School employees may be more likely to transmit the virus to coworkers than students, research suggests. Meanwhile, many teachers are at risk for severe illness if infected.

Recent studies examining COVID-19's impact on mental health also find differences among groups of students such as high school athletes.

Vaccines and masking work well for preventing COVID-19 outbreaks in schools, but temperature checks are probably not worth the effort, says guest columnist Brandon Guthrie.

Legislators in several states, including Pennsylvania, want to ban teaching that acknowledges that the legacy of slavery, segregation, and other forms of institutional racism continues to permeate the social fabric of the nation.

No state yet requires students to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, but how states manage other vaccines and exemptions can help us think about how a COVID-19 vaccine requirement might work, says guest columnist Kristine Bowman.

Columnist Ami Patel Hopkins offers resources for educators and parents to continue to empower students and children to use their voices — as 17-year-old Darnella did — and to hold people accountable.

Guest columnist Sandra Chafouleas says "behavioral vaccines" are especially important as schools seek to fully resume in-person instruction.

Guest columnist Ami Patel Hopkins implores her fellow educators to create spaces for students to speak about what happened in Atlanta and to empower them to dismantle inequities and oppression.

Guest columnist Kristen Burd says Girls Lead helps girls become more assertive in their relationships, consider multiple viewpoints, manage conflict, express themselves with confidence and make good decisions.

"When students feel an instructor truly cares about them and their success, those students are more likely to engage with the course material and the teacher," says guest columnist Meredith Aquila.