Department of Education investigating whether prohibitions on universal masking prevent children at higher risk of severe COVID illness from accessing in-person learning equally

Schools must balance two complex issues—safety and privacy—as they look to technology to help them identify students who are suffering a mental health crisis or threatening self-harm.

Even before full approval of Pfizer's COVID vaccine, a majority of parents polled said their kids would feel safer in school if classmates and teachers were vaccinated.

Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona wrote to the governors and state education chiefs of Florida and Texas, saying their moves against masks will threaten in-person instruction.