PA Among Safest States For Schools To Reopen, Study Finds

PENNSYLVANIA — Pennsylvania is among the safest states in the nation for schools to reopen, a new study finds.

The study, produced by WalletHub, ranked Pennsylvania among the top three states for safety when it comes to schools reopening during the pandemic.

The only states that ranked higher were Vermont and Maine. Along with Pennsylvania coming in third, Massachusetts and New Hampshire rounded out the five safest states for schools to reopen, according to the study.

The study looked at 15 key metrics, including the number of child COVID-19 cases and deaths per 100,000 children, the average public school class size, the ratio of students to school nurses, public mask usage, and more. The study also considered the number of seniors who are living with school-aged children, as well as those living in crowded housing. Specifics on the methodology can be viewed here.

The study's release comes as many Pennsylvania students will begin a transition to hybrid or traditional in-person learning in the coming weeks.

"An extended lack of in-person schooling can lead to issues such as decreases in academic progress (especially in low-income districts), damage to mental health and social development, and less physical activity among students, according to the CDC. However, a state should not resume full-time in-person schooling until the current public health crisis from COVID-19 is sufficiently minimized in that state," the study states.

The state ranked as the least-safe for schools to reopen is Mississippi. Other states ranked at the bottom of the list include South Carolina, Arkansas, and Arizona.

You can view the full study here.