LAUSR

Key Points Question Was resuming in-person vs virtual instruction for middle and high school students in the fall of 2020 associated with differences in COVID-19 community incidence? Findings In a cohort study of 51 matched pairs of counties that reopened with in-person vs virtual instruction, those that reopened with in-person schooling experienced slightly higher county-level COVID-19 incidence at 6 and 8 weeks after in-person reopening compared with those that reopened virtually. Meaning These findings of this cohort study should be interpreted in the context of competing concerns of reduced school engagement and social well-being of children in prolonged virtual learning environments.