Is School Safe? NPR Answers Back-To-School Questions

Parents, teachers and students across the country are gearing up for the new school year. But, as of mid-July, what schools and the school day would look like is still a mystery.

Some districts, like many in California, have announced plans to teach remotely only for the start of the school year. Other districts and states are planning on “school as usual” in a few weeks. But many (most?) teachers remain hesitant to return to in-person classes without adequate safety measures in place.

NPR asked for questions about reopening schools and then set about to answer many of them: Whats the transmission risk from kids to adults? Are any school districts planning on-site COVID testing? What happens when a student or teacher tests positive for COVID-19? What objective criteria can be used to decide whether it’s “safe enough” to open schools?