Letter to the Hon. Carolyn Maloney, Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform - Comer & Oversight Republicans Call for Hearings on Child Welfare & Reopening Schools

Letter

Dear Chairwoman Maloney:
The Committee on Oversight and Reform must examine the school reopening process in
light of the recently revised Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance, which
would in effect keep ninety percent of schools shuttered as our nation's children experience
knowledge loss, mental health challenges, and social and emotional disruption.
1 This guidance
was a "big step backwards," according to parent advocacy groups working on the issue of school
reopening.2
We hope to work with you to conduct a series of hearings on child welfare and
school reopening. Today, we are calling on you to work with us to provide solutions for school
districts currently shuttered. This is not and should not be a partisan issue. The science is
clear--schools are not vectors for viral spread.3
On May 11, 2020, author and journalist David Zweig began covering the plight of our
nation's children. Zweig correctly pointed out that as both Republican and Democrat governors
closed schools, children "appear to be bearing an undue burden for society" since early
observations and CDC data indications were that children were less susceptible to COVID-19.4

Now, with a great deal of data, studies, and international evidence we know that kids are safer in
school. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Academies, the Journal of the
American Medical Association, researchers from esteemed U.S. universities, and the majority of
American moms and dads understand that children can safely return to school without it costing
outlandish sums of money. On October 9, 2020, after the initial data from states like Georgia
and Florida was in, Dr. Emily Oster of Brown University wrote: "We are starting to get an
evidence-based picture of how school reopenings and remote learning are going (those photos of hallways don't count), and the evidence is pointing in one direction. Schools do not, in fact,
appear to be major spreaders of COVID-19."
5

The refusal to open schools has had devastating consequences. Las Vegas has lost 19
students to suicide since schools shutdown in March.6
Although a number of factors can lead to
suicide, the CDC and health professionals across the country are sounding the alarm on the need
for schools to reopen. According to the CDC, "[b]eginning in April 2020, the proportion of
children's mental health--related [emergency department or ED] visits among all pediatric ED
visits increased and remained elevated through October. Compared with 2019, the proportion of
mental health--related visits for children aged 5--11 and 12--17 years increased approximately
24% and 31%, respectively.7
Students are dropping out in shocking numbers. According to a
study by the national nonprofit Bellwether Education Partners, since March 2020, three million
students are missing from school.8
The reasons for these numbers vary but undoubtedly, the
most vulnerable are those students with special needs.
Those with special disabilities and English learners are not receiving the service to which
they are entitled causing them to fall even further behind. Another in Fairfax, Virginia recently
pleaded with elected leaders to open schools and investigate localities compliance with the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Her child who has special needs has not received so
much as a learning device from her school district much less the service their family is entitled
under federal law. Another D.C. mom, whose children's school is open, has already been told
there will be no room for her third grader this year or in the fall of 2021. As a result, she is
contemplating sending her youngest child--her baby--to live with his grandparents in Florida so
he can be in-person school. A mother of three in Oregon shared this heart-wrenching testimonial
about her daughter, Lizzie, who has Down Syndrome:
In September, our daughter Lizzie started online learning with more than
500,000 Oregon children. They gave us a Chromebook, a Zoom link and
Google classroom. Like her peers, Lizzie would receive all instruction
online and the school buildings would remain shut.
Unlike her peers, Lizzie has Down Syndrome and her cognitive delays make
online learning impossible. She is still learning site words. She needs speech
and physical therapy. She was never taught to use a Chromebook. We got started, but she was confused about the teacher not hearing her
because the mute button was permanently on. Her peers weren't waving
hello to her. They couldn't see her.
We hired a nanny so that I could continue working as a CPA and my
husband in his law practice. But it took three of us to support 2.5 hours of
daily Zoom learning. We also have two other kids in 2nd and 7th grades.
Lizzie's frustrations maxed out quickly. By the third week, she threw the
Chromebook away without us knowing and asked for "far away school with
her friends," as she called in-person learning.
We sent video clips to the principal, the superintendent and school board
members. They said their hands were tied. But we pushed and pried open
the doors in mid-October. Lizzie was the first student in our district (and the
entire metro area) to return to something called "limited in-person" by the
Oregon Department of Education.
But it was (and is) "limited." No friends. No teachers. No therapies.
Classified aides deliver two hours of instruction a couple times a week.
Today, only about 200 of our district's 8,000 students are provided limited
in-person instruction in Lake Oswego. The Portland Public School district
never got it off the ground for any of their 50,000 students.
And that's where we've been EVER since.
Lizzie's story is not unique. It is happening across our country. Even where schools are "open"
they are not truly open, if they are operating the "concurrent" model. Even where teachers have
been vaccinated, schools are just starting to consider reopening, and then, only for two days per
week. This is not enough.
Children, especially our most vulnerable, are falling behind. Please work with
Republicans to find solutions for America's families. We are not advocating a return to school
without proper mitigation. There is a wealth of knowledge, information, strategies, and
innovations to protect students and teachers. Let us work together to make a difference in the
trajectory of our nation's schools and children. Please ask your staff to contact our staff as soon
as possible to develop a hearing plan that will assist states and localities in this effort.
Thank you for your attention to this important request.
Sincerely,