What will public school look like for US students this fall?

Will kids have to wear masks when they return to school this fall? Will coronavirus vaccines be required? Parents in the US are grappling with uncertainty — and exploring their options.

As mask mandates are dropped in many public places in the United States and coronavirus vaccines become available for Americans aged 11 and up, many parents are wondering if their children will finally head back to the classroom this fall. There are still plenty of variables. Despite the fact that clinical trials are under way in younger children aged six months to 11 years, there’s no firm timeline as to when vaccines will be widely available for kids — and some parents have been hesitant to have their young children receive COVID-19 shots at all. Then there are concerns about the spread of new strains like the Delta variant, which could force restrictions again.