MINNEAPOLIS -- State leaders soon will announce their strategy for schools this fall with the pandemic still a public health crisis. Expected scenarios include in-person classes, a return to distance learning, or a hybrid. But for some parents, all options pose a challenge.

When Minnesota schools switched to distance learning in the spring, Tyrai Bronson-Pruitt of Minneapolis and her wife had to quickly adapt to providing instruction, while staying on top of their full-time jobs. Both parents worked remotely, but with one of their four kids having special needs and two older siblings needing help with daily assignments, it was difficult.

"It was just kind of day-to-day, kind of making it work," Bronson-Pruitt said. "What assignments to we have to do? What do the kids need? How do we do that? How do we re-rig work schedules?"

She said she expects additional challenges if distance learning is part of the plan for the fall.

At the same time, Bronson-Pruitt said health risks for in-person learning are a big concern. Her wife's immune system has been compromised since overcoming cancer. And as an African American family, she said, there are added worries, as the virus has had a disproportionate impact in Black communities.

Bharti Wahi, executive director of the Children's Defense Fund of Minnesota, said no matter the approach, they hope low-income schools aren't shortchanged on resources. Whether it's for building safety, access to healthy foods, technology gaps or parents working on the front lines, she said this can no longer be viewed as a temporary situation.

"We need to think about this as something that may be with us for maybe, potentially a year," Wahi said. "And then how are we resourcing this appropriately? How are we supporting families? And how will we not lose a year of learning and academic support through a lack of planning?"

Wahi said no matter a child's background, educators need to be mindful how jarring this situation has been for them, and that it won't be easy jumping back into learning.

Tahnea Brown is a single mother from St. Paul. She said distance learning created more anxiety for her daughter, who thrives on social interaction. But she, too, worries about the health risks associated with sending kids back to the classroom.

But she said she worries even more about what other families might be grappling with right now.

"My child's school is mostly people of color; there's food insecurity, and sometimes there's violence, and there's stress," Brown said. "So, how much more is this gonna add to these families, and these kids and these parents."

Brown said she especially worries about food insecurity and families becoming more vulnerable due to a lack of nutrition.

Education Minnesota, the state's largest teacher's union, says a survey of its members found nearly half prefer to continue distance learning. Others, including state Republican leaders, have pushed hard for schools to reopen in the fall.

Capitol Hill observers said the Trump administration is moving quickly against the federal Department of Education, potentially leaving Virginia schools with a $2.5 billion hole in their budgets.

The Senate confirmed former pro wrestling executive Linda McMahon as the department's secretary this week, a move expected to trigger plans to dismantle the agency. Recent polls show 63% of Americans oppose closing the department.

David Walrod, president of the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers, said school districts are worried about the potential loss of funds.

"It would be devastating," Walrod explained. "Here in Virginia the federal government averages 9.8% of dollars that are spent on public education. If a district has a budget of $1 million, then the federal government is providing $98,000 of that. That's a pretty significant chunk."

According to USA Facts, Virginia public schools receive funding from the federal government, a total of $2.5 billion, or $2,038 per student. That's 19.6% below the national average of $2,233.

Walrod pointed out the loss of funds could affect the number of teachers schools can hire, put building improvements on hold and force administrators to decide which programs to keep. He fears the cuts would probably hurt the state's most vulnerable students.

"Most of that money is specifically geared toward students with disabilities," Walrod emphasized. "Students with disabilities can achieve. We know that they deserve the same opportunities that all of their classmates have. But in a lot of cases, those students can be more expensive to educate."

So far, the administration has made cuts to department staff, programs and research but only Congress can officially close the department. Walrod thinks elected officials should visit Virginia classrooms before making a decision.

"I would tell them to go walk through one of our public schools, to step into one of our special education classrooms, step into one of our inclusive classrooms, a generalized classroom that receives special education support," Walrod urged. "I would tell them to just look at the great work that is happening there."

Several hundred protesters marched to the Capitol building in Sacramento on Tuesday, calling for better funding for education.

The event was part of a nationwide day of action sponsored by the American Federation of Teachers.

Stephanie Luna, a student at East Los Angeles Community college, said she supports Assembly Bill 537, which would allow two years of free community college tuition for part-time students. Right now, the College Promise program is only open to people who take a full course load.

"We know that the majority of California community college students are part-time," Luna pointed out. "For the students that have to work or they have to take care of family, they're also deserving of access to a higher education the same way that full-time students are."

Speakers also called for full funding for higher education in the next state budget, currently under negotiation. And with the state and federal budgets in flux, Republicans in Congress are proposing huge cuts to Medicaid. The Trump administration is also threatening to pull federal funding from schools using race as a factor in policy or programming.

James McKeever, president of the American Federation of Teachers 1521 Faculty Guild in Los Angeles and professor of sociology at Pierce College, a community college in the San Fernando Valley, said courses touching on diversity, equity and inclusion are important to a well-rounded education.

"We're really trying to just show that we're teaching an accurate, diverse history," McKeever explained. "Too often, our history books have left out the accomplishments of women, of people of color and queer people. And we want to make sure that those people get remembered and recognized."

Speakers at the march also called on lawmakers to fend off any tuition increases and to prioritize fair compensation and equitable working conditions for campus employees.

Indiana-based Lumina Foundation has set a goal of 75% of U.S. working-age adults having college degrees or valuable credentials by 2040.

The initiative addresses increasing demands for a skilled workforce amid economic changes.

Jamie Merisotis, president and CEO of Lumina Foundation, said it aims to enhance affordability, accessibility, flexibility, and alignment with labor market needs in higher education.

"We're facing a fresh set of challenges: rising costs, doubts about job opportunities, and things like the influence of artificial intelligence have caused people to question whether a college degree is really worth it," Merisotis outlined.

The strategy includes reimagining educational and workforce structures to better serve today's students. Lumina will focus on four key areas: ensuring credentials provide real economic benefits, expanding access to quality education, supporting student completion rates, and redesigning education systems for current demands.

Since setting a national attainment goal in 2008, the percentage of U.S. adults with post-high school credentials has grown from 38% to 55%, reflecting significant advancements in educational attainment.

Courtney Brown, vice president of impact and planning for Lumina Foundation, said over the next five years, the foundation will lead investments and improve data collection to monitor progress.

"In the current goal, it's everybody who's 25-64 as our denominator," Brown explained. "Now, we're looking for people just in the labor force, and the labor force includes everyone who is employed, everyone who is unemployed but looking for work and anyone in the armed services."

Lumina aims to meet its 2040 goal through collaborations with educational, governmental and business sectors. This approach underscores the foundation's commitment to enhancing educational outcomes and economic prosperity through higher education.