Back to School with COVID-19, Part 1 [IEP 177]

Today’s episode is the first in a three-part series covering guidelines for going back to school for in-person learning for the 2021-2022 school year. It’s hard to believe that we are here on the cusp of beginning another school year, and as with the last two school years, COVID-19 has changed everything for students, educators, and parents.Join us for this three-part guide to everything you need to know and the momentum you need to kick off a new school year. We are discussing COVID-19 guidelines, safety protocols, and the recent teacher vaccine mandate in California.Show Highlights:The Safe Schools for All Hub through the www.cde.ca.gov website is THE place to go for updates and guidelines from the CA Department of Public Health.The main components of the guidelines for schools include: recommended vaccines for everyone over age 12 and a mask mandate for all to allow less social distancing within school activitiesMask mandates (with medical exemptions) are identified as part of the best practices for schools, and districts have been busy developing their testing protocols.After a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, the requirements for returning to school are as follows: A negative COVID-19 test24 hours fever-free (without using fever-reducing medications)Improvement of all symptoms**With any positive COVID-19 test, the guideline is for the person to isolate at home for ten days, even if they have no symptomsAssembly Bill 86, approved in March, requires schools to report COVID-19 cases to their local public health department.If a vaccinated person comes into close contact (per CDC definition) with a positive COVID-19 case, they only have to quarantine if they show symptoms.These safety protocols have to be documented to account for various scenarios and posted on schools’ websites before the school year begins.The recommendation remains that schools limit non-essential visitors, volunteers, and activities for those not fully vaccinated.Why it is still important to conduct meetings virtually when possible so as to limit exposure for those under vaccination ageHand-washing hygiene and rigorous cleaning recommendations are still in place, as well as maximum social distancing when possible for school activities.As of August 11, CA Governor Newsome stated that teachers in CA be fully vaccinated or submit to weekly COVID-19 testing.CA has 6.1 million students and 550,000 teachers (about 90% of teachers are vaccinated so far) Links/Resources:Thank you for listening! We welcome your questions regarding the new school year, guidelines, and protocols, so send them in!Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the show to receive every new episode delivered straight to your podcast player every Tuesday.If you enjoyed this episode and believe in our message, then please help us get the word out about this podcast. Rate and Review this show in Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, or Google Play. It helps other listeners find this show.Be sure to connect with us and reach out with any questions/concerns:FacebookInstagramTwitterIEP websiteThis podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matters, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.