Coronavirus Response and School Reopening Guidance

Information and resources regarding CDE's COVID-19 response efforts, including the guidance document for safely reopening schools.

The California Department of Education (CDE) is monitoring the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and working closely with agency partners. Local educational agencies (LEAs) are encouraged to follow California Department of Public Health recommendations. LEAs should identify plans for communicating with families and consider learning supports for school closures.

New Safe Schools for All Hub Offers Updated Health Guidance

The State has formally launched a new Safe Schools for All Hub , a one-stop shop for state guidance and resources on safely resuming in-person instruction.

The Hub provides the most updated guidance for all schools to follow, directives for reporting data, and links to for additional resources, including how to implement school-centered testing.

School administrators can request technical assistance for developing and implementing safety plans from the State Safe Schools Team and parents can also visit the Safe Schools Parent Page for updates about the safe reopening of schools.

The Hub will continuously be updated with additional guidance, resources and information.

U.S. Health and Human Services Agency

Letter on COVID-19 Vaccination for Children (PDF)
A joint guidance letter from U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel A. Cardona, Ed. D. regarding information and resources on pediatric vaccine efforts to help families learn about the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11 years old.

California Department of Education (CDE)

From Tony Thurmond, SSPI (Updated 22-Nov-2021)
One place for COVID-19 news releases and correspondence from Tony Thurmond, State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SSPI).

AB 86

COVID-19 Relief and School Reopening Grants (Updated 16-June-2021)

Other Key Resources

Heal, Recover, and Thrive: The Needed Resources for California Schools (PDF; Added 07-Jan-2022)
This document outlines State Superintendent Tony Thurmond’s recommendations to support the transformation of California schools. Superintendent Thurmond and the California Department of Education will work on legislation to implement the recommendations listed in this document. This legislative effort will support schools in healing from the trauma of the pandemic, making progress toward learning recovery, and striving toward future student progress.

Stronger Together Guidebook Coverpage

Stronger Together: A Guidebook for the Safe Reopening of California's Public Schools

Assessments

COVID-19 and Data Reporting

Accountability

Child Care and Student Supervision

Child Care and Student Supervision (DOCX)

Distance Learning

Early Learning and Care

Early Learning COVID-19 Guidance and Resources

Funding

California Department of Public Health (CDPH)

Public health experts have issued guidance on safe returns to in-person instruction since May 2020, and have updated and expanded since then. CDPH will not release updates to the 2021-22 school year’s K-12 School Guidance until the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updates their guidance. This will allow coordination between guidance documents. Learn more about key prevention and mitigation measures .

Additional information related to schools can also be found here:

Outdoor and Indoor Youth and Recreational Adult Sports

Individuals should continue to wear a mask indoors in public settings. For more information, see CDPH’s updated Face Covering Guidance and its associated Face Mask Q&A . Additional Youth Sports guidance may be provided, pending operational guidance from the CDC.