The rapid spread of the coronavirus presents unprecedented challenges in the United States and around the world. Supporting our chiefs, Future Chiefs, and other education leaders in this crucial moment is our top priority as an organization. Since the end of February, we have been providing intensive supports, advising our members and connecting them with each other to share information, protocols, and strategies. Our team is also actively monitoring legislative developments as well as directives and recommendations from federal and state agencies.This page is a curated list of resources from our members’ systems and other states and districts that we believe provides sound guidance for systems leaders in this challenging time. The page is updated regularly.
- Schools and COVID-19: How Districts and State Education Systems are Responding to the Pandemic—This report is updated regularly with new information and also provides a historical record of the work chiefs and their teams did immediately after the coronavirus began to spread.
- The Return: How Should Education Leaders Prepare for Reentry and Beyond—Produced in partnership with the Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy, this report outlines relevant research and provides key recommendations for reopening K-12 schools.
- School Reopening Workbook: A Tool for School Districts—Produced in partnership with the Grand Isle Group, this resource is a baseline, 100-day plan leaders can use to inform operational decisions about the return to school.
- The following webinars and related resources were produced in partnership with McKinsey & Company and the Council of Chief State School Officers.
- For districts:
- Practical planning for fall reopening—June 25: video, presentation
- Testing your reopening preparedness—July 9: video, presentation
- Day-in-the-Life simulation—July 9: This resource helps systems simulate a typical school day for students, staff, and families. The resource can be used to test processes, identify gaps, refine plans, and share those plans with the community.
- Facing the challenge: monitoring and evaluating—July 23: video, presentation
- Insights from district leaders—August 13: Superintendent Susan Enfield of Highline Public Schools in Washington and Superintendent Robert Runcie of Broward County Public Schools in Florida discuss their planning process for supporting student learning amid COVID-19 and share their thoughts on effective leadership, communication, and decision making. video, presentation
- Local education agency resource guide: Designing and managing school models during the pandemic—August 18
- For states:
- Insights from abroad and system-wide support for reopening—July 7: video, presentation
- “Stress testing” the return to school—July 21: video, presentation
- How SEAs can plan ahead in the context of COVID-19—August 4: video, presentation
- State education agency resource guide: Supporting local education agencies during COVID-19—August 18
- For districts:
- The following webinars and related resources were produced in partnership with Bellwether Education Partners and Allovue.
- Strategic Financial Planning & COVID-19: Session 1—September 3: This session explores best practices to support education systems in financial scenario planning within the context of COVID-19. Topics include aligning resources to organizational priorities, developing tools and processes to facilitate sound financial decision making, and evaluating trade-offs related to revenue shortfalls and increased expenses. video, presentation
- Strategic Financial Planning & COVID-19: Session 2— September 24: This session covers some of the creative budgeting and resource-related decisions schools and districts have made in response to COVID-19 and outlines areas where policy flexibility could be beneficial. video, presentation
- Memo: Planning for Continuity of Education—This document is organized by topics for state education agencies and school districts to consider as they continue to respond to COVID-19, plan for future closures, and reimagine fundamental policies and practices.
- Presentation: Contact Tracing—This resource, produced by McKinsey & Company and shared with members of Chiefs for Change, provides information on contact tracing both internationally and domestically. It contains an overview of the technology that can be used and considerations for implementation. The information was presented on June 26.
- The Rockefeller Foundation—This document presents a plan for the largest domestic COVID-19 testing scale up to date and proposes 14 executive actions the current and incoming administrations could take to rapidly alter the trajectory of the pandemic in the United States.
- Centers for Disease Control—This document summarizes initiatives, activities, and tools designed to support the national response to COVID-19. Additional resources include guidance for cleaning and disinfecting facilities and information for K-12 administrators about COVID-19 testing.
- Alaska Department of Education—Resources include the Restart & Reentry Framework Guidance for K-12 Schools and the Smart Start 2020 Webinar Series and Resources.
- Baltimore City Public Schools—This page contains information on reopening schools, including BCPS’s reopening plan which provides in-dept guidance on model transitions, academics and instruction, and community engagement.
- Boulder Valley School District—This link contains information about learning in phase 1, including sample schedules for elementary, middle, and high schools as well as expectations related to student attendance and teacher feedback.
- Broward County Public Schools—This link includes information on eLearning, criteria for reopening schools, and the district’s reopening plan.
- Clarksville-Montgomery County School System— This page includes the district’s reopening plan (in English, Spanish, Korean, and German), opportunities to provide feedback, stakeholder communication, and FAQs regarding district reopening.
- Cleveland Metropolitan School District—This reopening plan includes a timeline, expectations around safety and learning, and health advisories and operating scenarios.
- Chicago Public Schools—This page includes the district’s final reopening framework which includes expectations on remote and hybrid learning.
- Colorado Department of Human Services: The Colorado Department of Human Services and the Colorado Department of Education provided guidance for parents and caregivers about participating in learning pods this school year.
- Colorado Education Initiative: This document provides a case study of Adams 12 Five Star Schools Learning Pods, including resources to support implementation of the model
- Denver Public Schools—The district’s family guide provides reopening guidance for parents aligned to COVID-19 response levels. The remote learning guide provides additional information on remote learning and programming supports.
- District of Columbia, Office of the State Superintendent of Education—This document provides health and safety guidance for schools.
- Guilford County Public Schools—This link provides reopening information including guidance for parents and a visual “day in the life of” remote learning resource.
- Highline Public Schools—Resources include an Instructional Model for Distance and Hybrid Learning, which provides guidance to support teachers and school administrators in planning and facilitating distance and hybrid learning, as well as distance learning overviews for elementary and secondary schools.
- Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE)—Guidance includes School Reopening Guidelines and Resources; K-12 Support Guidance for Summer 2020; Public Health Guidance; Strong Start 2020 Resources; Strong Start 2020 Pre-K to 12 Planning Guide; and Early Childhood Planning Guide. Additionally, LDOE published Strong Start Instructional Materials Guidance, which helps school systems adapt their academic plans to include distance learning resources from publishers of high-quality instructional materials. The Louisiana Academic Content PD Vendor Guide contains a list of vendors who provide training for Tier 1 curricula and specialize in helping districts and schools design and implement cohesive academic programs focused on high-quality curriculum, professional development, and assessment.
- Massachusetts Department of Education—This link provides access to the department’s downloadable COVID-19 guidance, including that related to remote learning and supporting vulnerable populations. The document also contains protocols for responding to COVID-19 scenarios and recommendations to support the social-emotional wellbeing of students, staff, and families.
- Miami-Dade County Public Schools—The Reopen Smart, Return Safe guide to reopening schools includes criteria for returning to face-to-face learning; online school expectations (including a day-in-the-life example); and expectations for in-person schooling.
- Mississippi Department of Education—The Considerations for Reopening document outlines a three-month planning timeline and strategies to help district leaders plan for the start of the 2020-21 school year. It will be updated periodically.
- NOLA Public Schools—This document provides a roadmap to reopening schools in three phases and contains guidance on protecting vulnerable populations and how to respond when a child, staff member, or visitor becomes sick. See here for the related press release.
- Oakland Unified School District—Resources include elementary strong start plans (by grade level TK/K-5) for the first four weeks of school and elementary school curriculum blueprints, which provide a roadmap for the year. The Secondary Strong Start Plan and Secondary Distance Learning Toolkit consist of resources to prepare for the quarter system; priority instructional content; pacing guides; sample units; and best practices for distance learning.
- Ohio Department of Education—This plan includes guidance for effective practices to strengthen health and safety outcomes and for addressing potential flare-ups.
- The School District of Palm Beach County—This plan includes distance learning expectations and supports; benchmarks for reopening; school campus wellness guidance; back to school risk reduction strategies; and sample daily schedules.
- Phoenix Union High School District—The “Every Student Every Day” resource guide for contacting and connecting with students includes guidance on facilitating phone calls with students, sample scripts for these calls, and contingency plans for different situations involving virtual interactions.
- Providence Public School District—This document outlines guiding principles for reopening; changes from spring 2020; re-opening scenario plans; and curriculum, assessment, and instruction for remote and in-person learning.
- Rhode Island Department of Education—Information includes updates and guidance, health and safety information for reopening schools, and an aligned template for districts outlining the critical components of a reopening plan.
- San Antonio Independent School District— This page is SAISD’s Safe School Start communications hub. It includes a draft of the district’s school opening and instructional continuity plan, parental information for selecting a student’s academic option, parent communications, and city communications.
- The School District of Philadelphia—This site provides information for fall 2020, including that related to reopening plans; curriculum; family and staff supports; and mental health, trauma and emotional supports.
- Tennessee Department of Education—Reopening Guidance includes the following toolkits: Health Recommendations for COVID-19 Management in Schools; Reopening Schools—Overview Guide for LEAs, School Nutrition, Transportation, Special Populations, Finance, Technology, Wellbeing & Mental Health, Counseling, Early Childhood, Consolidated Funding, Academics, Charter Schools, Nonpublic Schools, and Postsecondary Transitions and Career and Technical Education. Additionally, Tennessee released two templates: a pathway selection tool and a 2020-21 school calendar.
- Texas Education Agency—This document provides information and resources about supporting students with disabilities during the 2020-2021 school year.
- Tulsa Public Schools—This reopening guidance includes sample days and activities for elementary, middle, and high school students in distance learning as well as visuals of classroom and bus configurations to maintain social distancing.
- UNESCO—This paper analyzes information about the status of school closures and reopening efforts around the world and provides a set of policy recommendations for leaders to consider.
U.S. Department of Education—This page includes tools, fact sheets, and guidance and is organized by elementary and secondary schools as well as higher education institutions.
Education Week—The publication maintains a nationwide school closures map.
UNESCO—The organization maintains an international school closures map.
School Meal Finder—Education technology company Hoonuit worked with systems to create the School Meal Finder website.
Colorado Department of Education—This page includes 2020 graduation considerations; instructional guidance; guidance for schools and child care providers; information for talking to children about COVID-19; school meal guidance; and learning-at-home resources.
Louisiana Department of Education—This page includes a link to Louisiana’s Strong Start 2020 planning guide, which addresses the unique circumstances school systems must consider and is structured by domain, priority, priority funding guidance, application questions, and resources. It also has links to at-home care and learning supports for families with young children, including guidance for early learning at home and a free subscription to Noggin Cares; technology guidance; guidance for grade-level promotion and course credit; guidance for high school seniors; guidance on direct services and a toolbox for families of children with disabilities; a Family Support Toolbox; a Classroom Support Toolbox; and COVID-19 Information and Resources.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education—This page includes guidance on remote learning for English language learners and a COVID-19 webpage for special educators. The webpage includes presentations for the field; a family resource toolkit and a remote learning plan for special education students; additional resources for supporting students with disabilities; a service documentation tracker; and an FAQ for schools and districts.
Mississippi Department of Education—This page contains guidance for districts regarding digital learning, school closures, staff pay, special education, devices, and course credit, among other topics. The Guidance for Districts document includes comprehensive information about distance learning. The digital learning guide provides additional information.
Ohio Department of Education—This page includes detailed information about graduation requirements. It also includes a tip sheet to help educators adjust to new remote instruction formats; regular updates on COVID-19; and links to additional academic and social and emotional learning resources.
Rhode Island Department of Education—This page includes guidance on distance learning; resources for special education and bilingual learners; links to video wellness sessions for educators and families; and other education resources.
Tennessee Department of Education—This page includes information about the statewide strategy on COVID-19 and relief under the CARES Act; a memo with a three-phase path forward for special education; support, guidance, and updates for charter schools and charter school liaisons; school closure toolkit for districts, including guidance for special populations, high school programs, health and wellness, high school graduation, and academics; a STEAM Resource Hub; and FAQs related to migratory students, English learner and immigrant students, special education, nutrition, educator preparation provider resources, school safety, information technology, finance and school funding, and instructional continuity. The page also contains waiver requests.
Texas Education Agency—This page includes links to the instructional continuity framework, guidance, and planning tool; guidance for reopening schools for summer instruction; resources for home learning, including at-home learning schedules; charter school guidance; closure guidance; resources for academics including links to early childhood education guidance and grading guidance; and general support, including an accountability FAQ and a charter school FAQ.
Baltimore City Public Schools—This page includes links to a proposed 2021 district budget, guidance on senior transitions, learning packets, meal sites, and COVID-19 health updates.
Boulder Valley School District—This page includes health and wellness resources; meal sites; elementary home learning plans; secondary home learning plans; and an FAQ.
Broward County Public Schools—This page includes information about academics and a guide for supporting young learners.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools—This page includes support for gifted education; meal distribution information; remote student learning information; FAQs, and regular updates about COVID-19. It also features informational videos in English and Spanish; resources for English language learners; a robust instructional continuity plan; and resources on educating and supporting exceptional children.
Chicago Public Schools—This page contains grading and promotion requirements; remote learning guidance for educators and parents; links to packets separated by grade in English and Spanish; FAQs for diverse learners; at-home health and wellness resources; district community updates; and enrichment learning resources separated by grade.
Clark County School District—This page contains district community updates, an FAQ, and student learning opportunities separated by grade.
Denver Public Schools—This page includes information on trauma-informed resources for COVID-19, self-isolation, and remote work and learning; a remote learning plan; daily lesson plans with suggested schedules by grade level.
District of Columbia Public Schools—This page includes information on fourth-quarter grading, promotion, and graduation requirements; an instructional continuity plan, including distance learning resources by grade; and resources for families.
Ector County Independent School District—This page includes a feedback loop structure; special education procedures, weekly lessons for distance learning; and other resources.
Everett Public Schools—This page includes learning engagement materials; information about child care and meals; an FAQ; and resources from federal agencies and the state.
Guilford County Schools—This page includes budget recommendations; grading guidance; digital resources for teaching and learning and professional development; parent resources; social and emotional learning resources; school meal locations; and community resources.The district also has an emergency preparation report.
Highline Public Schools—This page features news; information about distance learning; health care resources; and an FAQ. It also includes guidelines and a sample script for counselors providing support to 12th-grade students to help ensure they stay on track to graduate.
Indianapolis Public Schools—This page contains updates and links to mental health and home learning resources.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools—This page contains updates and contact information for support, an instructional continuity plan; coronavirus prevention and contingency measures; and resources related to distance teaching and learning.
Phoenix Union High School District—This page includes updates on COVID-19; a supplemental learning and support plan; grading practices; and guidance for graduation.
The School District of Palm Beach County—This page includes updates, distance learning resources; a meal and feeding plan; at-home learning resources; and an instructional continuity support plan, including a parent & guardian guide and teacher guide to Google Classroom. The plan also provides suggested daily schedules for students and explains how to support continuous instruction, promote access for all students, and maintain connectedness to the community by leveraging digital devices and public broadcasting networks.
The School District of Philadelphia—This page includes district FAQs and a link to online math, English language arts, science, and social studies Learning Guides for grades K–12. It also provides a list of 50 city-owned drop-in facilities.
San Antonio Independent School District—This page includes resources for seniors; a digital learning playground; a community resource hub; and regular communications from the superintendent.
Tulsa Public Schools—This page contains links for distance learning; meal sites; information on the district’s response to COVID-19; and information for seniors.
