(Updated 2/22/2021.)
As school business officials (SBOs) are monitoring the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and its impact in their state and district, ASBO International is here to support our members with tools, information, and resources to stay informed and appropriately respond to COVID-19 to protect their students, staff, and communities.
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What do you need to know about COVID-19? (Updated 2/18/21)
- COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. Risk of infection is higher for people who are close contacts of someone known to have COVID-19, or those who live in or who have recently been in an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19. Symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Estimated incubation period is 2 to 14 days. (Read this CDC fact sheet for more information.)
- The World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 to be a pandemic. As of February 18, there have been 110,027,369 cases globally (across 192 countries/regions). The U.S. is ranked #1 for having the most confirmed cases, with 27,829,771 cases (490,775 deaths) across all states and territories. (For a closer look at U.S. cases, view this map. For a short timeline on how the virus spread globally, read this blog.)
- Health experts estimate the soonest a COVID-19 vaccine will be widely accessible to the public is by mid-2021 (see this vaccine tracker for updates). (Updated 2/17/21)
- Approved vaccines:
- U.S. pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna reported promising results from late-stage vaccine trials in late 2020 with a nearly 95% effective rate. The FDA has since authorized the vaccines for public use, however there are approximately 330 million people living in the U.S., so vaccine distribution and logistics remain a challenge and will take time. It is likely that high-risk groups will be prioritized, including health-care workers, essential workers, older adults, and those with underlying health conditions. General consensus in the public health community estimates that every American who wants the vaccine could get it by May or June 2021.
- A third vaccine produced by Johnson & Johnson is expected to receive emergency authorization by the FDA for public use in the coming weeks but has not been officially approved yet.
- The CDC provided recommendations to federal, state, and local governments about who should be prioritized to receive COVID-19 vaccinations first. However, it is ultimately up to state governors to decide how to implement the guidance they receive. Recommendations to prioritize health care workers and residents in long-term care facilities are expected for the first phase of immunization, however, state and local jurisdictions will have considerable leeway to define that category and prioritize within it.
For tools and resources to help you communicate COVID-19-related issues to your community, please refer to NSPRA's guide, "The Coronavirus Communications Crisis for Public Schools." (Added 3/17/20)
For public health recommendations regarding phased reopening across the U.S., including reopening schools, please read these resources:
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What federal guidance is available for schools regarding COVID-19? (Updated 2/22/21)
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) is compiling cross-agency resources and information for elementary, secondary, and higher education institutions and personnel at: https://www.ed.gov/coronavirus. Please send questions to ED via email at: COVID-19@ed.gov.
- HHS Guidance
- CDC guidance
- Medicaid/CHIP:
- NIH/NIEHS:
- Office of Head Start
- ED guidance
- ED COVID-19 Handbook, February 2021 - Volume 1: Strategies for Safely Reopening Elementary and Secondary Schools (Added 2/22/21)
- ED Non-Binding/Non-Regulatory Guidance: Providing Equitable Services to Students and Teachers in Non-Public Schools Under the CARES Act Programs, October 2020 (Added 10/16/20)
- ED Press Release: Sec. DeVos Reiterates Learning Must Continue for All Students, Declines to Seek Congressional Waivers to FAPE, LRE Requirements of IDEA (Added 4/28/20)
- ED OSERS IDEA Part B Documents (Find all guidance here.) (Updated 8/3/20)
- ED OSERS IDEA Part C Documents (Find all guidance here.) (Updated 8/3/20)
- ED FAQS on the Maintenance of Effort Requirements Applicable to the CARES Act Programs (Added 6/10/20)
- ED Letter to Chief State School Officers: Waiver Authority for the Period of Availability (Tydings) for IDEA Part B Funds for Federal FY18 (Added 6/10/20)
- ED OSEP IDEAs that Work: Continuity of Learning During COVID-19 (Added 8/4/20)
- ED OESE Summer Webinar Series Recordings: Virtual Education, Technology as a Tool in Education, and Successful Strategies for School Reopening Roundtable (Added 10/16/20)
- ED Press Release: Secretary DeVos Makes Available Over $13 Billion in Emergency Coronavirus Relief to Support Continued Education for K-12 Students (Added 4/24/20)
- ED Press Release: New Funding Flexibilities to Support Continued Learning During COVID-19 National Emergency (Added 4/6/20)
- ED OESE Website: Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSERF) (Updated 4/27/20)
- ED OESE: Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund (Updated 4/27/20)
- ED OESE Website: Education Stabilization Fund Discretionary Grants (Added 4/15/20)
- ED Office of Inspector General (OIG) Single Audits Website: Administrative Relief for Recipients Impacted by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) (Added 4/27/20)
- FERPA and COVID-19 guidance for school officials regarding protecting student privacy
- OCR letter to educators to prevent/address discrimination associated with COVID-19
- OESE Fact Sheet: Impact of COVID-19 on Assessments and Accountability under ESSA
- ED FAQs: Providing Services to Children with Disabilities During the Coronavirus Outbreak (Updated 3/31/30)
- ED Supplemental Fact Sheet: Addressing the Risk of COVID-19 in Preschool, Elementary, and Secondary Schools While Serving Children with Disabilities (Added 3/25/20)
- OESE Fact Sheet for Transferring State-and Local-Level Funds (Section 5103 of the ESEA) (Added 5/1/20)
- ED Fact Sheet for Repurposing Federal Equipment and Supplies to Combat COVID-19 (Added 5/4/20)
- OCR Short Webinar: Online Education and Website Accessibility (Added 3/19/20)
- OCR Q&A for K-12 Public Schools in the Current COVID-19 Environment (Added 10/6/20)
- ED Coronavirus Conference Call Summary with Chief State School Officers (Added 3/16/20)
- ED Fact Sheet: Addressing the Risk of COVID-19 in Schools While Protecting Civil Rights (Added 3/19/20)
- ED Letter to CCSSO: Broad flexibilities for bypassing ESSA mandated testing requirements (Added 3/25/20)
- Readiness Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) website
- Student Aid/Loans Information: Coronavirus and Forbearance Info for Students, Borrowers, and Parents (Added 3/31/30)
- ED Letter to CTE State Directors: Perkins V State and COVID-19 FAQs (Added 4/1/20)
- ED Press Release: New Federal Deadline Flexibility for CTE Leaders During COVID-19 Outbreak (Added 4/2/20)
- ED Letter to Title VI Formula Grantees Regarding Flexibilities for ESEA/ESSA Title VI Grants (Added 5/26/20)
- OESE Fact Sheet: Providing Services to English Learners During the COVID-19 Outbreak (Added 5/26/20)
- OESE Fact Sheet: Addressing the Risk of COVID-19 While Serving Migratory Children (Added 5/26/20)
- ED Fact Sheet Regarding Contracted Services Not Performed Due to COVID-19 (Added 9/29/20)
- Key Policy Letter Signed by ED: September 3 letter to Chief State School Officers (rejects requests for waivers from administering standardized tests during school year 2020-2021) (Added 9/10/20)
- ED Letter to Chief State School Officers: Flexibility for Title IV-A of ESEA/ESSA in Light of COVID-19 (Added 12/16/20)
- ED OESE Fact Sheet: Providing Services to English Learners During the COVID-19 Outbreak (Added 1/25/21)
- ED NCES January 2021 Letter to Chief State School Officers: Collecting Average Daily Attendance Data from States (Added 2/18/21)
- USDA guidance
- Dept. of Treasury guidance
- DOL guidance:
- DHS guidance
- FBI guidance:
- FCC guidance:
- EPA guidance:
- FTC guidance:
- DOJ guidance:
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What is Congress doing in response to COVID-19? (Updated 1/25/21)
COVID 1 Relief Bill
In early March, Congress passed an $8.3 billion emergency bill to support research into a COVID-19 vaccine, treatments, stockpiling medical supplies, and providing low-interest loans for small businesses impacted by the virus. H.R. 6074, the "Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act" reflects "phase-one" of the federal government's response (a summary of the bill is available here).
COVID 2 Relief Bill
After the President declared COVID-19 a national emergency, Congress swiftly prepared a "phase two" emergency response bill to COVID-19, which passed on March 18. H.R. 6201, the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" is a $100 billion spending package that includes emergency funding for paid sick leave, widespread free COVID-19 testing, provisions to provide flexibilities and meal assistance for schools during school closures, and temporary increases in federal Medicaid funding to states.
COVID 3 Relief Bill
Congress passed a "phase three" bill on March 27 to provide additional support for economic recovery from COVID-19. The package includes nearly $31 billion in emergency education funding. The full text and summaries of H.R. 748, the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act" are below.
COVID 3.5/4 Relief Bill
Lawmakers successfully passed a "phase 3.5 / 4" COVID-19 package on April 24, H.R. 266, the "Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act" (The PPP & HCE Act), which provides $484 billion in additional funding for businesses, hospitals, and expanded COVID-19 testing. Meanwhile, ED has started releasing emergency funding to assist states and schools with COVID-19 response via the Education Stabilization Fund authorized by the recently-passed CARES Act. Funding is being disbursed via The Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund and the Elementary and Secondary School Education Relief (ESSER) Fund.
COVID 5 Relief Bill
Congress' fifth COVID-relief package did not arrive until December 27, 2020, six months after the last COVID-relief measure was passed in April. This is because of significant Congressional gridlock and disagreement about what should have been included in the measure. Before the final package was passed, there were several proposals offered before lawmakers could agree on a final bill. These initial proposals to come up with a "CARES 2" package included:
- A House Democrat $3 trillion partisan proposal, offered on May 12, called the "Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act," which would have provided assistance to state and local governments, hazard pay for health care workers, student debt forgiveness, more Medicare and Medicaid funding, and other provisions. (Read this ASBOUSA blog for more information). A revised version of the HEROES Act passed the House on May 15, but was dead on arrival in the Senate.
- A Senate Democrat proposal offered on June 30 by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), called the "The Coronavirus Child Care and Education Relief Act (CCCERA)." The bill would have provided $430 billion to support education across-the-board, including child care, K-12 education, higher education, and workforce development. $345 billion of that amount would go to the CARES Act's Education Stabilization Fund, and K-12 education would receive $175 billion for state agencies and school districts. Senate Republicans did not support this bill and offered a counterproposal instead.
- A Senate Republican proposal offered on July 27 as an alternative to HEROES and CCERA, called the Health, Economic, Assistance, Liability Protection, and Schools (HEALS) Act. The $1 trillion package would have provided $70 billion to K-12 education with some conditioned funding for schools based on their reopening plans, $29 billion for higher education, $5 billion for governors to use to support education, and $1 billion for Bureau of Indian Education. The proposal would have given COVID-19 liability protection for schools as they reopen, an opportunity for LEAs to pursue MOE waivers, and significant funding for private schools in response to the pandemic. (Read this ASBOUSA legislative blog for more information.)
As Congress tried to negotiate a compromise to reconcile differences among these proposals, little progress was made before Congress left for the August recess. In an attempt to circumvent Congress and bypass gridlock on several issues, President Trump issued an executive order and three memos on evictions, unemployment benefits, payroll taxes, and other items. EOs affecting unemployment benefits and payroll taxes should be of key interest to school business professionals:
After the Labor Day recess, lawmakers focused on passing a continuing resolution (CR) to avoid a government shutdown and pick up negotiations on another COVID package. Thus, several other proposals emerged for a fifth COVID-relief package:
- A Senate Republican proposal offered on September 8, which was a pared-down version of the HEALS Act, called the "Delivering Immediate Relief to America's Families, Schools, and Small Businesses Act." (Read the full text and a summary of the bill.) This proposal would have included many of the same provisions for education as the original HEALS Act proposal. However it did not include maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements for states, it would have provided funding for Education Freedom Scholarships via a new scholarship tax credit program, it would have expanded allowable uses of 529 accounts for K-12 education and homeschooling expenses, and would not have provided another round of stimulus relief checks among other provisions. (Find more information about the proposal here.) The proposal was voted on in the Senate on September 10, but failed to meet the 60-vote threshold needed to pass.
- A bipartisan House proposal offered on September 15, which was effectively a COVID relief framework that sought to compromise between the provisions laid out in the HEROES and HEALS Acts. The proposal would have provided $100 billion for K-12 education, $500 billion in state and local relief, and additional funding toward child care, broadband connectivity, the Census, and other programs, employer liability protections, among other provisions. This proposal did not gain traction and was rejected by House leaders. House Speaker Pelosi announced the House would focus on offering another proposal instead. (Check out our alert for more info.)
- A House Democrat proposal offered on September 28, which was an updated version of the HEROES Act (HEROES 2.0). The proposal would have provided $225 billion for education ($208.1 billion in additional funding for the CARES Act Education Stabilization Fund). Of that amount, $175 billion would go to K-12 education and would not have been conditioned based on school opening models like prior Republican proposals. An additional $5 billion would have gone toward K-12 facilities to help districts respond to the pandemic and make repairs or improvements that support student health needs (including improvements to allow for outdoor instruction). The bill also proposed $12 billion to help close the homework gap and fund Wi-fi hotspots and devices, as well as $3 billion for emergency home connectivity. (Read this alert for a more in-depth analysis of the bill.)
- Another Senate Republican proposal offered on October 19, which was an even "skinnier" $500 billion version of their "Delivering Immediate Relief to America's Families, Schools, and Small Businesses Act". The bill was introduced on the Senate floor for a vote (after lawmakers rejected a separate $1.8 trillion compromise proposal that was under negotiation between the White House and House Speaker at the time). Like all other proposals up to this point, this bill did not pass either, after Senate Democrats blocked the bill on October 21. Congress' attention on COVID-relief was then interrupted by a focus on Supreme Court nomination hearings and the upcoming 2020 U.S. Presidential Election in November.
After the November elections, Congress faced a tight timeline to pass a fifth COVID-relief bill and an annual appropriations package to fund the government and avoid a shutdown in mid-December. Earlier on, Congress passed H.R. 8319, "The Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act," to fund programs and agencies on auto-pilot/flat-funding via a continuing resolution (CR) through December 11, which included several helpful nutrition provisions favorable to schools. These included an extension of the Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program and granting the USDA authority to extend program waivers under the National School Lunch Program through September 2021. (See this thread and this blog for more information).
In mid-late December 2020, Congress passed several additional stopgap funding bills to buy time for lawmakers to pass another COVID-relief measure and FY21 spending bill. With time running out before the 116th session of Congress coming to an end, lawmakers combined the two measures into one massive legislative vehicle with $1.4 trillion in FY21 spending and $900 billion in emergency COVID relief. On December 27, the FY21 and fifth COVID-relief package, "H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), into law. That legislation provides $54 billion for K-12 education to support schools in responding to and recovering from COVID-19, among many other provisions. ASBO members can find our full breakdown and analysis of the 5,500+ page COVID-relief and appropriations package in our blog here (Updated 1/7/21).
COVID 6 Relief Bill (Updated 2/18/21)
Just after President Biden was sworn into office, the new administration issued a flurry of executive orders and actions as well as a proposal for another COVID-relief bill for Congress to consider, which would serve as the foundation for negotiations on a sixth COVID-relief package. (ASBO members can read a summary of the Biden Administration's actions taken within the first 10 days here.) A summary from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget notes that Biden's $1.9 trillion proposal would provide $350 billion in state and local government aid, increase unemployment insurance to $400/week and extend emergency provisions through September, provide $170 billion toward reopening schools and colleges, and enact other policy changes to support families through the pandemic.
In early February, Senate Republicans released a $618 billion counterproposal to the Biden administration plan, which would extend unemployment insurance (UI) benefits at $300/week through June 30 for all states; allocate $20 billion for childcare programs and provide $20 billion to help K-12 schools reopen, among other provisions. Realizing a compromise between these two proposals would not be feasible, House and Senate Democrats have since moved forward with a partisan approach to pass another COVID-relief package via a process called "budget reconciliation" which would mirror President Biden's proposal (albeit with some minor differences). This approach requires a lengthy process of marking up individual bill sections and reporting them out among their respective House and Senate committees, however lawmakers are aiming to pass a final reconciliation and COVID-relief package sometime between late February and mid-March. ASBO members can find more information here.
We encourage members to join ASBO International’s Legislative Affairs Community for further legislative updates as we learn more information and to be on the lookout for upcoming ASBO webinars to help you lead your community's response to COVID-19. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What is ASBO International doing in response to COVID-19? (Updated 2/18/21)
In addition to sharing information and resources to support our members during this difficult time, ASBO International is working with our Legislative Advisory Committee, education coalition partners, and federal officials to advocate for flexibilities and assistance for schools impacted by COVID-19. Here are just a few examples of how we have been advocating for ASBO members:
- Providing relevant news, information, and education for school business professionals via ASBO International webinars and other communications channels.
- Upcoming ASBO International COVID-19 Webinars: (View our webinar schedule at ASBOLearn.) (Updated 2/18/21)
- ASBO International 2020 Envision Virtual Conference, September 30 - October 2. (Session recordings available at ASBOLearn!) (Updated 10/22/20)
- Archived COVID-19 Webinars:
- ASBO - School's in Session: Safe Cleaning in a COVID-19 Climate, September 24, 12PM ET (Access the webinar recording) (Updated 10/16/20)
- ASBO Roundtable: Advocating for a Safe & Successful School Year, Wednesday, July 29, 12PM ET (Roundtables are not recorded. Access the slides here.) (Updated 8/17/20)
- ASBO - COVID Budget Cutting: How to Reduce Healthcare Costs by Up to 30%, July 21 (Access the webinar recording.) (Updated 8/3/20)
- ASBO, National PTA, IDSA, EdTrust, et al. Virtual Tele-Town Hall: How Do We Reopen Schools Safely? July 16 (Access the recording, presentation slides, and event summary.) (Added 7/22/20)
- ASBO/NSBA/AASA Reopening Series: Sports and Performance Programs: Support for the Social-Emotional Wellness of Students, July 10 (Access the webinar recording.) (Added 7/22/20)
- ASBO - Resource Equity in the Time of COVID-19, July 9 (Access the webinar recording.) (Updated 7/22/20)
- ASBO/NSBA/AASA Reopening Series: The Transformative Role School Resource Personnel Have in Reopening Public Schools, July 8 (Access the webinar recording.) (Updated 7/22/20)
- ASBO - Impacts of COVID-19 on Your Benefits Program, July 7 (Access the webinar recording.) (Updated 7/22/20)
- ASBO/NSBA/AASA Reopening Series: The New Role of Transportation in the New Normal Routine for Schools, June 30 (Access the webinar recording.) (Updated 7/7/20)
- ASBO/NSBA/AASA Reopening Series: Supply vs. Demand - What School Districts Need to Consider as Schools Reopen, June 26. (Access the webinar recording.) (Updated 6/30/20)
- ASBO/NSBA/AASA Reopening Series: Funding Shortfalls or Needs vs. Wants - What's the Plan, What Are Our Priorities? June 24 (Access the webinar recording.) (Updated 7/7/20)
- ASBO - From a Distance: Leading a Remote Workforce and Managing Unseen Risk, June 23 (Access the webinar recording.) (Updated 6/26/20)
- ASBO Roundtable - Reopening Facilities Safely, May 27 (Members can access discussion slides from our blog summary.) (Updated 6/17/20)
- ASBO - COVID-19 Costs and Maximizing FEMA Public Assistance Funding, May 19 (Access the webinar recording.) (Updated 5/27/20)
- ASBO - What Will The Financial Turmoil Mean for Education? May 12 (Access the webinar recording.) (Updated 5/15/20)
- ASBO - Understanding Federal PreK–12 Grants and Waivers in a COVID-19 Climate, April 28 (Access the webinar recording.) (Updated 5/4/20)
- ASBO/American Fidelity - COVID-19 & Your Employees: Impacts on Leave and Benefits, April 16. (Access the webinar recording.) (Updated 4/27/20)
- AASA/ASBO/USDA - USDA COVID-19 School Waivers, April 16. (Access the webinar recording.) (Updated 5/4/20)
- ASBO/FRAC/AASA - Feeding Students During COVID-19, April 7. (Access the webinar recording.) (Updated 4/28/20)
- ASBO - COVID-19 Federal Funding Forecast, March 26. (Access the webinar recording and slides.) (Updated 4/28/20)
- ASBO - SBO Live Panel Discussion on COVID-19, March 17. (Access the webinar recording.) (Updated 4/28/20)
- Access this video recording, presentation slides, and event summary from a July 16 virtual townhall hosted by ASBO International, National PTA, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), EdTrust, and other education and health organizations. (Added 7/22/20)
- ASBO International communications: Accents, School Business Daily, the Global School Business Network, and other channels.
- The Global School Business Network is an invaluable resource for school business professionals who seek peer support and want to ask questions and advice regarding school response to COVID-19 in their communities. Log into the Network now.
- Join/Renew to ensure you are receiving all ASBO International communications and membership benefits, including access to the Network.
- Working with ASBO International’s Legislative Advisory Committee to share information about school districts' responses to COVID-19 with members and the public, and advocating for federal support for schools throughout the crisis.
- Asking ED for guidance to states, districts, and schools about how to respond to COVID-19 to support students, staff, and communities during school closures.
- Advocating for E-Rate flexibilities and extra funding to ensure that students affected by school closures have adequate Internet access while learning from home, i.e. addressing digital equity concerns such as the "homework gap."
- Advocating for nationwide USDA waivers/flexibilities and extra funding to help school districts serve students healthy and nutritious meals during school closures.
- Advocating for targeted, narrow IDEA flexibilities to help districts provide for all students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Maintaining ongoing conversations with federal agencies and officials, including ED and White House staff to discuss additional federal supports needed for states and schools.
- ASBO members: Contact us about how we can advocate for your students and school district!
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Additional COVID-19 news and resources are available below: (Updated 2/22/21)
*ASBO International Website: Going Green Resources (Added 3/25/20)
A+ Colorado: COVID-19 Learning Loss: Recommendations to Improve Student Outcomes During the Pandemic (Added 10/22/20)
AASA, The School Superintendents Association COVID-19 Resources (Updated 4/8/20)
AASA, The School Superintendents Association Advocacy Round Up: All Things COVID Blog Series (Added 4/22/20)
AASA Blog: ED Releases New Guidance on ELP Assessments (Added 2/18/21)
AASA Blog: ED Issues Guidance That Will Redirect Districts CARES Funding to Private Schools and Students (Added 5/5/20)
AASA Blog: HHS Mask Distribution to Schools Underway: Request Your Districts Now (Added 10/16/20)
AASA Blog: New Guidance: USDA Meal Waivers & FRPL (Added 1/25/21)
AASA Blog: Updated P-EBT Implementation Guidance for States (Added 2/18/21)
AASA Blog: USED Guidance on Collecting Average Daily Attendance (Added 2/18/21)
ACG Advocacy: The CARES Act Relief Funds Toolkit (Added 4/24/20)
AIHA Reopening Guidance for Schools (K-12) (Added 8/17/20)
Albert Shanker Institute Report: The Coronavirus Pandemic and K-12 Education Funding (Added 4/24/20)
Amazing Educational Resources: Spreadsheet List of Education Companies Offering Free Subscriptions Due to School Closings (Updated 10/6/20)
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Interim Guidance on COVID-19 for Children and Schools (Added 1/25/21)
American Enterprise Institute (AEI) Report: A Blueprint for Back to School (Added 5/4/20)
American Fidelity Administrative Services: COVID-19 Resources & FAQs (Updated 5/13/20)
American Fidelity Administrative Services: FFCRA Employer Calculations Workbook (Added 4/17/20)
American Fidelity Administrative Services: Summary of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act and PDF (Added 4/9/20)
American Federation of School Administrators: Reopening Schools Safely in the Age of COVID, A Preliminary Guide for School Leaders (Added 8/17/20)
American Federation of Teachers (AFT) COVID-19 Resources
American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Parents' and Teachers' Views on Reopening Schools (Added 9/16/20)
American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Plan for Reopening Schools (Added 5/19/20)
American Lung Association Stay Safe & Informed About COVID-19 Resources (Added 4/3/20)
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association: Considerations Regarding COVID-19 for Schools and Students with Disabilities (Added 4/9/20)
ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force Recommendations for Schools & Universities, July 17 Update (Updated 8/4/20)
ASHRAE Frequently Asked Questions for COVID-19: Filtration, Disinfection, HVAC System Operations, etc. (Added 5/21/20)
Because Health: Water Quality During COVID-19 in Child Care Facilities and Schools Fact Sheet (Added 8/17/20)
Because Health: Safer Cleaning and Disinfectant Use During Coronavirus for Early Childcare Providers and Schools (Added 8/17/20)
Bellwether Education Partners: COVID-19 Strategic Planning Toolkit for Education & Nonprofit Leaders (Added 4/10/20)
Brooking Institute: Reopening Schools Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: Your Questions, Our Answers (Added 6/5/20)
CBS News: CDC releases guidelines for reopening schools. What will the 'new normal' look like? (Added 5/15/20)
Center for Cities + Schools at University of California Berkeley COVID-19: Resources for Reopening Healthy School Facilities (Added 9/10/20)
Center on Reinventing Public Education (CRPE): Database on District Responses to COVID-19 School Closures (Added 4/21/20)
Chiefs for Change: The Return: How Should Education Leaders Prepare for Reentry and Beyond (Added 5/15/20)
CNN: Half A Million US Children Have Been Diagnosed with COVID-19 (Added 9/9/20)
Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget Analysis: Biden to Unveil $1.9 Trillion COVID Response Plan (Added 1/25/21)
Common Sense: Wide Open School Online Learning Resources (Added 4/3/20)
COVID-19 Recovery Consulting: COVID-19 Risk Index (Chart) (Added 8/4/20)
COVID-19 Recovery Consulting: K-12 School Relative Risk Index (Chart) (Added 8/4/20)
CSPI Report: Implementation of COVID-19 Meal Pattern Waivers: Best Practices & Comparisons by States (Added 2/22/21)
District Administration: 6 Indoor Air Quality Missteps School Districts Are Making (Added 8/17/20)
District Administration: 12 Uses for (CARES) ESSER Funds (Added 8/4/20)
District Administration: 339 Free K-12 Resources During the Coronavirus Pandemic (Updated 8/7/20)
District Administration: Education Funding Streams in CARES Act Provide Wealth of Spending Options (Added 4/1/20)
District Administration: Equitable Services Guidance on CARES Act Funds (Added 5/12/20)
District Administration: FFCRA Guidance for School Districts as Employers (Added 4/1/20)
District Administration: Here Are Key Questions to Answer to Safely Reopen Schools (Added 6/5/20)
Education Counsel: What School Districts Need: Principles and Priorities for State COVID-19 Guidance and Action (Added 6/17/20)
Education Resource Strategies: The Cost of COVID - Understanding the Full Financial Impact of COVID-19 on Districts and Schools (Added 1/25/21)
Education Week: Biden Calls for $130 Billion in New K-12 Relief, Scaled Up Testing, Vaccination Efforts (Added 1/25/21)
Education Week: Biden Launches New Strategy to Combat COVID-19, Reopen Schools (Added 1/25/21)
Education Week: Coronavirus and Schools: A State-by-State Guide, school closures, reopening dates, remote learning, and more (Added 4/16/20)
Education Week: How COVID-19 Will Ballon District Costs This Coming Schools Year (Added 5/26/20)
Education Week: How Will Coronavirus Affect School Spending? 9 Questions Answered (Added 4/15/20)
Education Week: Reopening Schools During COVID-19: Lessons from Around the World (Added 8/17/20)
Education Week: School Districts' Reopening Plans: A Snapshot (Added 7/17/20)
Education Week: Too Expensive to Re-Open Schools? Some Superintendents Say It Is (Added 5/26/20)
Education Week Map: Coronavirus and School Closures (Added 4/21/20)
Education Week Series on Coronavirus and Schools
Educating All Learners Alliance: Resource Library for Educating Students with Complex Learning Needs Remotely (Added 4/15/20)
Edunomics Lab (Added 3/31/20)
Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) COVID-19 Updates (Added 3/20/20)
FRAC One-Pager on Child and Adult Care Food Program: New USDA Waivers (Added 4/24/20)
FRAC Summary of USDA's Nationwide Child Nutrition Waivers in Response to COVID-19 (Updated 8/20/20)
Franczek Education Law Insights Podcasts on Coronavirus Issues for Schools (Added 4/24/20)
Future ED: What Congressional COVID Funding Means for K-12 Schools (Added 5/19/20)
GASB Emergency Toolbox Addressing Issues from the COVID-19 Pandemic (Added 4/21/20)
GASB Proposes to Postpone Effective Dates of Certain Pronouncements (Added 4/21/20)
Government Financial Officer's Association (GFOA) Fiscal First Aid Resource Center (Added 4/3/20)
Harvard Global Health Institute: The Path to Zero and Schools: Achieving Pandemic Resilient Teaching and Learning Spaces (Added 8/17/20)
Healthline: What to Know About PMIS, the COVID-19-Linked Syndrome Affecting Children (Added 5/26/20)
Healthy Building Network COVID-19 Resources: Informed Choice for Better Health (Added 5/26/20)
Healthy Green Schools & Colleges: How to Safely Disinfect for Coronavirus (Added 5/26/20)
Healthy Green Schools & Colleges: Guidelines for COVID-19 Cleaning and Disinfection (Added 9/24/20)
Healthy Schools Campaign: COVID-19 Resources for Cleaning Staff (Added 5/26/20)
Healthy Schools Network / Coalition for Healthier Schools COVID-19 Resources for Cleaning & Disinfecting Facilities (Added 4/7/20)
ILR Briefly: COVID-19 Liability, Litigation in the Time of COVID-19 (Added 5/4/20)
ISTE / EdSurge Resources for Schools to Cope with Coronavirus (Added 3/16/20)
JD Supra Coronavirus/COVID-19 News & Analysis (Added 4/2/20)
Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security Report: Filling in the Blanks, National Research Needs to Guide Decisions About Reopening Schools in the United States (Added 5/26/20)
Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy: CARES Act Analysis H.R. 748 (Added 4/8/20)
Johns Hopkins University of Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center: Which U.S. States Meet WHO Recommended Testing Criteria? (Added 8/4/20)
Journal of Accountancy: IRS Explains Extended Payroll Tax Due Dates (Added 1/25/21)
Kaiser Family Foundation: What Do We Know About Children and Coronavirus Transmission (Added 8/21/20)
Learning Policy Institute (LPI): Eroding Opportunity: COVID-19's Toll on Student Access to Well-Prepared and Diverse Teachers (Added 2/22/21)
Learning Policy Institute (LPI): Making School Budgets Whole and Equitable During and After COVID-19 (Added 7/17/20)
Learning Policy Institute (LPI): Reopening Schools in the Context of COVID-19: Health and Safety Guidelines from Other Countries (Added 5/19/20)
Learning Policy Institute (LPI): What Will It Take to Stabilize Schools in the Time of COVID-19? (Added 5/19/20)
MyCentralJersey Article: Teacher Creates National Database of COVID-19-Related School Closings, Cases, and Deaths (Added 8/17/20)
NAAEE: Guide to Advocating for Outdoor Classrooms in Coronavirus-Era School Reopening (Added 9/9/20)
National Association of School Nurses
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO): Budget Blog: April Tax Collections Plummet from Tax Deadline Shifts and Fallout of COVID-19 (Added 5/26/20)
National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO): State Budget Basics During an Economic Downturn (Added 5/26/20)
National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO): Fiscal Survey of States - Overview for Fall 2020 (Added 1/25/21)
National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD): Educator's Guide to Virtual Learning: Actions to Support Students with Disabilities (Added 3/25/20)
National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD): Student Privacy and Special Education: Educator's Guide During and After COVID-19 (Added 8/4/20)
National Center for Systemic Improvement: COVID-19 Resource Hub for Supporting Students with Disabilities (Added 3/25/20)
National Council on School Facilities: COVID-19 Guidance, Working Sessions on Reopening K12 Schools (Updated 6/10/20)
National Education Association (NEA)
National PTA COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Resources (Added 3/31/20)
National School Boards Association: COVID-19 Preparing for Widespread Illness In Your School Community: Legal Guide for School Leaders (Added 6/5/20)
National School Boards Association: Fostering Safer Schools: A Legal Guide for School Board Members on School Safety (Added 6/5/20)
National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA)
New America--Everything You Need to Know: Education in the Coronavirus Emergency Bill (Added 4/10/20)
No Kid Hungry Best Practices, Tools, & Resources for School Districts Feeding Students During COVID-19 (Added 4/8/20)
No Kid Hungry Emergency Grants to School Districts and Nonprofit Organizations (Added 3/20/20)
NPR: Are the Risks of Reopening Schools Exaggerated? (Added 10/23/20)
NPR: FEMA Says It Will Stop Paying for Cloth Face Masks for Schools (Added 9/2/20)
NPR: A Looming Financial Meltdown for America's Schools (Added 5/26/20)
NPR Special Series on Coronavirus Crisis
Parabola Project: School Reopening Readiness Guide, Last Updated July 24 (Added 8/24/20)
Policy Innovators in Education (PIE) Network: Rapid Response Resources for COVID-19 (Added 3/31/20)
POLITICO: CDC Says Coronavirus Is Airborne, But Weakens Language From Earlier Warning (Added 10/6/20)
POLITICO: CDC Denounces 'Unethical and Illegal' Mandatory Coronavirus Testing in Schools (Added 10/16/20)
REHVA COVID-19 Guidance: How to Operate and Use Building Services to Prevent Spread of COVID-19 in Workplaces(Added 8/4/20)
School-Based Health Alliance COVID-19 Resources (Added 5/27/20)
School-Based Health Alliance COVID-19 Telehealth Resources (Added 5/27/20)
School Leader Voices: Concerns and Challenges to Providing Meaningful IDEA-related Services During COVID-19 (Added 7/17/20)
School Nutrition Association (SNA) COVID Resources
School Nutrition Association (SNA) Survey: Impact of COVID-19 on School Nutrition Programs: Back to School 2020 (Added 10/23/20)
School Transportation News: CDC Recommends One Student Per School Bus Seat, Skipping Rows (Added 5/26/20)
Schools for Health: Risk Reduction Strategies for Reopening Schools (Added 8/21/20)
STARTS: Student Transportation Aligned for Return to Schools: Guidelines, Tactics, and Templates (Added 7/17/20)
Tech for Learners: Online Learning Products, Resources, & Services to Facilitate and Expand Online Learning (Added 3/25/20)
Texas Association of School Boards Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources (Added 3/25/20)
The 74: Analysis: Pandemic-Fueled Financial Turbulence is Hitting School Districts Across the Country. Here's What to Watch For (Added 8/21/20)
The 74: Analysis: We Reviewed the School Reopening Plans for 106 Districts Around the Country. Here's How They Square With Reality (Added 10/16/20)
The 74: Politics, Not Science, Is Driving School Reopening Decisions to a 'Really Dangerous' Degree, Research Suggests (Added 10/21/20)
The 74: Reality Check: What Will It Take to Reopen Schools Amid a Pandemic? From Finances to Teaching to Learning Loss Q&A (Added 8/4/20)
The 74: The Coronavirus Closed Schools in a Flash. But Detailed Planning Must Guide Students’ Return to Classrooms (Added 5/19/20)
The National Law Review: Summary of CARES Act - SBA Loans, Tax Relief, Rebates, Employee Benefits, and Other Provisions (Added 3/31/20)
The National Law Review: FAQs on New Paid Leave Entitlements Under FFCRA for Public Sector Employers (Added 3/31/20)
The New York Times Coronavirus Resources for Teaching and Learning
Thomas Fordham Institute: Strategies to Help Schools Navigate the COVID-19 Cash Crunch (Added 10/23/20)
Trane Technologies: IAQ-Related HVAC Guidance from ASHREA and CDC for COVID-19 (Video) (Added 8/4/20)
U.S. Chamber of Commerce: State-by-State Business Reopening Guidance (Added 5/12/20)
University of Washington, Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences: Safer Cleaning, Sanitizing and Disinfecting Strategies to Reduce and Prevent COVID-19 Transmission (Added 5/26/20))
Washington Post: Confused by CDC's Changing Guidance on School Reopening? (Added 8/4/20)
Washington Post: Here Is Exactly What the CDC Wants Schools and Camps to Do Before Reopening (Added 6/5/20)
Working with FEMA to Address COVID-19 Housing and Homeless Needs (NLIHC Toolkit) (Added 4/24/20)
School District and State Education & Health Agency Resources on COVID-19 (Updated 7/17/20)
California Department of Education: Letter from State Director of Special Education on Educating Students with Disabilities (Added 4/1/20)
Considerations for Reopening Pennsylvania Schools (Added 7/17/20)
Cypress Fairbanks ISD Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates
Fulton County Schools COVID-19 Coronavirus Updates
NYC Health Department Fact Sheet: Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) as associated with COVID-19 (Added 5/26/20)
Parkrose School District Resources
Illinois State Board of Education: Remote Learning Recommendations During COVID-19 Emergency (Added 4/24/20)
Texas Education Agency: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Support and Guidance
Virginia Department of Education: COVID-19 & Virginia Public Schools Guidance and Resources
Virginia Department of Education: Superintendent's & Principals' Memos (Added 3/31/20)
Washington State Health Department Resource: AOE Webinar Series Solutions for Healthy Buildings in the age of COVID-19 (Added 5/6/20)
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Members-Only Resources (Login Required) (Updated 2/18/21)
ASBO International Network Discussions & Blogs: (Updated 1/25/21)
ASBO International Toolkits: (Updated 8/3/20)
- Working Together for Student Success: A Guide for SBOs & CTOs (See section on IT Infrastructure & Systems Management for tips/resources on cloud computing, interoperability, and maintaining continuity during a crisis. See section on Data Management & Security for tips to protect student data and privacy, develop policies via stakeholder engagement, and improve cybersecurity in schools)
- Inclusive Technology Toolkit - Local Procurement Practices (Provides tips about promoting inclusive procurement practices to accommodate all learners, including students with disabilities)
- Inclusive Technology Toolkit - Extra Resources (Provides resources on digital accessibility, digital learning, and procuring learning technologies to support all students)
- Inclusive Technology During the COVID-19 Crisis (Provides key questions and considerations to facilitate collaborative and inclusive processes for procuring and implementing education technology to support all learners in a virtual/online, hybrid, or in-person environment due to COVID-19, including students with disabilities.) (Added 8/3/20)
- Back to School Toolkit for Safe and Healthy Schools (Provides information, checklists, and resources about green cleaning for schools.)
- School Safety & Crisis Planning Toolkit (Compiles crisis planning, management, and response tips and resources for a variety of emergencies.)
ASBO International Webinars (Updated 2/18/21)
ASBO International File Library Resources (Updated 6/10/20)
(Have another useful resource on COVID-19 to share that’s not listed? Contact us.)