Several school districts in Kansas such as Blue Valley, Shawnee mission, etc. are pulling out the virtual education option for 2021-22 school year stating, "Kansas State Department of Education does not allow for remote learning next school year." The number of infections may have been on the decline, but that does not mean that we are out of the pandemic already. Neither CDC nor WHO has issued any statement indicating that the pandemic is behind us.

With no vaccinations, for children below the age of 12, the risk of infection and complications (such as MIS-C) from COVID are very much the same as last year. Our schools have no way of keeping children 6 feet apart at 100% capacity. It is very unreasonable to force families to send their unvaccinated children to in person schools by pulling out the virtual learning format for the age group that doesn't have vaccines available. 

We urge the KS Department of Education to re-consider their decision and allow the school districts to provide the same virtual learning option as 2020-21 school year.