All over the country, policymakers, parents, and teachers are hotly debating whether to bring kids back to school. President Trump and Secretary of Education Betsy Devos have insisted that schools must reopen, while major teacher unions are threatening to strike if schools reopen without adequate safety measures. But for more than 4 million American students, their back-to-school plans are sealed. At least 17 of the 20 largest school districts across the country have decided to go fully remote this coming fall. That includes the San Diego Unified District, which serves more than 100,000 students.

This week, we’re heading to San Diego as part of a week-long series, Coronavirus and the Classroom, to understand how the decision to stay online is affecting the local community. Trymaine Lee sits down with Kirsten Reckman, a frustrated working mom who is trying to figure out how to juggle work and childcare, all while making sure her 2nd grade son stays engaged and doesn’t fall behind this fall.

For a transcript, please visit https://www.msnbc.com/intoamerica.

Further Reading:

• As coronavirus closes schools, teachers and families brace for massive experiment in online education
• Los Angeles and San Diego Schools to Go Online-Only in the Fall
• Reopening schools: Will in-person classes, online learning or a mix be the solution?
• Many parents want it; few can afford it. Amid school uncertainty, private tutoring ramps up.