School Reopening

Indianapolis City leaders gave an update on Marion County COVID-19 numbers Thursday.

Schools have reported more COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, at the same time Indiana is seeing a spike in cases statewide.

Unveiled on the state health department's website last week, the new dashboard reflects the new and cumulative numbers of positive COVID-19 cases among students, teachers and other workers in a given school.

State health officials said the dashboard will reflect the new and cumulative numbers of positive COVID-19 cases among students, teachers and other workers in a given school.

Indiana's largest teachers union says the state's new COVID-19 dashboard for schools a critical step to fight misinformation.

State leaders say the data comes from about 70 percent of Indiana schools that have so far submitted information. About 700 new cases were reported last week.

Most schools in Indiana started the new academic year with some sort of in-person instruction, but teachers say the so-called "hybrid" learning models are burning them out -- fast.

Among the 50 large U.S. counties with the highest percentages of student residents, 20 have consistently reported higher rates of new virus cases than their states have since Sept. 1, according to an Associated Press analysis.

Students at Indianapolis Public Schools could begin a phased-in return to the classroom on Oct. 5 if the COVID-19 infection rate in Marion County remains stable.

Teaching is already challenging enough without a pandemic shaking up how the classroom operates. As schools reopen, many districts are focused on keeping their staff and students safe from COVID-19. But the pandemic is also taking a toll on teachers' mental health.