Health officials are currently taking steps to prevent the introduction and spread of COVID-19 (“Coronavirus”) into communities across the United States. Schools can play an important role in this effort. Please see the information below for federal resources and guidance on preparing for and responding to COVID-19.
U.S. Department of Education
- COVID-19 ("Coronavirus") Information and Resources for Schools and School Personnel: Visit the Department of Education's page for the latest information and resources for schools on COVID-19.
- Addressing the Risk of COVID-19 in Preschool, Elementary and Secondary Schools While Serving Children with Disabilities: This is a supplemental fact sheet providing additional guidance to ensure students with disabilities continue receiving educational resources during COVID-19.
- CARES Act Education Stabilization Fund: Visit the Department of Education's page on relief funding opportunities for schools, including four grant programs that were created through the CARES Act Education Stabilization Fund.
- Fact Sheet: Providing Services to English Learners During the COVID-19 Outbreak: This fact sheet outlines States’ responsibilities to English learners (ELs) and their parents during the extended school closures and, in some cases, the move to remote learning due to the national emergency caused by the novel Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
- Fact Sheet: Addressing the Risk of COVID-19 While Serving Migratory Children: This fact sheet provides useful information to assist SEAs and LEAs in determining how to continue to identify eligible migratory children and provide services to address their needs, while taking into consideration the health, safety, and well-being of staff and migratory families.
- Reflecting Towards Success: This article from the Office of Educational Technology is intended for education leaders to begin to develop clear plans of action for remote learning in supporting elementary and secondary students with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Visit the CDC website to learn more about COVID-19 symptoms, steps to protect yourself, and other resources.
- Interim Guidance for Administrators of US Childcare Programs and K-12 Schools to Plan, Prepare, and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Visit this CDC page for information on interim guidance for school administrators in response to COVID-19.
- Interim Guidance for Implementing Safety Practices for Critical Infrastructure Workers Who May Have Had Exposure to a Person with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19: Visit this CDC page for interim guidance pertaining to critical infrastructure workers.
- Interim Considerations for Institutions of Higher Education Administrators for SARS-CoV-2 Testing: Visit this CDC page which offers considerations for ways in which institutions of higher learning can help protect students, faculty, and staff and slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
- Interim Considerations for K-12 School Administrators for SARS-CoV-2 Testing: Visit this CDC page which offers considerations for ways in which schools can help protect students and staff and slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
- Guidance for Schools and Child Care Programs: Visit this CDC page for specific guidance before and during an outbreak.
- Guidance for Child Care Programs that Remain Open: Visit this CDC page for supplemental guidance for child care programs.
- Guidance for Colleges, Universities, and Higher Learning: This CDC guidance includes health consideration and tools along with information to plan, prepare, and respond. Additionally, recorded stakeholder conference calls are available along with additional community resources, guidance for student travel, considerations for administrators, and much more.
- Considerations for K-12 Schools: Readiness and Planning Tool: Visit this CDC readiness and planning tool that shares ways school administrators can help protect students, staff, and communities, and slow the spread of COVID-19.
- Intimate Partner Violence and Child Abuse Considerations During COVID-19: Visit this Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) page for COVID-19 resources and to access information on child abuse and neglect.
- Reopening Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Schools: Visit this CDC page for a plan that focuses on cleaning and disinfecting public spaces, workplaces, businesses, and schools that can also be applied to your home.
- What You Should Know About COVID-19 To Protect Yourself and Others: Visit this CDC fact sheet for information on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, including tips on social distancing and information on how the disease is spread.
- Stop the Spread of Germs: Visit this CDC fact sheet for guidance on how to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases like COVID-19.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- DHS Responds to COVID-19: Visit DHS.gov/coronavirus for a summary of DHS actions to protect the American public from COVID-19 and additional updates.
- CISA Information and Updates on COVID-19: Visit DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security (CISA) page for cybersecurity and infrastructure security resources for COVID-19.
- Coronavirus FAQ Answers from Across the U.S. Government: Visit this page for FAQs and answers from the U.S. Government for parents and children.
- Cybersecurity Recommendations for K-12 Schools Using Videoconferencing Tools and Online Platforms: Visit this CISA page for cybersecurity recommendations and guidance for K-12 schools using videoconferencing tools.
- CISA Cybersecurity Tip Sheet for Schools Using Video Conferencing: Visit this CISA page for tips on keeping schools, staff and students safe while using videoconferencing.
- iGuardians™: Combating Child Predators: Visit this DHS page for information on Project iGuardian, which is focused on keeping children and teens safe from online predators through education and awareness.
- COVID-19 Disinformation Toolkit: Visit this CISA page for resources designed to help State, local, tribal and territorial officials bring awareness to misinformation, disinformation, and conspiracy theories appearing online related to COVID-19’s origin, scale, government response, prevention and treatment.
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)
- Keeping Children Safe Online: Visit this DOJ page for guidance for teachers, parents, guardians, and caregivers on protecting children from becoming victims of online child predators during the school closures due to COVID-19.
White House Coronavirus Task Force
- Opening Up America Again Guidelines: The Guidelines for Opening America Again is based on up-to-date data and readiness, mitigating risk of resurgence, and protecting the most vulnerable.
- Opening Up America Again Testing Blueprint: This Blueprint is designed to facilitate State development and implementation of the robust testing plans and rapid response programs called for in the President’s Opening Up America Again Guidelines.
- Addendum to the Testing Blueprint: Using Tests for Diagnosis and Proactive Surveillance: This document provides additional guidance regarding the optimal deployment and use of testing formats and testing platforms for both the diagnosis of and proactive surveillance for COVID-19.