The onset of COVID-19 and state social-distancing lockdowns forced schools to close their doors to students and pivot to crisis online learning, leaving parents and guardians scrambling to provide education continuity to their children. The shift to alternative approaches has drastically changed education, perhaps permanently, for students from kindergarten to university. While creating new pressures that have made it difficult for parents to return to work, the change has also given families and policymakers the opportunity to rethink how education is currently delivered.
Data continue to show that it is extremely rare for children to develop severe symptoms if they contract the coronavirus, and a growing number of health organizations say that in-person learning would be safe for students in the fall. School districts should reopen this fall based on local health data and guidance, as more than 20 other countries have already done.
Most important, states should immediately reconfigure education financing so that dollars flow directly to parents, enabling them to pay for learning options of their choice. Parents deserve options and flexibility so that their children can access a quality education. Parents and educators are already innovating with microschools, such as “pandemic pods,” which team up a social circle of students with a part-time teacher. Lawmakers should encourage these microschools along with school choice options like education savings accounts, tax-credit scholarships, and vouchers. Providing education choice options to every child in a state would allow students from all economic backgrounds to have access to microschools and other innovative education models.
Reopening schools and making education funding student-focused and portable are essential tools for keeping the doors of educational opportunity open to all children. This is especially important for students whose parents are not able to work remotely or have limited economic means.
Key Heritage Research:
- Rachel Greszler and Lindsey Burke, Ph.D., “Rethinking Early Childhood Education and Childcare in the COVID-19 Era,” Heritage Foundation Backgrounder No. 3533, November 30, 2020.
- Lindsey M. Burke, Ph.D., “Educating During a Pandemic: More About Learning Pods and ESAs,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, November 22, 2020.
- Jonathan Butcher, “Union Activities Beg the Question: How, Specifically, Is This Going to Make the Education of Children Better?” redifinED, August 27, 2020.
- Jonathan Butcher and Lindsey Burke, Ph.D., “Education in a Pandemic—Not making the Grade,” Hartford Courant, December 20, 2020.
- Jude Schwalbach, “Six Ways Congress Can Improve Education Without More Bailouts,” Heritage Foundation Backgrounder No. 3561, December 3, 2020.
- Jude Schwalbach, “Protecting Learning Pods From Unnecessary Regulations,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, November 6, 2020.
Appendix of Heritage Research:
Hance Winingham and Jude Schwalbach, “Will Catholic Schools Survive COVID-19?” The Daily Signal, February 25, 2021, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/will-catholic-schools-survive-covid-19.
Angela Sailor, “Charter Schools Have Contributed to Education Equality and Saved Lives, AFRO News, February 23, 2021, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/charter-schools-have-contributed-education-equality-and-saved-lives.
Lindsey M. Burke, “Biden Backtracks on School Reopenings. Here’s How Left, Unions Put Ideology Before Students.” The Daily Signal, February 17, 2021, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/biden-backtracks-school-reopenings-heres-how-left-unions-put-ideology-students.
Jonathan Butcher, “How Do We Get Kids Back in Schools? Stop Teacher Union Bullying.” Philadelphia Inquirer, February 16, 2021, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/how-do-we-get-kids-back-schools-stop-teacher-union-bullying.
Jonathan Butcher, “Unions Are Keeping Students and Teachers Out of the Classroom. Here’s What Lawmakers Can Do About It.” The Daily Signal, February 16, 2021, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/unions-are-keeping-students-and-teachers-out-the-classroom-heres-what.
Lindsey M. Burke and Angela Sailor, “School Choice Provides Opportunity for All of America’s Kids to Have Better Life,” The Daily Signal, February 12, 2021, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/school-choice-provides-opportunity-all-americas-kids-have-better-life.
Jonathan Butcher and Lindsey M. Burke, “The Education Lesson From COVID Lockdowns: School Choice Is Imperative for Every Child,” February 9, 2021, The Daily Wire, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/the-education-lesson-covid-lockdowns-school-choice-imperative-every-child.
Jonathan Butcher and Lindsey M. Burke, “The Education Lesson from COVID-19: School Choice Is Imperative for Every Child,” Heritage Foundation Backgrounder No. 3582, February 1, 2021, https://www.heritage.org/education/report/the-education-lesson-covid-19-school-choice-imperative-every-child.
Schwalbach, “Here’s How Some States and Families Are Taking Back Control Over Their Children’s Education,” The Daily Signal, January 29, 2021, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/heres-how-some-states-and-families-are-taking-back-control-over-their.
Kevin Pham, MD, and Lindsey M. Burke, “Virtual Learning Is Unnecessary – And No Substitute for Classroom Education,” Tribune News Service, January 28, 2021, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/all-signs-point-vaccine-success-against-covid-19.
Lindsey M. Burke, “It’s Time for a Bold, Reaganesque Approach to Teachers Unions on School Closures,” January 26, 2021, The Daily Signal, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/its-time-bold-reaganesque-approach-teachers-unions-school-closures.
Jude Schwalbach and Hance Winingham, “Teachers Unions Are Keepign Kids Out of the Classroom. School Choice Can Ensure They Learn Anyway.” The Daily Signal, January 26, 2021, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/teachers-unions-are-keeping-kids-out-the-classroom-school-choice-can-ensure.
Lindsey Burke, Jonathan Butcher, Emilie Kao, and Mike Gonzalez, “The Culture of American K–12 Education: A National Survey of Parents and School Board Members,” Heritage Foundation Special Report No. 241, January 11, 2021, https://www.heritage.org/education/report/the-culture-american-k-12-education-national-survey-parents-and-school-board.
Jonathan Butcher and Lindsey Burke, “Education in a Time of Pandemic: Not Making the Grade,” Tribune News Service, December 21, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/education-time-pandemic-not-making-the-grade.
Jude Schwalbach, “8 Education Choice Wins in 2020,” The Daily Signal, December 17, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/8-education-choice-wins-2020.
Jude Schwalbach, “Three Ways Congress Can Support Education Without a Bailout,” Washington Times, December 11, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/three-ways-congress-can-support-education-without-bailout.
Jude Schwalbach, “Responding Smartly to the Pandemic, Ohio Expands Private School Choice,” The Daily Signal, December 7, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/responding-smartly-the-pandemic-ohio-expands-private-school-choice.
Jude Schwalbach, “Six Ways Congress Can Improve Education Without More Bailouts,” Heritage Foundation Backgrounder No. 3561, December 3, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/report/six-ways-congress-can-improve-education-without-more-bailouts.
Jude Schwalbach, “Protecting Learning Pods from Unnecessary Regulations,” The Daily Signal, November 6, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/protecting-learning-pods-unnecessary-regulations.
Liv Finne, “How Special Interests and Entrenched Bureaucracy Drove the COVID-19 Response to Education: The Case of Washington State,” Heritage Foundation Backgrounder No. 3553, October 29, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/report/how-special-interests-and-entrenched-bureaucracy-drove-the-covid-19-response.
Adam Kissel, “Postsecondary Education Policy in the COVID-19 Era,” Heritage Foundation Backgrounder No. 3554, October 29, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/report/postsecondary-education-policy-the-covid-19-era.
Jonathan Butcher, “In Staying Closed, Schools Ignore Low COVID-19 Rates, Needs of Families,” The Daily Signal, October 22, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/public-health/commentary/staying-closed-schools-ignore-low-covid-19-rates-needs-families.
Rachel Greszler and Lindsey M. Burke, “Rethinking Early Childhood Education and Childcare in the COVID-19 Era,” Heritage Foundation Backgrounder No. 3533, September 30, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/report/rethinking-early-childhood-education-and-childcare-the-covid-19-era.
Jonathan Butcher, “With Lawmakers Not in Session, Bureaucrats Should Not Regulate Pods,” RedefinED, September 23, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/lawmakers-not-session-bureaucrats-should-not-regulate-pods.
Lindsey M. Burke, “Educating During a Pandemic: More About Learning Pods and ESAs,” Smart Women Smart Money, September 22, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/educating-during-pandemic-more-about-learning-pods-and-esas.
Jude Schwalbach, “Why “A PLUS” Would Be Better Than Yet Another Federal Education Bailout,” The Daily Signal, September 16, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/why-plus-would-be-better-yet-another-federal-education-bailout.
Jude Schwalbach, “D.C.’s Opportunity Scholarship Program Giving Students Access to In-Class Education,” The Daily Signal, September 9, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/dcs-opportunity-scholarship-program-giving-students-access-class-education.
Lindsey M. Burke, “A Microschooling Manual,” Washington Examiner, September 8, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/microschooling-manual.
Lindsey M. Burke, “Do Pandemic Pods Qualify As Disruptive Innovation?” RedefinED, August 27, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/do-pandemic-pods-qualify-disruptive-innovation.
Jude Schwalbach, “A PLUS Spells Relief for States During the Coronavirus,” The Heritage Foundation Backgrounder No. 3519, August 26, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/report/plus-spells-relief-states-during-the-coronavirus.
Lindsey M. Burke and Jason Bedrick, “Why Parents Love “Pandemic Pods” for School – But Bureaucrats Hate Them,” National Review, August 24, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/why-parents-love-pandemic-pods-school-bureaucrats-hate-them.
Lindsey M. Burke, “Districts Are Using Empty Schools as Expensive Day Cares, and Taxpaying Parents Are Being Changed Twice. This Needs to End.” The Daily Signal, August 21, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/districts-are-using-empty-schools-expensive-day-cares-and-taxpaying-parents.
Jude Schwalbach, “4States Supporting Private Schools With COVID-19 Relief Lead Way on Education Choice,” The Daily Signal, August 19, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/4-states-supporting-private-schools-covid-19-relief-lead-way-education-choice.
Kay C. James, “States Have an Obligation to Offer Parents School Choice During Pandemic Closures,” The Washington Times, August 14, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/states-have-obligation-offer-parents-school-choice-during-pandemic-closures.
Lindsey M. Burke and Mike Gonzalez, “Kudos to the Leader Who Wants Students to Have More Options,” The Hill, August 7, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/kudos-the-leader-who-wants-students-have-more-options.
Jonathan Butcher, “Private Schools and the Back-to-School Calculation,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, August 3, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/private-schools-and-the-back-school-calculation.
Lindsey M. Burke, “In COVID-19 Bill, Schools Need Funding Flexibility, Not Another Federal Bailout,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, July 30, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/covid-19-bill-schools-need-funding-flexibility-not-another-federal-bailout.
Lindsey M. Burke, “‘Little Pod Platoons’ Are Education’s Answer to Lockdowns This Fall,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, July 28, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/little-pod-platoons-are-educations-answer-lockdowns-fall.
Jonathan Butcher, “Giving Every Child Hope for Success This School Year,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, July 21, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/giving-every-child-hope-success-school-year.
Mary Clare Anselem, “Dismantling Student Loan Program Best Path to Fight ‘Leftist Indoctrination’ on Campus,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, July 20, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/dismantling-student-loan-program-best-path-fight-leftist-indoctrination-campus.
Jonathan Butcher, “South Carolina Gives Parents Confidence About School This Fall,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, July 20, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/south-carolina-gives-parents-confidence-about-school-fall.
Lindsey M. Burke, “More Than 20 Countries Are Reopening Schools. The U.S. Should Take Note,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, July 16, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/more-20-countries-are-reopening-schools-the-us-should-take-note.
Jonathan Butcher, “Distance Learning Isn’t Sufficient for Students, Teachers, or Parents,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, July 15, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/distance-learning-isnt-sufficient-students-teachers-or-parents.
Kevin Pham, MD, “Why In-Person Schooling Would Be One of the Safest Activities to Reopen,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, July 12, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/why-person-schooling-would-be-one-the-safest-activities-reopen.
Jonathan Butcher, “School Reopenings—Parents, Students Don’t Need National Consensus, They Need This Strategy,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, July 10, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/school-reopenings-parents-students-dont-need-national-consensus-they-need.
Rachel Greszler, “School Closures Threaten Kids More Than COVID-19, Pediatricians Say,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, July 8, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/school-closures-threaten-kids-more-covid-19-pediatricians-say.
Mary Clare Anselem, “Trump Executive Order Combats Credentialism in Federal Hiring,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, July 5, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/trump-executive-order-combats-credentialism-federal-hiring.
Jude Schwalbach, “Let’s Not Overlook Education of Military Kids in Responding to COVID-19,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, June 28, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/lets-not-overlook-education-military-kids-responding-covid-19.
Jonathan Butcher, “K–12 Education Should Not Be a Turf War,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, June 25, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/k-12-education-should-not-be-turf-war.
Lindsey M. Burke, “Defund the Police? How About Defund Teachers Unions,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, June 23, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/defund-the-police-how-about-defund-teachers-unions.
Lindsey M. Burke, “The Coronavirus Will Crush the Private School Industry,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, June 16, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/the-coronavirus-will-crush-the-private-school-industry.
Jude Schwalbach, “COVID-19 Should Incentivize States to Make Education Dollars Student-Centered,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, June 16, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/covid-19-should-incentivize-states-make-education-dollars-student-centered.
Jonathan Butcher, “Homeschooling’s Moment,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, June 11, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/homeschoolings-moment.
Angela Sailor, “HBCUs: They Have Overcome and Will Do So Again,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, June 10, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/hbcus-they-have-overcome-and-will-do-so-again.
Lindsey M. Burke and Heidi Ganahl, “Leading Through the Crisis: How College Regents and Trustees Can Steady the Fiscal Ship,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, June 9, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/leading-through-the-crisis-how-college-regents-and-trustees-can-steady-the.
Lora Ries, “Offering In-Person College Classes in Fall Is Needed for Student Visas—and Normalcy,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, July 8, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/offering-person-college-classes-fall-needed-student-visas-and-normalcy.
Lindsey M. Burke, “School Districts Owe Taxpaying Parents a COVID-19 Refund,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, May 27, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/school-districts-owe-taxpaying-parents-covid-19-refund.
Lindsey M. Burke, “10 Key Education Recommendations for Reopening the K–12 Classroom,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, May 26, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/10-key-education-recommendations-reopening-the-k-12-classroom.
Jonathan Butcher and Amy Anderson, DNP, RN, “Living in Fear: An Unacceptable Risk for Schoolchildren,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, May 26, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/living-fear-unacceptable-risk-schoolchildren.
Mary Clare Anselem, “Why a Return to Obama’s Student Loan Forgiveness Rules Would Be a Mistake,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, May 21, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/why-return-obamas-student-loan-forgiveness-rules-would-be-mistake.
Jonathan Butcher and Robert Maranto, “Bad Education: Why Shocking Public School Corruption Remains Hidden,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, May 19, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/bad-education-why-shocking-public-school-corruption-remains-hidden.
Jude Schwalbach, “With Kids Learning at Home, Families Need Schools to Be More Flexible,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, May 19, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/kids-learning-home-families-need-schools-be-more-flexible.
Jonathan Butcher, “COVID-19 Has Accentuated Value of Education Savings Accounts,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, May 14, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/covid-19-has-accentuated-value-education-savings-accounts.
Jonathan Butcher, “Be Wary of Demands to Throw Coronavirus Money at Schools,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, May 1, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/be-wary-demands-throw-coronavirus-money-schools.
Lindsey M. Burke and Adam Kissel, “Leading the Way on Higher Education Reform through Smart Giving: A Roadmap for Private Philanthropy,” The Philanthropy Roundtable, undated, https://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/home/programs/civic-education/leading-the-way-on-higher-education-reform-through-smart-giving-a-roadmap-for-private-philanthropy.
Lindsey M. Burke and Inez Feltscher Stepman, “Special Interest Spectacle: Teachers’ Unions Try to Thwart Education Access at a Most Inopportune Time,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, April 10, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/special-interest-spectacle-teachers-unions-try-thwart-education-access-most.
Jonathan Butcher, “Charter Schools Adjusting Instruction During Pandemic,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, April 9, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/charter-schools-adjusting-instruction-during-pandemic.
Jonathan Butcher, “Social Distancing: A Perfect Opportunity for Parents to Find Out What Their Children Are Learning,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, April 8, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/social-distancing-perfect-opportunity-parents-find-out-what-their-children-are.
Jonathan Butcher, “Keep Students Learning During Shutdowns,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, April 1, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/keep-students-learning-during-shutdowns.
Mary Clare Anselem, “Coronavirus Could Open Doors to More Use of Online College Classes,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, March 13, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/coronavirus-could-open-doors-more-use-online-college-classes.
Lindsey M. Burke, “Coronavirus School Closings Should Prompt States to Pay Parents to Educate Kids in Other Ways,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, March 31, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/coronavirus-school-closings-should-prompt-states-pay-parents-educate-kids.
Jude Schwalbach, “COVID-19 Shut Down the SAT and ACT, but Not the Classic Learning Test,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, March 28, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/covid-19-shut-down-the-sat-and-act-not-the-classic-learning-test.
Jude Schwalbach, “Let’s Expand 529 Plans to Help Homeschoolers Amid COVID-19 Pandemic,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, March 25, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/lets-expand-529-plans-help-homeschoolers-amid-covid-19-pandemic.
Jonathan Butcher, “Public–Private Virtual-School Partnerships and Federal Flexibility for Schools during COVID-19,” Mercatus Center Policy Brief, March 25, 2020, https://www.mercatus.org/publications/covid-19-policy-brief-series/public-private-virtual-school-partnerships-and-federal.
Lindsey M. Burke, “Canceling Student Loan Debt Isn’t Smart or Fair Response to COVID-19,” Heritage Foundation Commentary, March 23, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/commentary/canceling-student-loan-debt-isnt-smart-or-fair-response-covid-19.
Lindsey M. Burke, “Schooling During the COVID-19 Pandemic: How Emergency Education Savings Accounts Can Meet the Needs of Every American Child,” Heritage Foundation Issue Brief No. 5047, March 20, 2020, https://www.heritage.org/education/report/schooling-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-how-emergency-education-savings-accounts.
