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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:

Joint IDPH and ISBE Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in Schools - June 13, 2023

LATEST UPDATES - June 13, 2023

COVID-19 Surveillance and Outbreak Reporting - Updated December 12, 2023
Joint IDPH and ISBE Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in Schools
ESSER Funding and Resources

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

Parent Letter (Spanish) - November 22, 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.

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 2020-44re-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

Emergency Rulemaking September 2021

ISBE and IDPH Fact Sheet - Summarizes Executive Order 2021-24 and IDPH’s administrative rules to implement the order.
Sept. 17, 2021 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

Emergency Rulemaking September 2020

Sept. 30, 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

Emergency Rulemaking May 2020

May 15, 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
May 1, 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

Emergency Rulemaking April 2020

April 27, 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
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
April 9, 2020 Emergency Amendment to Part 226 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
April 9, 2020 Emergency Amendment to Part 120 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

Emergency Rulemaking March 2020

March 30, 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
March 27, 2020Emergency 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
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
March 25, 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

Emergency Actions

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

U.S. Department of Education Updates & Guidance May 2021

Confronting COVID-19-Related Harassment in Schools - May 13, 2021

U.S. Department of Education Updates & Guidance September 2020

Letter from U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos Regarding Intent to Not Make Waivers Available for Spring 2021 Assessments - September 3, 2020

U.S. Department of Education Updates & Guidance July 2020

U.S. ED Office of Civil Rights: Civil Rights and COVID-19 Webinar - July 9, 2020
ED Office of Special Education Programs IDEA Part C Evaluations Q&A - July 8, 2020
ED Office of Special Education Programs: IDEA Part B Q&A- July 2, 2020
ED Office of Special Education Programs: IDEA Part C Q&A- July 2, 2020

U.S. Department of Education Updates & Guidance May 2020
- ED Fact Sheet: Providing Services to English Learners During the Covid-19 Outbreak - May 19, 2020
U.S. Department of Education Updates & Guidance April 2020
- U.S. Dept. of Education: Q & A on Donation or Loan of Personal Protective Equipment and Other Medical Supplies and Equipment Purchased with Federal Funds- April 15, 2020
- U.S. Dept. of Education Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education: Perkins V
- Fact Sheet: Select Questions Related to Use of Department of Education Grant Funds During the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 - April 8, 2020
U.S. Department of Education Updates & Guidance 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

Guidance to Public Bodies on the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act during the COVID-19 Pandemic - July 2, 2020

CDC UPDATES & GUIDANCE - Last Update: January 4, 2021

CDC Updates & Guidance January 2021

COVID-19 Prevention in Kindergarten (K)-12 Schools
How Do I Set Up My Classroom? - Jan. 4, 2021
Teachers and Staff Resuming In-Person Learning Tool - Jan. 4, 2020

CDC Updates & Guidance December 2020

CDC K-12 Schools COVID-19 Mitigation Toolkit - Dec. 3, 2020
CDC Getting Schools Ready for In-Person Learning: How to Plan and Execute a COVID-19 Mitigation Walkthrough - Dec. 3, 2020

CDC Updates & Guidance July 2020

CDC: Preparing for a Safe Return to School - July 23, 2020

CDC Updates & Guidance March 2020
- CDC Tips for Parents While School’s Out - March 23, 2020
- IDPH Employee Supervisor Guide to COVID-19 - March 18, 2020
- Illinois Dept. of Public Health: Webpage for Schools - March 14, 2020
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Travel Information
- Handwashing Lessons - Pre-K - 12: Schools, working together with local health departments, play a key role in reducing the spread of diseases to help ensure students have safe and healthy learning environments. Hand washing and use of hand sanitizers is critical to minimizing transmission, but only if done properly. Therefore, we are asking all schools to implement lessons in hand washing and use of hand sanitizer. The CDC offers numerous hand washing resources for all grade levels, including:
  - Classroom lessons and activities
  - Instructional videos for students, including one in Spanish
  - Instructional posters in eight languages to hang above sinks in restrooms
  - Fact sheets that can be downloaded in both English and Spanish to send home with students

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.

ALL RESOURCES

Additional Resources

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Important Resources: Cleaning, Disinfection and Ventilation in Schools - Nov. 30, 2020
Illinois Virtual Instructional Coach and Building Mentor Program - October 2, 2020

Illinois Virtual Instructional Coach and Building Mentor Program webpage - January 15, 2021
Interested in bringing the program to your school or district? The first step is for the school or district administrator to complete this short interest survey, then a representative will reach out to schedule a brief onboarding meeting. - January 15,2021

CCSSO “Day in the Life of” (DILO) Simulation Toolkit - August 5, 2020
The “Day in the Life of” Simulation Toolkit was developed by McKinsey as part of a partnership with CCSSO and Chiefs for Change. The toolkit is designed to support districts in simulating a typical day in the life of students, teachers, parents and staff to help with planning and preparation.
DCFS/ISBE Joint Guidance on Student Wellness Checks - May 6, 2020
Class of 2020
COVID-19 Student Learning Study
Tier 3 Resurgence Mitigation FAQ - December 16, 2020

Tier 3 Resurgence Mitigation FAQ (Spanish) - January 11, 2021

Governor's Office- Restore Illinois: A Public Health Approach to Safely Reopen our State - May 5, 2020

BACK TO SCHOOL 2021-22

Student Mode of Instruction SY2021-2022
Student Mode of Instruction SY2020-2021
Governor Pritzker Lifts Masking Requirement in Schools, Beginning Monday, Feb. 28 - February 25, 2022
ISBE will work with the Illinois Department of Public Health to update our guidance documents as soon as possible.
Updated Public School Guidance for Calendar Coding - January 25,2022
Current Remote Learning Options Under Illinois Law - Guidance for Schools and Districts
School Recognition Status Change Summary- March 3, 2022
Letter to Superintendents: Enforcement of Universal Indoor Masking Requirement

Back to School 2020-21

Return to In-Person: Lesson Learned from the Pandemic - April 27, 2021
Revised Public Health Guidance for Schools - March 9, 2021
Guía de salud pública revisada para escuelas - March 30, 2021

Frequently Asked Questions on the Revised Public Health Guidance - March 11, 2021
Guía revisada de salud pública para las escuelas - March 24, 2021

Illinois Priority Learning Standards for the 2020-21 School Year - August 24, 2020

Webinar Presentation - July 30, 2020
Webinar Recording - July 30, 2020

Back to School Video

Back to School Video - Spanish

School and District Reopening Toolkit

Fall 2020 Learning Recommendations

Fall 2020 Learning Recommendations - Spanish Version

Part 3: Starting the 2020-21 School Year

Part 3: Starting the 2020-21 School Year - Spanish Version - August 4, 2020
Frequently Asked Questions - August 17, 2020
Webinar Presentation - June 24, 2020
Webinar Recording

General Guidance

General Guidance June 2020

ICCB - Applying the Final Placement Recommendations for Placement in the Fall of 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic- June 2, 2020

General Guidance May 2020

ISBE Guidance for Schools and Districts - May 8, 2020
DCFS/ISBE Joint Guidance on Student Wellness Checks - May 6, 2020
Summer School Guidance for Schools and Districts - May 6, 2020
Governor’s Office- Restore Illinois: A Public Health Approach to Safely Reopen our State - May 5, 2020
Student Attendance During Remote Learning- May 4, 2020
IDPH/ISBE Graduation Ceremony Guidance- May 2, 2020

General Guidance April 2020

Joint Guidance for Institutions of Higher Education on Exemptions of Teacher Licensure Requirements - ISBE/IBHE- April 27, 2020
Licensure Requirement Changes

FAQ- May 22, 2020
Presentation for School Districts- April 30, 2020

School Districts Webinar Recording - April 30, 2020

Presentation for IHEs- April 29, 2020

IHE Session 1 Webinar Recording - April 29, 2020
IHE Session 2 Webinar Recording - May 1, 2020

Graduation Requirement Changes

FAQ- May 4, 2020
Presentation- April 27, 2020
Webinar Recording- April 29, 2020

Pritzker Administration Releases WI-FI Hotspot Map to Support Illinois Students during COVID-19 Pandemic- April 17, 2020

General Guidance March 2020

Joint Dual Credit Guidance During Suspension of In-Person Instruction - IBHE, ICCB, ISBE - March 27, 2020
Guidance on School Calendars - ISBE/IARSS - March 22, 2020

IDPH Supplemental Resources

Decision Tree for Evaluating Symptomatic Individuals from Pre-K, K-12 Schools and Day Care Programs - August 22, 2022
Joint IDPH and ISBE Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in Schools - September 15, 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 informationon the availability of COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Tests! - August 10, 2022
Interim Guidance on Testing for COVID-19 in Community Settings and Schools - July 5, 2022
Music Guidance - September 2, 2021
Become an Illinois COVID-19 Ambassador! - February 17, 2021
IDPH Memo to Healthcare Providers: Evaluating Face Covering Tolerance/Symptoms - August 18, 2020
IDPH Update on Appropriate Use of Face Shields - June 30, 2020
Interim Post-Vaccination Considerations for Schools - May 19, 2021
IDPH Adaptive Pause & Metrics: Interim School Guidance for Local Health Departments
Please see updated school FAQs for updated information

Messages from the Superintendent

Messages from the Superintendent April 2022

Message from ISBE and IDPH: Preparing for COVID-19 Surges - April 5, 2022

Messages from the Superintendent October 2021

Message from Dr. Carmen I. Ayala: Teacher evaluation flexibility extended for 2021-22 school year

Messages from the Superintendent August 2021

Letter to Superintendents: Enforcement of Universal Indoor Masking Requirement

Messages from the Superintendent March 2021

Message from Dr. Carmen I. Ayala: Revised Public Health Guidance for Schools- March 9, 2021

Carta de la Superintendente de Educación del Estado

Messages from the Superintendent February 2021

Message from Dr. Carmen I. Ayala: Update on Seeking Federal Waiver of Assessments- February 5, 2021

Messages from the Superintendent January 2021

Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala - January 6, 2021

Messages from the Superintendent October 2020

Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala - Basketball- October 29, 2020

Messages from the Superintendent September 2020

Letter on Teacher Evaluations- September 21, 2020
Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala - September 3, 2020

Messages from the Superintendent August 2020

Messages from the Superintendent July 2020

Messages from the Superintendent June 2020

COVID-19 Update to Schools- June 18, 2020
Message from State Superintendent Dr. Carmen I. Ayala - June 11, 2020

PPE & Cleaning supplies Master Contracts

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.