandemic more detrimental to children’s health than thought, report says

A new 92-page report ‒ commissioned by seven groups, including the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute ‒ examines the challenges parents, teachers and students face with the continued reliance on remote learning amid school closings due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The report, which relied on data gathered from 130 studies, said some children are experiencing a "severe" learning loss and that pandemic-created challenges will lead to lower earnings for some Americans in the future. Some states, including Florida, reopened most schools months ago while others continue to embrace a remote learning model. "It is vitally important to weigh the public health benefits of school closures against the academic and social-emotional costs suffered by students, families and society as a whole," the report authors said.