Guiding Questions
How will classrooms/learning spaces be organized to mitigate spread?
How will you group students with staff to limit the number of individuals who come into contact with each other throughout the school day?
What policies and procedures will govern use of other communal spaces within the school building?
How will you utilize outdoor space to help meet social distancing needs?
What hygiene routines will be implemented throughout the school day?
How will you adjust student transportation to meet social distancing requirements?
Will any of these social distancing and other safety protocols differ based on age and/or grade ranges?
Which stakeholders will be trained on social distancing and other safety protocols? When and how will the training be provided? How will preparedness to implement as a result of the training be measured?
PDE Health and Safety Plan Requirements
Plan must include the following:
Protocols for classroom/learning space occupancy that allow for 6 feet of separation among students and staff throughout the day to the maximum extent feasible.
Plan should also include the following to the extent possible:
Methods of limiting the number of individuals in classrooms and other learning spaces, and interactions between groups of students.
Methods of staggering the use of communal spaces and hallways and ensuring regular cleaning.
PDE Considerations
Develop a schedule so that student and staff groupings are as static as possible by having the same group of students stay with the same staff based on age and developmental level of students.
Restrict interactions between groups of students.
Create staggered schedules to limit the number of individuals in classrooms and other spaces. (CDC recommends no more than 25 individuals including staff).
Establish distances (CDC recommends 6 feet) between student desks/seating and other social distancing practices to the maximum extent feasible and appropriate.
Limit gatherings, events, and extracurricular activities to those that can maintain social distancing.
Hold classes in gyms, auditoriums, or other large spaces.
Turn desks to face in the same direction or have students sit on only one side of tables, spaced apart. Consider the unique needs of music programming (e.g., band, orchestra, choir) and transmission risk-mitigation protocols to address hygiene, disinfection of equipment, distancing during practice and competition, and numbers of participants. Due to potential increased risk of droplet transmission, physical distancing should be prioritized for wind instruments.
NEPA Task Force Considerations
Keep the same cohort of students together throughout the day. Do not mix students for classes such as art, band, Title I Reading, etc.
It is recommended that teachers move from class to class whenever possible rather than the students.
Students should be assigned a specific area for storing coats/belongings that are isolated from others’ belongings. (avoid shared coat rack/closet)
All desks should be facing the same way. No desks/students should face each other.
Tables should be avoided in classrooms, labs, etc. and replaced with stand alone desks when possible.
PDE Health and Safety Plan Requirements
Plan may also include the following to the extent possible:
Protocols for classroom/learning space occupancy that allow for 6 feet of separation among students and staff throughout the day when appropriate;
Methods of limiting the number of individuals in classrooms and other learning spaces, and interactions between groups of students;
Methods of staggering the use of communal spaces and hallways and ensuring regular cleaning.
PDE Considerations
Develop a schedule so that student and staff groupings are as static as possible by having the same group of students stay with the same staff based on age and developmental level of students.
Restrict interactions between groups of students.
Create staggered schedules to limit the number of individuals in classrooms and other spaces. (CDC recommends no more than 25 individuals including staff).
Establish distances (CDC recommends 6 feet) between student desks/seating and other social distancing practices to the maximum extent feasible and appropriate.
Limit gatherings, events, and extracurricular activities to those that can maintain social distancing.
Hold classes in gyms, auditoriums, or other large spaces.
Turn desks to face in the same direction or have students sit on only one side of tables, spaced apart. Consider the unique needs of music programming (e.g., band, orchestra, choir) and transmission risk-mitigation protocols to address hygiene, disinfection of equipment, distancing during practice and competition, and numbers of participants. Due to potential increased risk of droplet transmission, physical distancing should be prioritized for wind instruments.
NEPA Task Force Considerations
Keep the same cohort of students together throughout the day. Do not mix students for classes such as art, band, Title I Reading, etc.
It is recommended that teachers move from class to class whenever possible rather than the students.
Students should be assigned a specific area for storing coats/belongings that are isolated from others’ belongings. (avoid shared coat rack/closet)
All desks should be facing the same way. No desks/students should face each other.
Tables should be avoided in classrooms, labs, etc. and replaced with stand alone desks when possible.