Under a new COVID-19 study, it's revealed that just 7% of school districts in economically disadvantaged, ethnically diverse communities across the US are aiming to resume operations this fall.

In a recent study published by the Helmut Schmidt University and featured in the Journal of School Choice, it has been revealed that US schools in disadvantaged areas are less likely to reopen fully this academic year, with just 13% intending to offer face-to-face lessons.

The academic team behind the study has called for further research on student academic performance under different learning modalities, and whether these outcomes vary according to racial and demographic characteristics. They suggest possible explanations for these findings include the disproportionate impact the coronavirus has had on people of color and less trust in the government's response to the pandemic among people of color.

The data is based on an analysis of back-to-the-classroom plans from every US state and 120 of the largest school districts. More than two-thirds of these districts intend to restrict options for remote learning for the 2020-2021 academic year. However, students most at risk from COVID-19 are being offered alternative ways of learning by almost every state, even in districts where children are being sent back to classrooms.

Policies on teaching methods vary widely, with some states switching to remote learning if transmission rates spike, while others prioritize in-person learning and view digital alternatives as no replacement. Fewer than one in ten (7%) reopening campuses serve a high number of non-white students.

The study also highlights variations in school sports policies, with some states postponing football until the spring and switching to lower risk activities. Interestingly, the 19 states proceeding with high school American football seasons are more likely to have backed Donald Trump in the 2016 elections.

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For a copy of the paper, visit this website: https://our website/embargoed-releases/. For an interview, contact David T Marshall at [email protected]. For a copy of the journal article, contact Simon Wesson at [email protected] or +44 (0)7817299937. The article will be freely available once the embargo has lifted, and can be accessed via this link: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15582159.2020.1822731.

The authors of the study also note that individual states' plans may shift since their review, acknowledging that the reopening of America's schools in the fall of 2020 is a fluid event, and that districts' decisions may change before the school year begins.

Under a new COVID-19 study, it's revealed that just 7% of school districts in economically disadvantaged, ethnically diverse communities across the US are aiming to resume operations this fall.