In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of school districts in California will not have in-person teaching in fall 2020. Over the months ahead, parents, educators, and the public will have to navigate uncertainty in weighing the costs and benefits of opening schools versus supporting learning remotely. This brief offers the questions…

The Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), developed this guidance document to support planning and strategies for reopening schools. Alaska's 'Smart Start 2020' framework for K-12 schools provides a tiered approach based on COVID-19 pandemic risk levels per…

Countries in East Asia and the Pacific were among the first globally to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the first wave, however, the pandemic was kept mostly under control. During subsequent waves in 2021, virus variants, including the highly contagious Delta variant, elevated several countries in the region to hotspots for COVID-19,…

Along with many areas around the world, Kansas is experiencing an expanding outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus (COVID-19). This virus can spread from person-to-person and the number of confirmed cases is growing. The resources in this guide are intended to help families, caregivers, and the community understand the…

This report draws on data the Center on Reinventing Public Education (CRPE) has collected and synthesized over the course of the pandemic. It outlines the contours of the crisis American students faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and begins to chart a path to recovery and reinvention for all students--which includes the essential work of building…

On April 27, 2020, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos clarified that although COVID-19 school building closures create significant challenges for the special education community, she would not recommend any waivers affecting the core tenants of IDEA, which guarantees a free, appropriate public education to students with disabilities. As the…

This is the first volume in the U.S. Department of Education (ED) COVID-19 Handbook, a series intended to support the education community as schools reopen. This series will provide tools to aid educators in implementing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools Through Phased Prevention (K-12…

The Responses to Educational Disruption Survey (REDS), conducted by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), studied how teaching and learning were affected by the disruptions caused by COVID-19 and aimed to paint a picture of national responses to the global pandemic. REDS was based on the premise that…

As schools reopen their doors and students return to the classroom, what will the "new normal" of special education look like? The pandemic exposed educational inequities and areas of urgent need--and now, schools have a unique opportunity to press pause and reimagine their practices. This book helps K-12 school leaders and educators…

On June 11, 2020, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) released the "Reopening Washington Schools 2020 District Planning Guide" (ED606044) as a resource for local education agencies in planning for a safe and healthy start to the 2020-21 school year. The guidance was developed in collaboration with the state…

Last fall, researchers at Bellwether Education Partners began research on how standard authorizing practices could discourage or disadvantage charter schools with nontraditional models, such as dual language immersion, Montessori, and competency-based education models. Throughout the course of their research, the authors spoke to dozens of school…

The onset of COVID-19 has dramatically increased the usage of digital learning formats by education agencies across the nation and shifted the learning environment to "school at home." Since students are online more, they are vulnerable to more threats. Cyber safety is critical and is a shared responsibility of students, parents, and…

Many students rely on school meals to meet their nutritional needs. Additionally, the economic impact of COVID-19 has resulted in more families needing assistance. The intent and purpose of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Child Nutrition Programs is to ensure access to meals for students in need. Meal service is expected to continue whether…

This document discusses specific learning disabilities identification (SLD ID) determination implications and considerations with distance learning and school reentry due to COVID-19.

In spring 2020, the Office of Educational Technology (OET) hosted a series of listening sessions with state leaders--from state educational agencies (SEAs), state broadband offices, state libraries, and state economic development agencies--to identify what digital equity issues were magnified as a result of school closings, what immediate actions…