Pine State News

During the confirmation hearing of U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) nominee California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (D-Maine) took the opportunity to discuss the negative effects of the school shutdown to students and emphasized the need to resume in-person classes.

“About half of K-12 students are still not spending any time in classrooms, with resulting losses in academic achievement, literacy, and social and emotional development, not to mention the stress on their parents,” Collins said. Experts tell us that these extended absences are causing large learning problems, especially for lower-income students.”

Collins cited the findings of two public health experts published in a Washington Post op-ed stating that students can remain safe even with only three-feet social distancing while wearing masks and following other safety protocols.

"The American Academy of Pediatrics has similarly said that schools should weigh the benefits of strict adherence to the six-feet spacing rule, with the potential downside if remote learning is the only alternative," Collins added.

Collins then asked Becerra whether the six-foot recommendation may still prevent schools from reopening despite the alternative credible findings of other health experts. 

“I will tell you what I believe is the best approach, and that is to let science guide us, and let the experts determine when it is safe, remembering that schools and education are a local issue, and where the federal government has a partnership, we provide the guidance,” Becerra responded.