AAP advocates for in-school education in the fall
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has strongly advocated that schools open in the fall with students being physically present.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued further guidance for school re-entry.1 The guidance stresses that the organization strongly urges schools to start in the fall with students being physically present.
The guidance recommends that all re-entry policies follow certain principles:
- Policies should be flexible and nimble to better respond to new information
- Develop strategies that can be adapted according to the level of viral transmission found in the community
- All policies should be practical and appropriate for the students’ developmental stage.
- Considerations and accommodations should be made for vulnerable populations of students
- No student should be excluded from school, unless the exclusion is required to adhere to public health mandates
- Policies should be created with the intent to support the overall health of student and families. All policies should communicated in languages other than English, as needed.
- The guidance also provides information on physical distancing, cleaning, mental health of staff, and other considerations.
Reference
1. American Academy of Pediatrics. COVID-19 planning considerations: guidance for school re-entry. Services.aap.org. Published June 25, 2020. Accessed July 1, 2020. https://services.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/clinical-guidance/covid-19-planning-considerations-return-to-in-person-education-in-schools/.
