At a press conference held at a Kissimmee elementary school, DeSantis called closing public schools during the coronavirus pandemic the "biggest public health blunder" in modern U.S. history and called his detractors "flat-earthers." He said the effects of closing schools will be felt for years.

"Virtual learning is just not the same as being in person," DeSantis said of public education.

The announcement comes as Florida has seen a surge in cases in past weeks and is poised to cross the million-case mark on Tuesday.

An in-person connection, many educators and parents say, is often the linchpin for academic success. It's why, despite the pandemic, a growing number of districts are requiring students struggling online to attend class in person, if that's an option. "