Opinion: For whom will the back-to-school bells toll? State Superintendent Choudhury holds the key

The new school year brings energy, hope, and fingers crossed. Some educators even foresee turning the COVID adversity to advantage because of lessons learned, like those on tutoring and online instruction. On the other hand, the reality is not rosy. Learning loss is much deeper than realized. Student behavior and emotional problems are worse than ever. Teacher vacancies are extraordinarily high. An unprecedented one-third of all Maryland’s local school districts will have new permanent superintendents this year. Federal COVID funds could enable progress. But that assumes the funds are well spent, which generally hasn’t happened so far in Maryland and nationally.