As K-12 leaders prepare for the new school year amid a surge in COVID-19 cases driven by the Delta variant and sluggish vaccination rates across the United States, Chiefs for Change today released the Fall 2021 School Reopening Toolkit. Created in collaboration with top national experts, the toolkit is intended to help districts safely reopen and remain open for full, uninterrupted, in-person learning this school year. It builds on the network’s commitment to support district and state leaders in this challenging time by compiling into a single toolkit all relevant resources that Chiefs for Change and partners have produced throughout the pandemic, along with other important new content.
Information is structured to guide district teams through the process of assessing their level of preparedness, designing sound plans to protect health and support learning, and keep their schools open for face-to-face instruction all year long. The toolkit is focused on the following areas: implementing public health protocols to mitigate risk; ensuring sufficient COVID-19 testing, tracking, and reporting; promoting vaccinations for eligible staff and students; and assessing campus ventilation and air filtration systems.
“After two disrupted school years, we have all seen the negative effects of distance learning and prolonged isolation, with more students failing their classes and struggling with their mental health,” said Chiefs for Change CEO Mike Magee. “The scientific community has developed a safe and effective COVID vaccine, and the federal government has approved more emergency aid for K-12 than ever before. We have the tools to safely and sustainably reopen schools for full, in-person learning this year, and—for the sake of our children and the nation overall—it is critically important that we do so. This comprehensive toolkit is designed to support leaders in doing just that.”
The toolkit is aligned to the 10-point framework created by the Coalition to Advance Future Student Success. The group of 12 leading education organizations, including Chiefs for Change, is working to reopen schools and help students both recover from the impacts of the pandemic and go on to achieve their dreams for the future.
About Chiefs for Change
Chiefs for Change is a nonprofit, bipartisan network of diverse state and district education chiefs dedicated to preparing all students for today’s world and tomorrow’s through deeply committed leadership. Chiefs for Change advocates for policies and practices that are making a difference today for students, and builds a pipeline of talented, diverse Future Chiefs ready to lead major school systems.
