Bill Overview
Title: Keep Kids in Schools Act
Description: This bill prohibits a local educational agency (LEA) from obligating federal COVID-19 relief funds during any period when one or more elementary or secondary schools served by the LEA do not provide full-time, in-person instruction. This prohibition does not apply with respect to a school that does not provide full-time, in-person instruction due to following quarantine or isolation guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Sponsors: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Target Audience
Population: Students, parents, and staff at elementary and secondary schools
Estimated Size: 150000000
- The bill impacts local educational agencies (LEAs) that receive federal COVID-19 relief funds.
- Elementary and secondary schools under LEAs must provide full-time, in-person instruction to use federal funds, affecting their operational decisions.
- Students attending these schools, particularly those in districts choosing not to hold in-person classes, may see impacts through limitations on resources and support due to constraints on funding.
- Parents and guardians relying on these schools for full-time in-person education will also be affected, especially if their schools cannot open due to restrictions not covered by CDC guidelines.
- School administrators and staff will need to adapt to pressures to maintain in-person instruction to secure funding.
Reasoning
- This policy primarily affects school districts using federal COVID-19 relief funds, which may force them to continue or resume in-person classes if not exempted by CDC guidelines.
- Families in these districts depending on in-person schooling will be directly affected.
- Well-being impacts will vary based on individual circumstances such as reliance on in-person schooling, health concerns, and district decisions.
- Budget constraints limit the number of LEAs that can be reinforced to comply, leaving some without federal funds if in-person schooling isn't feasible.
Simulated Interviews
Elementary School Teacher (Austin, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If we can't hold in-person classes, we'll lose crucial funding.
- Health concerns for students and staff are quite high.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Parent of 3 children in elementary schools (Chicago, IL)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy pressures schools to open, which might not be safe yet.
- We need the funding, but I worry about my children's health.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
School Principal (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy might help but places immense pressure on us.
- We need more guidance on safe in-person schooling protocols.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
High School Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 30 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned that I'll be required to return in-person.
- I would rather have options for remote learning.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Parent (Miami, FL)
Age: 26 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Honestly, it doesn't impact us as much, since we're already in-person.
- My primary concern is our community's safety if situations worsen.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Middle School Teacher (Denver, CO)
Age: 47 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- In-person classes are more effective for teaching, but I'm worried about health risks.
- This policy might push some districts into unsafe conditions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
District Administrator (New York, NY)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could jeopardize essential services if we can't comply.
- Decisions must be based on safety, not funding threats.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Parent and Community Advocate (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a bit of a catch-22; we need in-person but safely.
- It's unfair to penalize schools unable to comply due to genuine COVID concerns.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
High School Teacher (Boston, MA)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Pushing for in-person without proper supports feels risky.
- Our hybrid model serves students, but funding is a concern.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
School Board Member (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a balancing act of following health guidelines and securing funding.
- The policy's pressure can undermine trust within our community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $100000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $150000000)
Year 2: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Compliance with CDC quarantine guidelines is maintained as the standard for schools opting out of in-person classes, though there may be varied interpretation among LEAs.
- The administrative burden and cost to implement real-time compliance assessment on LEAs could be significant.
- Political and public response to the pressure for full-time in-person schooling during variable public health situations could affect policy viability.