The Louisiana Department of Education released guidance on Thursday, June 25 for how schools across the state can reopen for the 2020-2021 school year.
The guidelines were released in partnership with the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) and the Resilient Louisiana Commission and include actions that schools can take to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
LDOE says that each school district will ultimately decide how schools will operate, but that guidance will offer best practices to prepare for three possible reopening scenarios: traditional, hybrid or distance/remote learning.
The guidance will also explain how health requirements will change based on the three reopening phases and what to expect and how to respond to COVID-19 positive or presumptive cases on campuses.
The "Strong Start 2020: Guidelines and Resources for School Reopenings" is available on the LDOE website and includes a number of guidelines and best practices for districts including:
- Bus capacity and student group size
- Student symptom monitoring
- Face coverings
- Food prep and meal service
Along with the resources released Thursday, LDOE says schools and districts will have access to additional support through webinars and a hotline.