CDC: Children face higher risk of mental health issues, abuse while out of school
Kerri Bartlett
On the heels of Williamson County Schools announcing its hybrid reopening plan for the 2020-21 school year on Thursday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report emphasizing the importance of children returning to school.
Districts in the surrounding area are releasing reopening plans, which vary from county to county.
As coronavirus cases have spiked in the past few weeks in Williamson County, Nashville and Middle Tennessee, districts are being cautious.
In Williamson County, the daily average of new COVID-19 active cases for the week of July 13-19 was 71, the highest weekly average since the pandemic began.
WCS and the Franklin Special School District plan to resume school operations on Aug. 7, both using proposed hybrid models for on-campus and remote learning for at least the first two weeks. Wilson County Schools pushed its start date back two weeks, while Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools will start school virtually Aug. 4, which will last at least until Labor Day.
More:Wilson County Schools push back start date two weeks because of COVID-19
Nine of the top 15 school systems in the U.S. by enrollment plan to start the fall semester online, according to Education Week magazine's reopening tracker.
Both WCS and FSSD are offering semester-long online learning programs for families with special circumstances or who wish not to return to school buildings.
More:Back to school? Despite CDC recommendations, most major schools going online as COVID-19 cases spike
The CDC reports that school-aged children are at low risk for contracting serious coronavirus symptoms and that staying out of school for a prolonged period of time leads to other serious risks.
In "The Importance of Reopening America’s Schools this Fall," the CDC lays out a case for returning to campuses. The health agency faced pressure from President Donald Trump earlier this month to reopen schools.
According to the report, the best available evidence indicates that if children contract COVID-19, they are far less likely to suffer severe symptoms.
Also, death rates among school-aged children are much lower than among adults, the center reports.
As of July 17, 2020, the U.S. reported that children and adolescents under 18 years old account for under 7% of COVID-19 cases and less than 0.1% of COVID-19-related deaths. The COVID-19 death rate of children is less than each of the last five flu seasons, according to the CDC.
In Tennessee, three children between the ages of 0-10 and one person between the ages of 11 and 20 have died of COVID-19, according to the state health department.
The CDC states that evidence from countries that have opened schools indicates that COVID-19 poses low risks to school-aged children, at least in areas with low community transmission, and suggests that children are unlikely to be major drivers of the spread of the virus.
"Reopening schools creates opportunity to invest in the education, well-being and future of one of America’s greatest assets—our children—while taking every precaution to protect students, teachers, staff and all their families," the CDC report states.
WCS released reopening plans on Thursday requiring children in grades 3-12 to stay at home for remote learning for the first two weeks of school, though some small groups could convene. Children in early childhood education, Pre-K and grades K-2 will be permitted to return for on-campus school.
The CDC has issued guidelines for how schools should protect against the coronavirus but did not offer specific advice about when a school should close.
Regression, child abuse, mental health and food insecurity
The CDC discussed how closed schools would affect children's access to mental health and food services.
Among children ages 9-17, it is estimated that 21%, or more than 14 million children, experience some type of mental health condition across the U.S., the CDC reports. Only 16% of those with a condition receive any treatment, and 70-80% of those receive such care in a school setting.
During the pandemic, FSSD and WCS have provided opportunities for children to meet virtually with counselors and social workers.
Children with disabilities are even more vulnerable being out of school, the CDC states.
WCS and FSSD say they remain committed to fulfilling children's Individual Education Plans (IEP) as required through the federal Individuals with Disabilities Act.
The National Education Association also warned of the academic regression that could occur as children remained out of school during COVID-19 last spring and then over summer break.
One study estimates that the average student will begin the school year roughly 35% behind in reading compared to the typical year and more than 50% behind in math, the NEA says.
A decrease in reported child abuse is also an area of concern in Tennessee and the nation.
Gov. Bill Lee said child abuse reporting has been down in the state during the pandemic, which he called concerning at a spring COVID-19 briefing.
One-fifth of child abuse cases are reported by education personnel, according to the CDC.
Children have been separated from many safe adults such as teachers, coaches and counselors during COVID-19 closures.
More:Williamson schools survey shows parents want their children back in school