Senators Urge Gov. Cooper to Follow American Academy of Pediatrics Guidance on School Reopening

Raleigh, N.C. — Last week, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued definitive guidance on schools based on the latest science.

The conclusion reached by the nation’s premier pediatric medical organization? “All policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school.”

The evidence-based AAP guidance goes on to say, “The importance of in-person learning is well-documented, and there is already evidence of the negative impacts on children because of school closures in the spring of 2020 … Although many questions remain, the preponderance of evidence indicates that children and adolescents are less likely to be symptomatic and less likely to have severe disease resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, children may be less likely to become infected and to spread infection.”

Based on that guidance, Sens. Deanna Ballard (R-Watauga) and Joyce Krawiec (R-Forsyth) called on Gov. Roy Cooper to reopen schools on August 17.

In a joint statement, Sens. Ballard and Krawiec said, “We urge Gov. Cooper to follow the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics and reopen schools on August 17 for in-classroom instruction.”