“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,”
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, President Joe Biden’s nominee for Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary, wouldn’t commit to a federal approach to reopening schools on Tuesday. During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Becerra said reopening schools is “a local issue” following questioning from Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine. Collins began by noting that “about half K-12 students are still not spending any time in the classroom with resulting losses in academic achievement, literacy, social and emotional development.” She then asked Becerra about the CDC’s guidelines that say students should be spaced six feet apart while in the classroom, although other experts recommend only three feet social distancing. Collins noted that adhering to the CDC’s guidelines on social distancing could be a hurdle to reopening schools.
