With Covid-19 still widespread across the country as the summer starts coming to an end, one of the largest questions out there is what are schools going to do this fall. Will schools be back in person, online, or a mix of both? Many state politicians and the White House administration have been pressuring for schools to reopen schools. However, teachers have been put in the crossroads of the debate and whether it is safe for them, especially elder teachers, to put themselves at risk in a classroom setting. In late May, USA TODAY conducted a poll where one out of every five teachers said they would likely not return to an person school setting.

One proposed model is where students are in person for some school days and study at home for others to allow for social distancing measures to take place in the schools. President Trump has suggested that political agendas have influenced some Democrats’ opinions to keep schools online this fall.

Without a federal ordinance in place, it is up to individual districts and communities to decide how their schools will operate. If a student or staff member were to contract the coronavirus, it is still unknown territory of what protocols schools will need to follow. 

Learn more about school’s responses to Covid-19 and possible plans for this upcoming school year at USA TODAY.