DeVos vows to have schools open in fall: 'Kids have got to get back to school'

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Secretary Betsy DeVos on the challenge of reopening America's schools amid the coronavirus pandemic

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos joins Chris Wallace on 'Fox News Sunday.'

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said Sunday that she intends to have American schools open for in-person classes this fall, and insisted that this can be done safely despite concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.

“Parents are expecting that this fall their kids are going to have a full-time experience with their learning, and we need to follow through on that promise,” DeVos told "Fox News Sunday," stressing that "kids cannot afford to not continue learning."

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DeVos said it is "not a matter of if" this happens, but "a matter of how."

The secretary hold host Chris Wallace that "the CDC never recommended that schools close in the first place," but she did note that there can be exceptions in areas that are coronavirus hot spots.

“Where there are hot spots in the future, in the fall, of course that has to be dealt with differently,” she said.

DeVos said that students have suffered from not being in a classroom environment this past spring, and that schools should have the ability to help them catch up in the fall.

"They’ve fallen behind this spring, we need to ensure they’re back in a classroom situation wherever possible and whenever possible, and fully functioning, fully learning," she said.

DeVos also said that by not being in school, there are children with mental, emotional and social issues who are suffering from being stuck at home.

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DeVos and President Trump had previously threatened to withhold funding from schools that do not reopen in the fall. Sunday, DeVos reiterated this warning.

"American investment in education is a promise to students and their families," she said. "If schools aren't going to reopen and not fulfill that promise, they shouldn't get the funds."