Patrick Kelly with the Palmetto State Teachers Association said he thinks this is a good step forward. "I think we have reached a place, because of teacher vaccinations, which A) increases the health and safety in the building, but B) it enhances the staffing in the building," Kelly said. "But, our schools are better equipped to manage a five-day instructional model and so, if that's what families want for their students, they should be able to opt for that." Kelly, who is also a teacher, said even though some students have excelled virtually, many students have not. "As we hopefully start to move out of the pandemic, especially as we are transitioning into the summer and into the fall of 2021, the closer we can get back to face-to-face instruction for all students, I think that is going to be the best outcome for our students across South Carolina," Kelly said. "But, I think we also can't fall into the trap of just saying, 'Oh we're going back to normal,' because our students haven't experienced normal for the last 13 months."