SENATOR CAROZZA ADVOCATES FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING AND MORE PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT DURING COMMITTEE BRIEFING

Senator Mary Beth Carozza today participated in a Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee briefing focused on school reopening plans, student learning loss, and the teacher and school employee perspective. Senator Carozza remains committed to ensuring that students are able to safely return to in-person learning as soon as possible, and supports the vaccination of teachers and school personnel in Phase 1B of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, along with seniors over the age of 75, and those in assisted living, independent living, and other congregate facilities.

During the briefing Senator Carozza asked the local superintendents about parental involvement during distance learning as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Given the shift from in-person to virtual learning during COVID-19 and with increased involvement of many parents and guardians involved in their children’s education, what processes or adjustments have you made during COVID-19 to assure meaningful parental involvement to respond to parental questions and concerns during new COVID-19 learning practices,” asked Senator Carozza during the briefing.  

Carozza also brought up the importance of expanding access to rural broadband to assist students with distance learning. She noted that expanding broadband access is an issue that impacts every aspect of life during the pandemic, including education, telehealth, telework, and economic development. Carozza also is working with the Tri-County Council for the Lower Eastern Shore and local jurisdictions in her district to identify the gap areas and prioritize where broadband is needed the most.