Parents can use state-specific modeling data to help make schooling decisions

As COVID-19 cases spike across the country, parents are struggling with whether or not to send their children back to school this fall.

UPCOMING SCHOOLYEAR.WE WANT TO HELPYOU AND YOUR FAMILYMAKE THE BESTDECISION ABOUTGOING 'SAFELY BACKTO SCHOOL.'ALL WEEK, WE'LL BESHARING DIFFERENTIDEAS TO HELP YOUDECIDE WHAT'S BESTFOR YOUR FAMILY.THIS MORNING,CHRIS CONTE SHOWUS A SPECIFIC,SCIENTIFIC NUMBERTHAT MANY EXPERTSBELIEVE IS KEYMETRIC TO MEASURESAFETY... ANDPARENTS YOU CANSEE THIS NUMBERTOO.(Cover first bite) SOT(NELSON ) 00 It'sdaunting for sure thedecisions you have tomake (Slow push tooutside of house) Asummer of socialdistancing ... is givingway to a fall ofuncertainty, for CourtneyNoffsinger and herfamily.

(NELSON ) SOT35 //16 We had no idea,no idea we'd still bebattling this is Julyheading into the nextschool year, it's mindblowing Courtney hasspent the last few weeksagonizing over herdaughter and the start ofthe coming school year.SOT - Presley (Nelson )26 It's been lonely forme, I kind of miss all myfriends and it's weird tosay this but I misslearning too Like somany students, 11-year-old Presley Noffsingerwants to go back.Leaving families acrossthe country at a criticalcrossroad.

(NELSON )43/26 As their parentswe want to give themwhat they want but we'refearful especially whenthe data keeps changingGRAPHIC So wherecan parents turn forguidance?

MIT hascreated the COVID-19Projection Machine.

Itgive parents aninteractive map to workwith.

As you scroll overeach state ... you cansee current casenumbers.

Pay attentionto this one numberthough, the positivityrate.

Health experts sayonce a state's positiverate crosses five percent,parents should take noteSOT - Dr. Schaffner 44Parents don't like to hearme say it but we will beundertaking a wholeseries of experimentsacross this country Dr.William Schaffner is oneof the country's leadinginfectious diseaseexperts.

He wantsparents to be flexible ... ifcases in your district startrising, prepare to pivot.SOT - Dr. Schaffner 37That school system willhave to figure out ifthere's a trigger pointthere where they call atime out and everyonestays home and thelearning becomes virtualDr. Schaffner also saysin-person learning will bemore successful ifparents model goodbehavior at home.

Weara mask when in public.Show your kids whatsocially distancing lookslike constantly.

SOT - Dr.Schaffner 50 If you dothat in your family alreadyit'll be easier for the childto understand what'shappening in the schoolAs for CourtneyNoffsinger -- she'sdecided to let her kids goback on a hybridschedule.

But isemphasizing safety.

SOT- Courtney (NELSON )45 / 30 Keep coachingthem, keep putting thethoughts in their headsthat they have to washtheir hands they have towear their mask going inand out of the buildingand why Like so manyother parentyin sabacsris ertiTHE KEY NUMBERFORNTSHPOSITIVITYPERCENTAGE -- THENUMBER OF COVID-19TESTS THAT COMEBACK POSITIVE.SOME HEALTHEXPERTS FIND ITCONCERNING WHENTHAT PERCENTAGE ISABOVE FIVE.