As the nation has barreled through the summer of COVID-19, education has taken center stage. Amid continuing health and safety concerns, school leaders and educators are grappling with the decision of whether to return to school or continue remote learning this coming school year.

Across the U.S., districts big and small — from Los Angeles and San Diego to Indiana’s Metropolitan School District of Washington Township — have already opted out of a fall reopening. Others continue to weigh the pros and cons.

But the stakes are high. Nationwide, a USA Today/Ipsos poll found 1 in 5 teachers said they were unlikely to go back to school if classrooms reopened in the fall.

Despite the uncertainties, one thing is clear: Technology will play a stronger role in supporting education as we look to the future.

“Technology can be a powerful tool to help administrators and faculty prepare for a variety of scenarios, whether instruction remains online, returns to the classroom or embraces a hybrid of the two,” says Vincent Grosso, senior vice president and managing director of National Geographic Learning, a Cengage company.