Bill Overview
Title: Keep Schools Open Act
Description: This bill generally prohibits federal education funding for elementary or secondary schools, local or state educational agencies, or institutions of higher education (IHEs) that do not provide in-person instruction. Specifically, the bill prohibits a school, educational agency, or IHE from receiving federal education funds unless the school, educational agency, or IHE (1) demonstrates to the Department of Education (ED) that it provides in-person instruction to students, and (2) certifies to ED that it will not discontinue in-person instruction for students due to COVID-19. This prohibition does not apply to a school, educational agency, or IHE that provides distance education or other virtual instruction to students in the regular course of its operations for reasons that are unrelated to COVID-19.
Sponsors: Rep. Green, Mark E. [R-TN-7]
Target Audience
Population: People directly involved in the educational systems impacted by the requirement for in-person instruction
Estimated Size: 76500000
- The bill targets schools and educational institutions, meaning it will primarily impact students and educators.
- According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are over 56.6 million students in public and private elementary and secondary schools in the U.S.
- There are an estimated 19.9 million college students enrolled in the U.S., as per recent data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
- The bill's impact extends to millions of educators and staff involved in providing in-person education, which includes approximately 3.7 million teachers in the U.S. for K-12 education.
- Parents and families will also be affected due to changes in education funding and the requirement for in-person learning, affecting their daycare and work arrangements.
- The impact will also ripple out to associated services and industries like school transportation, food services, and extracurricular activities.
Reasoning
- The Keep Schools Open Act is expected to mainly affect students, educators, and their families in terms of day-to-day scheduling, risk exposure, and educational outcomes.
- Around 76.5 million people directly relate to the education system in the US, either as students or educators.
- The estimated policy budget would limit the scale of enforcement and monitoring, focusing on compliance rather than direct benefits.
- Both short-term and long-term impacts need consideration, particularly for those who are currently participating in or providing remote education due to health concerns or preference.
- The public sentiment around this policy is likely to differ by personal experience with remote vs. in-person education during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Simulated Interviews
High School Student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 17 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I really like going to school in person because I can meet my friends and get help from teachers immediately.
- I hope this policy will ensure we remain open so I don't miss out on track and my math club.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Middle School Teacher (Austin, TX)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a teacher, I'm all for in-person classes. However, I worry about the health risks of my children if COVID-19 resurfaces.
- It would be nice if the policy also provided additional funding for health and safety measures.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
College Student (Ann Arbor, MI)
Age: 19 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried in-person classes will disrupt my work schedule. I hope there's room for flexibility in attendance even if this bill passes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
University Professor (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've found virtual teaching to be unexpectedly effective and safer.
- Requiring in-person classes feels like a step back amidst an ongoing pandemic.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Parent of Elementary Students (Raleigh, NC)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- In-person schooling is a godsend for our family. Trying to work and manage the kids at home was chaotic.
- I support the policy, but only if it's safe for everyone involved.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
School Superintendent (Seattle, WA)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could be beneficial if backed by funding to ensure safety measures.
- Without proper resources, maintaining full-time in-person classes might backfire.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
College Administrator (Chicago, IL)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Focusing solely on in-person teaching overlooks students who actually thrive under remote learning.
- I hope for a balance that retains online classes for those who prefer them.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Custodian at High School (Dallas, TX)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's important for jobs like mine to keep schools open; we lose work when they close.
- But health precautions should be a priority without sacrificing our safety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
IT Consultant (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Since I work from home, online workshops have been incredibly convenient.
- I hope this policy considers people like me who prefer remote learning settings.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Retired Teacher (Boulder, CO)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I remember the days of rigid teaching methods; this feels similar and could stifle innovative educational approaches.
- Policymakers should consider more holistic ways to integrate learning environments.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $70000000)
Year 2: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $70000000)
Year 3: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $70000000)
Year 5: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $70000000)
Year 10: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $70000000)
Year 100: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $70000000)
Key Considerations
- Implementation and monitoring costs for the Department of Education.
- Potential savings from reallocating funds previously allocated to non-compliant institutions.
- Effects on local economies, employment, and educational outcomes depending on the scale of in-person learning resumption.