LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released its own set of guidelines for how it recommends schools reopen in the fall. The AAP urges schools to make it a goal to hold classes in person. 

Dr. Heather Felton is a local AAP representative and pediatrician with Norton Children's in the Germantown neighborhood of Louisville. Felton explains, one major reason for urging in-person learning to resume is that children get healthcare services at school.  

"A lot of parents talk about the services that they're missing out on, particularly kids who have special needs," she explains. This can mean occupational therapy, speech therapy, counseling, and other forms of health services. 

Felton has seen parents of her patients who worry about going back into a classroom. "I think parents are anxious for kids to go back to school. I do have some who are a little bit apprehensive and those are students who either have chronic conditions themselves or who have a close family member who has a chronic condition who they don't want to get sick."

To solve this, she suggests schools allow a learn-from-home option to those with chronic conditions. But she does encourage face masks to be worn, especially on middle and high school students. 

"It gets more difficult when you're talking about elementary school children, that they may not be able to do- based on their developmental milestones and where they are, it makes it more difficult. And so, those cases it'll be more important for adults to wear face masks than children," she explains.