Biden's Education Secretary Miguel Cardona says he 'expects' ALL schools open by September


‘Our kids can’t wait’: Biden’s Education Secretary says he ‘expects’ ALL schools open for in-person learning by September and wants children back in classrooms as soon as possible

  • Miguel Cardona says he would prefer children to be back in school this spring 
  • Biden aimed to have all kids back in elementary and middle schools by now
  • Most are offering in-person learning, but kids are still stuck remote learning 
  • Cardona said he will monitor schools that aren’t reopening their classrooms
  • He said 90% of schools across the country are offering in-person learning
  • There have been battles between schools and teachers unions over whether to reopen over the past year  

Joe Biden’s Education Secretary Miguel Cardona says he expects all schools to be to open full-time for students by September.

Cardona told Morning Joe he would prefer all in-person learning to be implemented this spring because students ‘don’t learn as well remotely’.

Biden aimed to have all kids back in elementary and middle schools by his 100th day in office. Most have opened up their classrooms but some children are still not going back to school.

The survey, conducted in March by the Education Department and released Thursday, found that 54 percent of public schools below high school were offering full-time classroom learning to any student who wanted it. It marks steady progress since January, when the figure was 46 percent. 

Joe Biden's Education Secretary Miguel Cardona says he expects all schools to be to open full-time for students by September. Cardona told Morning Joe he would prefer all in-person learning to be implemented this spring because students 'don't learn as well remotely'

Joe Biden’s Education Secretary Miguel Cardona says he expects all schools to be to open full-time for students by September. Cardona told Morning Joe he would prefer all in-person learning to be implemented this spring because students ‘don’t learn as well remotely’

Almost four in 10 students continued to take all their classes remotely, the survey found, and another 2 in 10 were split between classroom and remote learning. 

There have also been constant battles between schools and teachers unions over whether it has been safe for staff to return, delaying reopening for school districts across the country. 

Cardona told Morning Joe: ‘It is teacher appreciation week and we don’t need a pandemic to realize how important teachers are, but let me take this moment to say thank you. 

‘And with regard to the September, yes, I expect all schools to be open full-time in person for all students. 

‘We really need to make sure students have an opportunity to learn in the classroom. And quite frankly, I would rather have it this spring. Students don’t learn as well remotely. 

‘There is no substitute for in-person learning. And I’m pleased, as you mentioned, we have 54 percent of our pre-k through 8th schools in class every day. About 90 percent are offering in-person learning for students. Until we’re at 100 percent, we must keep our foot on the gas pedal.’

Cardona also said the Education Department will be monitoring schools that are not offering in-person learning and will be looking to figure out why. 

Cardona also said the Education Department will be monitoring schools that are not offering in-person learning and will be looking to figure out why. He also stressed the need for the US to help students who have missed the best part of a year of education and help those who have found it difficult to socialize.

Cardona also said the Education Department will be monitoring schools that are not offering in-person learning and will be looking to figure out why. He also stressed the need for the US to help students who have missed the best part of a year of education and help those who have found it difficult to socialize.

He also stressed the need for the US to help students who have missed the best part of a year of education and help those who have found it difficult to socialize.

‘Our kids can’t wait. And the same is true for colleges. While I expect blended learning or some form of remote learning being the new landscape, it doesn’t substitute in-person learning. So that’s why we’re pushing hard to make sure all students have an opportunity to get back into the classroom as soon as possible this spring.’

‘I spoke to a sixth grader recently who told me, when I came back to school, I found it difficult to socialize again because I was in front of my computer for a good part of a year. 

‘We need to make sure our schools are prepared to provide that social/emotional support and we have to realize, this is not just about turning on the lights, providing face masks. This is about making sure we’re providing mental health support. All of these students faced trauma in their lives,’ he said. 

‘We need to double down for our students. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to hit the reset button on things we know didn’t work and give our students the attention that they deserve. The American rescue plan provides the funds for that, so we need to step up for them.’

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