As we embark on a new academic year, protecting the health and safety of school communities must remain a top priority. Here are some steps you can take to prioritize the health and safety of the school community:

• Communicate frequently with families – in their home language – and work to build their confidence that children will be safe, learning in-person
• Encourage and provide access to vaccinations for eligible students and staff
• Address ventilation needs where applicable
• Provide safe transportation
• Provide affordable childcare
• Ensure access to healthy meals and other basic needs

Below are resources from the Department of Education and across the federal government to support these efforts.

Resources for Health and Safety

• How Schools Can Prioritize the Health and Safety of Students, School Personnel, and Families
• Resource on Improving Ventilation in Schools, Colleges, and Universities to Prevent COVID-19
• CDC Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools
• Department of Education Best Practices Clearinghouse: Safe and Healthy Environments
• Department of Education Lessons from the Field: Webinar Series
• Understanding the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program for COVID-19 Vaccination
• ED COVID-19 Handbook, Volume 3: Strategies for Safe Operation and Addressing the Impact of COVID-19 on Higher Education Students, Faculty, and Staff [PDF, 4.9MB]
• CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit for Institutions of Higher Education, Community Colleges, and Technical Schools
• HHS Back to School Public Education Toolkit
• HHS Guide to On-Site Vaccination Clinics for School
• CDC COVID-19 School Testing Toolkit
• Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund and Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund