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GOING BACK TO SCHOOL? What kind? Under what circumstances? It’s all in the air, again. If this past year has shown us anything, it’s that there is no one definition for what school should be for every student, with or without a pandemic.  As we said right after COVID first devastated our world, it’s about students, not systems. “Where you live is no longer relevant right now, and may not be relevant consistently over the next two years as the nation jigsaws its way through possible repeat outbreaks of Covid-19. What is relevant is the ability to deliver education seamlessly, via low- and high-tech tools, with substantive programming, expectations and American ingenuity.”  Read – or re-read CER’s Future of School paper as you prepare for what is coming next.

WE’LL TRY?? Yep, that’s what she said, that representative of the unresponsive, power-wielding education bureaucracy, Randi Weingarten.  With most of the funds allocated by Congress in the past three stimulus bills totaling $279 billion still unspent and teachers and districts complaining they don’t have a plan for COVID’s rebound, it’s time for parents to take charge.  As Jeanne Allen said on Fox Business yesterday, “Let’s not trust the traditional public school system that royally messed up in the last year, that did not know how to turn on a dime, that did not know how to put kids in exceptional virtual education, and let’s give that money, billions that are still out there, to parents to make that decision.”

NOTE TO LAWMAKERS – FUND FAMILIES! The education establishment has thrown good money after bad for decades. Responses to COVID have sometimes disrupted business as usual but haven’t yet changed how education dollars are spent.  WATCH and listen to those who know best – the families and those who work with them on the ground – about why dollars must Fund Families (Not Failure). 

VIRTUAL LEARNING SAVED THE DAY. We’re not talking about crisis education, as Future of School organization head, Amy Valentine describes it.  The volume of great models we have are evident to those who want the answers. Learn about how many teachers prevailed online with great virtual education, how charter schools stayed open, and how cutting-edge technology is empowering the boom in micro-schools and pods, for starters.

HOW ‘BOUT THOSE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS? The news is good for the over two million kids who attend America’s Catholic schools – most and likely all will be open again, no matter what, just like before. Two of the largest systems, those in Los Angeles and Chicago will be providing full-time education again. Boston Catholic school superintendent Tom Carroll has this advice for parents: “If your school is hesitating about opening in the fall, seriously consider a Catholic school that offers live in-person instruction, a sense of community, and teachers who will love your children like their own — all in a safe, healthy environment with faith and respect.”

ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR FAMILIES. We put together this “Essential Database” and guide to all the resources – many free- available to learners at all levels when schools and districts weren’t delivering. Get ready for what you might need for the fall, and providers, if we are missing yours send it our way by writing to [email protected], and please share this important resource with friends and family.