On March 31, 2021, President Biden signed a Proclamation, noting in pertinent part, that “[d]uring National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and throughout the entire year, it is imperative that we join together as one Nation to combat child abuse in all of its forms — through neglect, mistreatment, or physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.” On April 8, 2021, Gov. Abbott signed a Texas Proclamation. School is not only a place for education; it is a safe harbor for children who might be experiencing neglect, abuse or other hardships at home.

2020 was an unprecedented year. Instability and financial hardship have been exacerbated by the pandemic. Bellwether Education estimates that March 2020 was likely the last time 3 million of the most educationally marginalized students had any in-person or remote classes. The school lunch program provided a means for those in need (estimated at 30 million students across the nation) to have a warm meal–but that meant being at school. Alternatives did spring up in the course of the year, through guidelines provided by the CDC. State truancy laws, geared to students being physically on-site and attending classes, may be in need of reform. For instance, a child who suffers from epilepsy has health issues that may have precluded attending class in person. Yet, such students may nonetheless find themselves facing charges for truancy, exposing both the students and the parents to quasi criminal actions and judicial sanctions.