Millions of parents in the US cannot return to work due to closed schools and kindergartens

The US economy is faced with another obstacle to recovery from the financial crisis caused by the coronavirus: the lack of a working system for caring for children that allows their parents to return to work, writes Fox Business.

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Experts generally agree that opening schools in the fall could be the key to overcoming the serious economic damage caused by the pandemic.

But as a new wave of COVID-19 outbreaks prompts some states to pause their reopening plans — and some, including California, to reinstate previously lifted restrictions — school systems are weighing whether to reopen schools partially or keep learning remote this fall.

President Trump and his administration are pressuring schools to return children to class full time. They threaten to deprive schools of federal funding if they do not, and promise to provide additional assistance if schools do open.

“If we don't open schools, it will be an obstacle to a true economic recovery,” said Trump's top business adviser, Larry Kudlow. “So let's use some American ingenuity and common sense to get schools open.”

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Failure to reopen schools can be very painful for workers who do not have the ability or choice to do their jobs remotely. Low-income women and workers in key sectors of the economy already hit by the crisis, as well as small businesses, will be affected by the lack of a functioning childcare system.

According to Northeastern University researcher and economics professor Alicia Sasser Modestino, 13% of working parents were forced to quit their jobs or cut their hours of work during the pandemic. The study found that parents lose an average of one full day per week to meet the needs of their child staying at home due to the crisis. The data was based on a survey of 2557 working parents, which was conducted from May 7 to June 22.

A separate analysis of 17,5 million workers estimated that approximately 11% of working parents are self-caring for their children and are unlikely to return to full-time work before schools or child care centers open. Overall, about 32% of workers live with children under 14 years old. This means that about 50 million working adults must consider the factor of childcare when returning to work.

“Although there is potential for a significant recovery in employment, if schools and daycares remain closed, the economy will lose 17 million people in jobs compared to normal employment,” the study said. “The longer schools remain closed as the economy recovers, the greater the burden facing workers with young children and without obvious child care options.”

The CARES Act, passed in March, set aside $ 13,5 billion for school facilities, just a fraction of the 2,2 trillion government spending spent on the economic downturn and $ 3,5 billion for daycare. Educational groups estimate that all institutions need much more money to safely return students and teachers to classrooms this fall.

In a recent letter to Congress, the Council of Chief Public School Officials, represented by department heads of state primary and secondary education, estimated the cost of safe reopening to be in the range of $ 158,1-244,6 billion.

Congress is weighing several proposals to meet the growing need for childcare in the United States, and the House of Representatives could accelerate two measures.

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The Child Care for Economic Recovery Act, introduced by a number of Democrats, including Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal and Rep. Nita Lowy, will expand access to affordable childcare, including expanding loans for child care and dependents. the creation of a new tax credit to help workers get affordable health care; and the provision of a tax refundable payroll tax credit to child care providers.

“Without access to safe and affordable child care, American workers simply cannot return to their jobs. Ensuring that this assistance is available to families is essential to our economic recovery,” Neal said.

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