As we enter the third year in which every aspect of American life has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe that educators, parents, and students have several reasons for real optimism.

Here are four ways I see education changing for the better in 2022 and beyond.

COVID won’t cause any more school closures. Looking forward to the new year, I’m foreseeing no more school closures due to COVID. That’s not really an educational prediction—it’s more about consistency, which kids really need to learn.

As vaccinations get distributed to ages five to 11 and then eventually to even younger kids, schools won’t need to close due to outbreaks. This is an incredibly welcome change for educators and parents because, whether they’re in elementary, middle, or high school, being away from the classroom and their peers is absolutely detrimental to the mental health of all children.