Updated March 25, 2021
The CDC provides many guidelines for schools throughout the country, especially for those reopening.
There are many benefits to in-person learning, but school districts have to balance those with potential risks of the pandemic.
The following can help effectively reduce the risks if properly implemented, possibly with discussions with the local health departments.
These are not meant to replace any federal, state, local, territorial, or tribal heatlh and safety rules and regulations with which schools must comply, such as the individuals with disablieties education act.
More adults have contracted covid 19 than children, however, the number of school-aged children with covid 19 has been increasing. Symptoms are extremely similar to those in adults or other common illnesses, such as colds, strep throat, influenca, or allergies. Despite potentially less harmful symptoms, children, just like asymptomatic adults, are prone to spread the virus.
Minors with underlying medical conditions are at increased risk for severe illness from covid 19. There are other symptoms and potential dangers of covid 19 in children in some rare cases.
The CDC provides indicators for Dynamic decision-making for reopening schools, to help officials decide on school opening and staying open.
The virus which causes covid 19 is spread mostly through close contact by respiratory droplets released when people sneeze, talk, sing, breathe, or cough.
Risk Levels
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Low to no risk:
No in-person engagement, meaning students and teachers engage in virtual-only classes, events, and activities.
Some Risk:
Hybrid Learning model, where a majority of students and teachers participate in virtual leartning and some students and teacherrs engage in in-person learning with small in-person classes, cohorts, no mixing of groups, no sharing of objects, and all precautions, regular and consistent cleaning.
Medium Risk
Hybrid Learning Model, where most students and teachers engage in in-person learning and some students and teachers participate in virtual learning, with:
- Larger in-person classes, activities, and events
- Cohorting and alternating or staggered schedules applied with some exceptions
- Some mixing of groups of students and teachers throughout/across school days
- Minimal sharing of objects between students and teachers
- Students, teachers, and staff following all steps to protect themselves and others such as proper use of face masks, social distancing, and hand hygiene
- Regularly scheduled (i.e., at least daily or between uses) cleaning of frequently touched area
Higher risk
Almost entirely in-person learning, with some mixing of groups of students, some sharing, and some steps followed. Irregular cleaning.
Highest Risk:
Entirely in-person learning, mixing freely, and frequent sharing of objects, with students and teachers no following precautions.
Plan and Prepare
It’s important for schools to have plans for reopening in-person services, for emergencies, and general precautions.
Promoting behaviors that reduce the spread of covid 19, such as mask-wearing, frequent hand-washing, avoiding physical contact with others, social distancing (staying at least 6 feet apart) and policies that discourage symptomatic or positive-test students and teachers from attending school.
New CDC guidelines recommend putting desks 3 feet apart instead of 6 feet in lower risk areas. Students should still social distance as much as possible, especially if activities such as singing or eating are involved.
Signs and messages in highly visible locations may also help educate students and faculty in good practices.
Cleaning and disinfecting can help greatly as well.