Amidst enormous uncertainty, the debate about whether to reopen schools — and how — is contentious. The only certainty is that in any scenario, kids will spend less time in the classroom next year than ever before.

Knowing that in-classroom instruction will be diminished, teachers must somehow address a broader set of issues: not only the educational fallout of school closures but also the social-emotional fallout of a pandemic that disproportionately inflicts pain on vulnerable populations. The best way to meet children’s needs is to take a whole-learner approach to education that honors parents as the single biggest influence in their kids’ lives.

Read the full story by Alejandro Gibes de Gac of Springboard Collaborative on PennLive.com >