Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools through Phased Prevention | CDC

Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools through Phased Prevention | CDC

Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools through Phased Prevention

Summary of Recent Changes

• Revised physical distancing recommendations to reflect at least 3 feet between students in classrooms and provide clearer guidance when a greater distance (such as 6 feet) is recommended.
• Clarified that ventilation is a component of strategies to clean and maintain healthy facilities.
• Removed recommendation for physical barriers.
• Clarified the role of community transmission levels in decision-making.
• Added guidance on interventions when clusters occur.

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Key Points

1. Evidence suggests that many K-12 schools that have strictly implemented prevention strategies have been able to safely open for in-person instruction and remain open.
2. CDC’s K-12 operational strategy presents a pathway for schools to provide in-person instruction safely through consistent use of prevention strategies, including universal and correct use of masks and physical distancing.
3. All schools should implement and layer prevention strategies and should prioritize universal and correct use of masks and physical distancing.
4. Testing to identify individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination for teachers and staff provide additional layers of COVID-19 protection in schools.

On This Page

• Essential Elements of Safe K–12 School Operations for In-Person Learning
• Health Equity Considerations
• Prevention Strategies to Reduce Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Schools
• Indicators of Community Transmission
• Phased Prevention
• Additional COVID-19 Prevention Strategies in Schools
• Testing
• Vaccination for Teachers and School Staff

Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools through Phased Prevention | CDC

Some Schools Have No Teachers Willing to Return for ‘Phase One’ Reopening — Voice of San Diego

Some Schools Have No Teachers Willing to Return for ‘Phase One’ Reopening — Voice of San Diego

Some Schools Have No Teachers Willing to Return for ‘Phase One’ Reopening

The reality on the ground clashes with the narrative pushed by district leaders: that phase one services will be available to as many as 12,000 students as often as they need them.

San Diego Unified leaders launched their “phase one” reopening this week to help the district’s most vulnerable students. But the launch appears to be wildly uneven – with some schools not even participating.

Donis Coronel is the executive director of the local principals union. She told me that in the lead-up to phase one, she talked to 25 to 30 elementary school principals.

“At least half of the principals I’ve talked to said they maybe have one teacher or zero coming back,” said Coronel. “It is an equity issue. You may have a school with 70 percent of staff returning and others with none. It’s challenging.”

The reality on the ground clashes with the narrative pushed by district leaders: that phase one services will be available to as many as 12,000 students as often as they need them. Phase one, district leaders have said, is designed to even the playing field for students who aren’t doing well in distance learning. It is meant to include in-person services for special education students, as well as those who have fallen behind academically.

Yet the plan seems to have created new inequities, in that services are available for students at some schools, but not others.

Principals have directly contradicted some of the claims made by district leaders about how CONTINUE READING: Some Schools Have No Teachers Willing to Return for ‘Phase One’ Reopening — Voice of San Diego

A TALE OF TWO RE-OPENINGS – Dad Gone Wild

A TALE OF TWO RE-OPENINGS – Dad Gone Wild

A TALE OF TWO RE-OPENINGS

“What was difficultwas the travel, which,on arrival, is forgotten.”― Louise Gluck

As fall Break for MNPS comes to a close, I can’t help but be struck by the irony of the Tennessee Titans struggling to return to the football field due to COVID as MNPS will be simultaneously returning kids to class.

If you haven’t been paying attention, it’s going on nearly two weeks since any football has been played by Nashville’s NFL team after three players and five members of personnel all tested positive for COVID-19. Since that initial outbreak, 23 members of the Titan’s organization have tested positive – 13 players as 10 personnel and facilities remain shuttered until at least tomorrow.

Luckily this morning it was announced that there were no positive tests yesterday. A repeat today would mean the Titans can re-open their facilities and resume gameplay on Tuesday against the Bills.

Adding to the irony around the situation is that several weeks ago when it was announced that high school sports would resume, but parents wouldn’t be allowed in to watch, criticism based on the Titans resuming play was deflected by pointing out the extensive, and expensive protocols, put in place by the NFL franchise. It was argued that the NFL could allow participation because they had resources in which to ensure protections. However, no matter the level of resources, those protocols failed to prevent an outbreak from taking place and disrupting the season.

Come Monday, sans either the extensive protocols or expensive equipment, MNPS is poised to welcome it’s youngest students and their teachers back to in-school. Will the events of the past two weeks with the Titans serve as a precursor to events within MNPS? It’s anyone’s guess. But I think the confidence level is a whole lot lower with schools than it is with the football team.

Supporters of the resumption of in-person instruction continually point to the low level of severe CONTINUE READING: A TALE OF TWO RE-OPENINGS – Dad Gone Wild

Many Arkansas Teachers Refuse In-Person Classes Amid COVID-19 Concerns | 89.3 KPCC

Many Arkansas Teachers Refuse In-Person Classes Amid COVID-19 Concerns | 89.3 KPCC

Many Arkansas Teachers Refuse In-Person Classes Amid COVID-19 Concerns

In Little Rock, Arkansas, more than a hundred teachers didn't show up for class on Monday.

Instead, at least 166 instructors represented by Little Rock Education Association say they are concerned about COVID-19 and only willing to teach remotely. Until the district allows for remote-only instruction or increases school safety, they say they will stay home, according to a union statement.

"Our schools are NOT safe. Someone is going to get sick and someone is going to die if we continue in the current manner," association President Teresa Knapp Gordon said in a statement.

The statement detailed a lack of adherence to COVID-19 safety guidelines and concerns about the rising number of coronavirus cases.

"This is not a strike," Gordon continued. "We are completely and totally willing to work and serve our students virtually in a manner that keeps everyone safe and alive."

The district, however, isn't budging.

Mike Poore, Little Rock School District superintendent, said in a letter that there are "no plans to close schools."

On Monday, a combination of substitutes, district staff and members of the state CONTINUE READING: Many Arkansas Teachers Refuse In-Person Classes Amid COVID-19 Concerns | 89.3 KPCC