Case Study: Reopening School Delivered Better Results

Mar 14, 2022, 7:04 PM

(from the Washington Post) The Lewis-Palmer District in Colorado Spring, Colorado took some controversial measures in fall 2020 when reopening school, without masks for children under 10 or social distancing. School leaders cited studies that showed children under 10 did not transmit the virus as widely and looked to Europe, where schools reopened without large outbreaks. No children ended up in the hospital, and just two faculty members did, while students progressed at their expected rate and better than schools that turned to virtual learning. The district encouraged but did not require vaccines. Leaders faced criticism from both sides, for not having strict enough requirements and for being too strict, but managed most responses by turning to the county health department guidance.