WH: Biden Wants Schools Open at Least 1 Day Per Week by April 30

President Joe Biden wants schools to open at least one day weekly for a majority of students by April 30, the White House said Tuesday.

"His goal that he set is to have the majority of schools, so more than 50%, open by day 100 of his presidency," press secretary Jen Psaki said during a briefing, per the Washington Examiner. "And that means some teaching in classrooms.

"So, at least one day a week. Hopefully, it's more. And, obviously, it is as much as is safe in each school and local district."

Asked to clarify what that would mean for teachers and in-classroom instruction, Psaki said: "Teaching at least one day a week in the majority of schools by day 100."

Many of the country's largest teachers unions, which widely supported Biden in the 2020 election, have opposed opening schools until their members have been vaccinated.

Psaki's comments were the first mention of schools opening only one day per week.

"I'm on board with the goal, but I'm very concerned about this new variant; none of this is done in isolation," American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said last month of the president's plan.

Biden has continued to push for reopening schools in his first 100 days in office.

"It should be a national priority to get our kids back into school and keep them in school," Biden said in a December speech. "If Congress provides the funding we need to protect students, educators, and staff, if states and cities put strong public health measures in place that we all will follow, then my team will work to say that a majority of our schools can be opened by the end of my first 100 days."

The unions' hesitation to open schools have upset some school districts and parents.

"The balance of power is off," said Keri Rodrigues, the founding president of the National Parents Union. "It's very striking to us as parents and families – we have a group of elected officials who make deals with labor unions and decide what policies we're going to do, and we're just supposed to take it and be on the roller coaster ride."

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