turn to in-person learning. Topping the list: 95% of public K-12 schools are now open for full-time in-person learning (up from 46% a year ago); and investments of $122-billion in American Rescue Plan funding for K-12 schools, and $40-billion to over 5,000 higher education institutions. The fact sheet summaries link to more detailed primary sources; and concludes, “As 2022 begins, ED remains committed to delivering necessary supports to our schools, students, and teachers, while continuing to advance President Biden’s vision of building our education system back better than before the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Supporting the Reopening and Continuing Operation of Schools and Early Childhood Education Providers: Presents President Biden’s 1/21/21 Executive Order 14000 to ensure that students receive a high-quality education during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and to support the safe reopening and continued operation of schools, child care providers, Head Start programs, and institutions of higher education. Click here for .pdf copy of the full executive order, published in the Federal Register 1/26/21.
National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness: Outlines the Administration's January 2021 actionable plan, across the federal government, to address the COVID-19 pandemic, including twelve initial executive actions issued by President Biden.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Provides the latest updates on the national pandemic situation, including guidance for how to protect individual health and reduce virus transmission, updates to scientific data that serves as a basis for CDC guidance, extensive information about COVID-19 vaccines, state-specific data and links to public health websites, and information resources for specific audiences including healthcare professionals and facilities, families, child care and school settings.
Changing Age Distribution of the COVID-19 Pandemic - United States, May-August 2020: Shares age trends for COVID-19 during May–August 2020 for 50 states and the District of Columbia. COVID-19 incidence was highest in persons aged 20–29 years, who likely contribute to community transmission of COVID-19. The CDC advises that strict adherence to community mitigation strategies and personal preventive behaviors by younger adults is needed to help reduce infection and subsequent transmission to persons at higher risk for severe illness.
K-12 Schools and Childcare Programs FAQs for Administrators, Teachers, and Parents: Presents official guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] in concise FAQ format, including hyperlinks to primary source documents that elaborate on specific actions and activities. The FAQs are written to consider a range of differential community scenarios (i.e. conditions of no community transmission, of minimal to moderate community transmission, and substantial community transmission).
Schools and Child Care Programs: Provides guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] for how schools, summer camps, and youth recreational sport institutions can plan, prepare, and respond to COVID-19. Given new evidence on the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant, CDC has updated the guidance (10/18/21). CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. Children should return to full-time in-person learning in the fall with layered prevention strategies in place.
Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools: Provides guidance (updated 10/22/21) for individuals who oversee the daily operations of public and private childcare programs and K-12 schools, at both the school/facility and district level. The guidance can help programs, schools and their partners understand how to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19; to respond quickly should a case be identified; and to plan for the continuity of teaching and learning if there is community spread of COVID-19.
See especially, Families and Children (updated 8/2/21).
Update on the IES (Institute o