Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, called the move a terrible mistake. District CEO Monica Goldson said it allows school staff to deliver instruction while prioritizing their own health.
The problem: Virtual learning doesn't work well academically, socially or emotionally for many students, particularly those who lack safe, supportive households and steady internet connections.
Black and brown students, many of whom lacked robust education opportunities before the pandemic, have fallen even further behind during long bouts of virtual instruction.
"For the past year and a half, almost two years, our kids have been exposed to more trauma than ever before," said Tunette Powell, a mother of three young children in Los Angeles and a diversity and inclusion expert.
"I work at a school that primarily serves wealthy families, and we're not talking about shutting down at all," Powell added. "But if I was in South Los Angeles, where there are lots of communities of color, those discussions would already be happening."
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