Anyone, 6 months of age and older, is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Find your nearest vaccination location at vaccines.gov.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates and Resources
ISBE is working in partnership with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to ensure we are providing the most current resources and guidance to support Illinois education communities regarding COVID-19. Please know that this is a rapidly evolving situation and we will continue to share up-to-date information as it becomes available. Please find the current Public Health Guidance for Schools below:
LATEST UPDATES - August 10, 2022
-
Availability of COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Tests. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announces that it is providing a one-time bulk shipment of 1 million over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 rapid antigen tests to K-12 public school districts outside of Chicago for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year. The tests will be provided free of charge.
Click here for more information on the availability of COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Tests
!
SUPPORTING COVID-19 VACCINATIONS - Last Update: November 15, 2021
Achieving high levels of COVID-19 vaccination among eligible students as well as teachers, staff, and household members is one of the most critical strategies to help schools safely resume full operations. Please continue to promote and provide opportunities for your school community to get vaccinated.
-
Hosting a Vaccination Event
Contact information and instructions for hosting a vaccination event at one or more schools. -
November 9, 2021
-
Parent Letter
Letter to send to parents and families on either IDPH and ISBE letterhead or district letterhead to communicate about options for eligible children to receive the COVID-19 vaccine if your district does not host a vaccination event. -
November 9, 2021
-
Strategies to Build Vaccine Confidence
- May 10, 2021
-
How to Talk About the COVID-19 Vaccine
- May 10, 2021
-
COVID-19 Vaccination for Young People FAQs
- June 11, 2021
- Vaccination Information for Children and Teenagers
- November 15, 2021
- Vacunas Contra el COVID-19 para Niños y Adolescente
- November 15, 2021
- ICAAP Vaccination Letter
-
November 9, 2021
-
Federal Vaccination Resources - November 12, 2021
School-Located Vaccination Clinics: Best Practices for School Districts. This CDC guide provides a roadmap for school administrators to work directly with local health departments and other vaccine providers (e.g., pharmacies) to set up vaccination clinics in places that K-12 students and their parents know and trust.
- The following links provide additional information about pediatric COVID-19 vaccination and school-located vaccination clinics.
MESSAGES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT - Last Update: April 5, 2022
-
April 2022
-
October 2021
-
August 2021
-
March 2021
-
February 2021
-
January 2021
-
October 2020
-
September 2020
-
August 2020
-
July 2020
-
June 2020
-
May 2020
-
April 2020
-
Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala
-
April 27, 2020
-
Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala
-
April 24, 2020
-
Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala
-
April 22, 2020
-
Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala
- April 20, 2020
-
Message from State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen I. Ayala on the Extension of Remote Learning Days Through End of School Year
-
April 17, 2020
-
Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala
-
April 16, 2020
-
Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala
-
April 15, 2020
-
Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala
-
April 14, 2020
-
Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala
-
April 13, 2020
-
Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala
-
April 10, 2020
-
Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala
-
April 9, 2020
-
Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala
- April 8, 2020
-
Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala
-
April 7, 2020
-
Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala
-
April 6, 2020
-
Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala
-
April 3, 2020
-
Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala
-
April 2, 2020
-
Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala
-
April 1, 2020
-
March 2020
-
Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala
-
March 31, 2020
-
Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala
-
March 30, 2020
-
Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala Announcing Remote Learning Days
-
March 27, 2020
-
Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala
-
March 26, 2020
-
Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala
-
March 25, 2020
-
Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala
-
March 24, 2020
-
Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala
-
March 23, 2020
-
Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala
-
March 22, 2020
-
Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala
-
March 20, 2020
-
Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala
-
March 17, 2020
-
Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala
-March 13, 2020
-
Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala
-
March 12, 2020
IDPH SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES - Updated August 10, 2022
PROGRAM RESOURCES - Last Update: January 26, 2021
-
EI to ECSE Transition COVID
- October 9, 2020
-
Transition Guidance Family Document
- October 9, 2020
-
Early Childhood Guidance FAQ
-
September 16, 2020
-
ECBG Transition FAQ
-
July 21, 2020
-
Child care centers by school district
-
April 22, 2020
-
Joint Guidance for Child Care Providers Following Extended Stay at Home Order - ISBE/GOECD/DCFS/IDHS
-April 7, 2020
-
COVID-19: Illinois' Early Childhood Care and Education Response - ISBE/GOECD/DCFS/IDHS
- March 30, 2020
-
Guidance for Child Care Centers, Child Care Homes, and Early Education Programs - ISBE/OECD/DCFS/DHS
-March 20, 2020
-
FAQ
- March 20, 2020
-
Guidance on Providing Emergency Child Care for Essential Workers - March 25, 2020
FEDERAL FUNDING - ESSER - Last Update: August 19, 2022
-
FY 2023 LEA Maintenance of Equity Implementation Resources - Updated July 25, 2022
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) includes requirements for states and Local Education Agencies (LEAs) receiving Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds. These requirements, known as Maintenance of Equity (MOEquity), protect certain high-poverty schools from disproportionate reductions in state and local funding and staffing in fiscal years (FY) 2022 and 2023. ISBE has published guidance for FY 2023 implementation. For questions not addressed in the resources below, please email
ARPMOEQUITY@ISBE.net.
-
ISBE Resources
-
Notification to LEAs of FY 2023 Resources
- via ISBE Weekly July 26, 2022
-
FY 2023 LEA Requirements Webinar
: This pre-recorded webinar provides an overview of MOEquity requirements for FY 2023. It is divided into two parts. Part I provides information that is relevant for all districts, including the criteria for exemption and how to complete the FY 2023 LEA MOEquity Exception Survey if required (see below). Part II is for non-exempt or excepted LEAs that must conduct the full fiscal and staffing equity tests required by MOEquity.
- Exempt/Non Exempt LEAs
: ISBE used data from the Entity Profile System this year to pre-identify LEAs for exemption, per certain statute-defined criteria. Specifically, an LEA is exempt from MOEquity if it has home enrollment of fewer than 1,000 students, operates a single school, or serves all students within each grade span in a single school (e.g., one school each for K-5, 6-8, and 9-12). All LEAs should verify their exemption status by reviewing the exemption report, which identifies all LEAs as exempt or non-exempt. If ISBE has accurately identified your LEA as exempt, no further action is required.
-
FY 2023 LEA MOEquity Exception Survey: This survey is required for all non-exempt LEAs and will support LEA leaders in determining steps to comply with MOEquity in FY 2023, including whether an LEA is eligible for the Certification of Exception (waiver). Additionally, an LEA that believes that there is an error in ISBE’s list of LEAs pre-identified for exemption can request a revision in the survey.
The survey is due for all non-exempt LEAs by or before September 12.
-
FY 2023 MOEquity Demonstration Tool
: This ISBE-created worksheet will support LEAs not eligible for exemption or exception in conducting the fiscal and staffing equity tests required by MOEquity. A completed worksheet is due to ISBE by or before December 2.
-
Federal Resources
-
FY 2022 Local Maintenance of Equity Reporting - Updated August 19, 2022
The U.S. Department of Education published its
Final Requirements for the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief fund in the Federal Register on June 8. These requirements establish state reporting responsibilities regarding Local Education Agency (LEA) implementation of Maintenance of Equity (MOEquity). Each state must publish LEA-level MOEquity data on its website according to the following timeline:
-
July 8, 2022 – A list of LEAs that are excepted from MOEquity in fiscal year 2022, along with the identification of high-poverty schools for any non-excepted LEA. The ARP Act excepts an LEA from MOEquity if it has fewer than 1,000 students, has only one school, serves all students in each grade span in a single school, or certifies that it has not implemented an aggregate reduction in combined state and local per-pupil funding in FY 2022 compared to FY 2021.
-
November 1, 2022 – A list of LEAs that are excepted from MOEquity in FY 2023, along with the identification of high-poverty schools for any non-excepted LEA.
-
December 31, 2022 – The applicable LEA high-poverty school data for FY 2022. - Published August 19, 2022
-
December 31, 2023 – The applicable LEA high-poverty school data for FY 2023.
Additionally, each state must publish a description by July 8 of how it will ensure that any non-excepted LEA is protecting its high-poverty schools from a disproportionate reduction in per-pupil funding or staffing as required by the ARP Act. Each state must also specify when it will require any non-compliant LEA to describe what adjustments it will make to be in compliance prior to the start of the next fiscal year.
The spreadsheet below satisfies the requirement to publish a list of excepted districts, along with the identification of high-poverty schools in non-excepted LEAs, by July 8. Each LEA is identified by its unique identification codes (state and federal), along with its reason for exception. Eligibility for exception is monitored by reviewing enrollment data, current building configurations, and financial information. High-poverty schools are identified for any LEAs that did not meet the criteria for exception.
ISBE has established the following procedures to ensure that each non-excepted LEA is complying with the fiscal and staffing equity tests established in the ARP Act of 2021:
- Non-excepted LEAs must conduct the required fiscal and staffing tests using actual expenditures from the baseline year and budgeted expenditures for the comparison year. Results must be submitted to ISBE by early December of each fiscal year (i.e., December 3, 2021 for FY 2022 and December 2, 2022 for FY 2023). Guidance and tools for conducting the required tests are shared with districts annually.
- By the deadline communicated for each fiscal year, LEAs that determine they have not maintained fiscal and/or staffing equity in high-poverty schools must submit a plan describing what adjustments they will make to be in compliance prior to the start of the next fiscal year. ISBE will review these plans and provide technical assistance, as necessary.
-
IL ESSER Dashboard
This dashboard represents the most up-to-date financial picture pertaining to the use of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds in Illinois. It provides insight into each school district’s allocation of the three ESSER funds – Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act ESSER (ESSER I), Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act ESSER (ESSER II), and American Rescue Plan ESSER (ESSER III). You can find how much in funds were allocated to each district, as well as how much of these funds districts have spent and have remaining.
-
ESSER Recipient Data Collection Year 2 Report Step by Step Webinar - April 22, 2022
-
Instructions for Looking Up Expenditure Details for ESSER Grants in FRIS
- February 7, 2022
-
ESSER Fact Sheet
- February 7, 2022
-
Blending and Braiding Funds
The Illinois State Board of Education has released a webinar for district- and school-level administrators. Leveraging Resources: Blending and Braiding Funds will assist districts in maximizing the use of the additional funds that districts have received. The webinar is specifically designed to help district administrative teams plan holistically, develop cohesive programs and services, and ensure sustainability through blending and braiding of federal, state, and local funds.
-
TOTAL ESSER
-
ARP ESSER
-
ESSER II
-
ESSER II preliminary allocations spreadsheet
- Jan. 6, 2021
-
EANS for Nonpublic Schools
Congress authorized the EANS program as part of the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund, and it provides services or assistance to eligible nonpublic schools to address educational disruptions caused by COVID-19.
-
ESSER II Step by Step Application Process Webinar
- March 1
-
CARES ACT ESSER Grant
-
CARES Act ESSER Grant Release
-
May 15, 2020
-
CARES Act Fiscal Waivers for Titles I, II, III, and IV and McKinney-Vento
-
April 24, 2020
-
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) District Information
- March 31, 2020
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES - Updated January 15, 2021
PPE & CLEANING SUPPLIES MASTER CONTRACTS - Last Update: September 23, 2021
There are currently master contracts available through the Department of Central Management Services (CMS) that allow districts to enter into contracts with vendors to purchase Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and cleaning supplies without having to engage in the competitive bidding process. View the contracts, vendor contact information, and item inventory lists below. Districts should contact the vendors directly for purchasing and determine the vendor that best suits their needs. See the below agency contact information for questions regarding procurement. There are also vendor contracts available through the Education Purchasing Program. Select the link below to view all vendor information and next steps for ordering PPE and cleaning supplies.
EXECUTIVE ORDERS - Last Update: January 11, 2022
-
Executive Order 2022-03
- Updates exclusion protocols in schools for individuals who are a confirmed or probable case, close contact, or symptomatic to reflect the shortened quarantine and isolation periods recommended by the CDC -
January 11, 2022
-
Executive Order 2021-25
- Amends provisions in Executive Order 2021-24, which clarifies schools’ authority to exclude students and school personnel from school premises when they are a confirmed or probable case, close contact, or symptomatic.
- September 21, 2021
-
ISBE and IDPH Fact Sheet
- Summarizes Executive Order 2021-24 and IDPH’s administrative rules to implement the order.
-
Executive Order 2021-22
- extends the deadline for school personnel to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or submit to at least weekly testing -
September 3, 2021
-
Executive Order 2021-20
- requires all school personnel to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or submit to at least weekly testing -
August 26, 2021
-
Executive Order 2020-73
- issues Tier 3 Mitigation order effective Nov. 20, 2020. -
November 18, 2020
-
Executive Order 2020-47
all public and nonpublic schools in Illinois serving pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students may open for in-person educational purposes following the completion of the regular 2019-20 school term. All public and nonpublic schools must follow IDPH and ISBE guidance during Phase 4 and take proactive measures to ensure the safety of students, staff, and visitors, including, but not limited to the public health guidelines. -
July 24, 2020
-
Executive Order 2020-44
re-issues previous Executive Orders in response to the epidemic emergency and public health emergency -
June 26, 2020
-
Executive Order 2020-40
allows for limited in-person instruction, in accordance with Illinois Department of Public Health guidance. -
June 4, 2020
-
Executive Order 2020-33
extends suspension of in-person instruction through end of 2019-20 academic year -
April 30, 2020
-
Executive Order 2020-31
waives specific licensure requirements and graduation and coursework requirements. - April 24, 2020
-
Executive Order 2020-30
extends the stay at home order through May 30, 2020; allows for educational institutions to establish procedures for pick-up of supplies and student belongings. - April 23, 2020
-
Executive Order 2020-15
suspends all state assessments, creates Remote Learning Days and Remote Learning Plan Days, addresses Early Childhood Block Grant funds, and permits virtual submission of school construction bids. - March 27, 2020
-
Executive Order 2020-10
- with exceptions, requires all individuals currently living within the State of Illinois to stay at home or at their place of residence. Among other changes, extends mandated statewide school closure through April 7, 2020. - March 20, 2020
-
Executive Order 2020-07
includes Open Meetings Act flexibility. - March 16, 2020
-
Executive Order 2020-06
exempts schools operated by the Department of Juvenile Justice, State Board of Education or Department of Human Services from EO 2020-05. - March 15, 2020
-
Executive Order 2020-05
requires all public and non-public schools to close beginning on Tuesday, March 17 through Monday, March 30. At this time, schools may reopen on Tuesday, March 31. - March 15, 2020
EMERGENCY RULEMAKING - Last Update: September 21, 2021
-
September 2021
-
ISBE and IDPH Fact Sheet
- Summarizes Executive Order 2021-24 and IDPH’s administrative rules to implement the order.
-
Emergency rule for Part 6
supports schools and school districts in implementing Executive Order 2021-22, which requires that all school personnel either receive the COVID-19 vaccine or undergo at least weekly testing. The Executive Order establishes the effective date for school personnel to be fully vaccinated or to begin at least weekly testing as September 19, 2021. Emergency rules are needed to provide schools and school districts with sufficient clarity and detail regarding implementation of the Executive Order and required record keeping by the effective date of the new requirement. The emergency rules will provide necessary support for schools and school districts to protect the health and safety of students, school personnel, and their broader communities during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. – Sept. 17, 2021
-
September 2020
-
Emergency Amendment to Part 1
extends the KIDS Assessment deadline to allow kindergarten teachers more time to administer the assessment in school districts that, due to Coronavirus Disease 19, do not have in-person instruction and may need to wait until in-person instruction is resumed to be able to make the necessary observations and gather appropriate evidence. Additionally, the amendment allows schools experiencing a substitute teacher or teacher shortage or schools in which more teachers requested to work remotely to utilize volunteers to staff classrooms under the supervision of a remote teacher if a licensed individual is present in the school building. – Sept. 30, 2020
-
May 2020
-
Emergency Amendment to Part 151
ensures that an applicant that submitted an application for a school maintenance project grant after the application deadline announced by the State Superintendent, but prior to April 21, 2020, is eligible to have the submitted application reviewed by the State Board and, if approved, may be issued a grant award for disbursement. – May 15, 2020
-
Emergency Amendment to Part 1
waives the application submission deadlines for entities that offer professional development activities that wish to apply to the State Board of Education for approval to conduct leadership training activities for members of Illinois boards of education or Independent Authorities. -
May 1, 2020
-
April 2020
-
Emergency Amendment to Part 1
waives certain graduation requirements for students who are in twelfth grade during the mandated in-person instruction pursuant to Executive Order 2020-05 and for the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamations. –
April 27, 2020
-
Emergency Amendment to Part 25
takes various measures for those seeking an educator license for the duration of the mandated in-person instruction and the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamations, including extending the validity of a Professional Educator License that expires on June 30, 2020, short-term approval for school support personnel and paraprofessionals, and the waiver of student teaching for applicants who have completed all other preparation program requirement for a Professional Educator License. –
April 27, 2020
-
Emergency Amendment
provides that school districts will be reimbursed for special education private facility tuition expenditures per the statutory formula under Section 14-7.02 of the School Code, and also notes that school districts will be reimbursed for special education room and board expenditures under Part B of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. – April 9, 2020
-
Emergency Amendment
ensures that contracts related to the provision of transportation or a transportation provider under a written agreement, regardless of any service that may be provided, are allowable and reimbursed. – April 9, 2020
-
March 2020
-
Emergency Amendment to Part 120
requires all transportation costs incurred between March 17, 2020, and through the end of the 2019-2020, that are beyond transporting students to be allowable and reimbursed by the formula under Section 29-5 of the School Code. - March 30, 2020
-
Emergency Amendment to Part 5
allows the State Superintendent to declare a requirement to use Remote Learning Days for a district, multiple districts, a region, or the entire State. During the Remote Learning Days, schools must conduct instruction remotely. - March 27, 2020
-
Emergency Amendment to Part 235
allows currently funded early childhood block grant programs that voluntarily choose to provide care for children of essential workers to use funds in excess of what is necessary for the program to provide at-home materials for children in the program and to purchase supplies and equipment while caring for children of essential workers. - March 27, 2020
-
Emergency Amendment to Part 226
allows all approved special education private facilities to continue to invoice school districts and requires school districts to continue to pay the per diem approved by the Illinois Purchased Care Review Board under Section 14-7.02 of the School Code. - March 25, 2020
The Illinois State Board of Education provides the following links to guidance by federal and state entities as a convenient resource for schools and stakeholders; the links do not constitute an endorsement of the resource. Prior to relying on any information in a resource, the Illinois State Board of Education recommends that schools and stakeholders confirm the accuracy of all resources directly with the underlying source.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION UPDATES & GUIDANCE - Last Update: May 13, 2021
-
May 2021
-
September 2020
-
July 2020
-
May 2020
-
April 2020
-
March 2020
- U.S. Dept. of Education Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education: Perkins V
-
U.S. ED Student Privacy Policy Office: FERPA and Virtual Learning -
March 30, 2020
-
U.S. ED OCR & OSERS: Supplemental Fact Sheet- Addressing the Risk of COVID-19 in Preschool, Elementary and Secondary Schools While Serving Children with Disabilities - March 21, 2020
-
U.S. ED Office of Civil Rights: Addressing the Risk of COVID-19 in Schools While Protecting the Civil Rights of Students
- March 16, 2020
-
U.S. Dept. of Education: Impact of COVID-19 on Assessments and Accountability
- March 12, 2020
-
U.S. Dept. of Education: Q & A on addressing students with disabilities during school closures due to COVID-19
- March 12, 2020
-
U.S. ED Office of Civil Rights: Safeguarding Student Civil Rights - March 6, 2020
-
U.S. Dept. of Education: COVID-19 (“Coronavirus”) Information and Resources for Schools and School Personnel -March 2, 2020
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL GUIDANCE - Last Update: July 2, 2020
CDC UPDATES & GUIDANCE - Last Update: January 4, 2021
DCFS & CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS OF ILLINOIS RESOURCES - Latest Update: April 24, 2020
Please help protect Illinois children's safety and wellbeing by staying in daily contact with students. If you suspect abuse or neglect, you have a social responsibility to report it to the hotline. In addition, state law requires that teachers, school personnel, child care workers, educational advocates assigned to a child pursuant to the School Code, and truancy officers, among others, report suspected neglect or abuse. These individuals are called Mandated Reporters. Please view and share the following fact sheets about protecting students from abuse during the COVID-19 crisis:
Find more information about reporting from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
This page has been archived. The content on this page may no longer be in effect.