As of June 14, 2021, 34 states in the United States had no school closure order in effect due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, 13 states had ordered schools open.
School closure during COVID-19
The debate on whether to close schools during the COVID-19 pandemic has been highly contentious in the United States. As experts are unsure about the long-term effects of COVID-19 on individuals, the call to close schools has been rapidly growing. The evidence of children being asymptomatic spreaders helps support the case to close schools to decrease the risk of spreading to their parents and grandparents. Those in favor of closing schools argue that closing schools hinders children’s emotional, mental, and educational development. However, a majority of voters agree that schools should wait to reopen until all teachers are vaccinated.
Parents' worry
Regardless of income level or working status, most parents in the United States share the same fears and concerns about their children’s education and safety during COVID-19. A majority of parents were concerned about their children falling behind as a result of online schooling, as an online school does not provide the same academic and social benefits as an in-person school.
Number of states with school/district closures due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States as of June 14, 2021, by status
Includes the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
The source defines the closure orders as follows:
Full closure: In-person instruction is not allowed.
Partial closure: Full time, in-person instruction is either not allowed in certain regions of the state, or is only available for certain age groups.
Ordered open: In-person instruction must be available to all students.
No order: Decisions are currently being made on a local level, with recommendations or guidelines provided by the state.
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Education Week. (June 14, 2021). Number of states with school/district closures due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States as of June 14, 2021, by status [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved October 11, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1103071/covid-19-school-closures-state-us/
Education Week. "Number of states with school/district closures due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States as of June 14, 2021, by status." Chart. June 14, 2021. Statista. Accessed October 11, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1103071/covid-19-school-closures-state-us/
Education Week. (2021). Number of states with school/district closures due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States as of June 14, 2021, by status. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: October 11, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1103071/covid-19-school-closures-state-us/
Education Week. "Number of States with School/District Closures Due to The Coronavirus (Covid-19) in The United States as of June 14, 2021, by Status." Statista, Statista Inc., 14 Jun 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1103071/covid-19-school-closures-state-us/
Education Week, Number of states with school/district closures due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States as of June 14, 2021, by status Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1103071/covid-19-school-closures-state-us/ (last visited October 11, 2024)
Number of states with school/district closures due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States as of June 14, 2021, by status [Graph], Education Week, June 14, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1103071/covid-19-school-closures-state-us/