Guidance for School Leaders
Planning for Fall 2021
What you can find here…
Click to jump to each section about:
Why do Routine COVID Safety Checks?
Keep Kids and Staff Safe: catch cases before they spread to other students and staff
Keep our Schools Open: prevent further time away from in-person learning and friends by knowing whether it's COVID, cold, or flu
Stop the Spread: prevent infecting another member of your household or community
CDC ENDORSEMENT
CDC's K12 School Operational Strategy endorses the use of Routine COVID Safety Checks for students as an additional layer of safety for schools in Moderate, Substantial and High Transmission areas.
Testing Providers
DESE Program:
CIC Health
Other Providers/
Funding Options
TOOLKIT CHECKLIST
Getting Started and Application
Apply for the DESE Program: CLICK HERE
Choose your Testing Options:
Routine COVID Safety Checks
In-School Pooling: Follow Up Testing Needed
In-Lab Pooling: No Follow Up Testing Needed
Saliva or
Double Nose Swab
Symptomatic Testing (BinaxNOW)
Close Contacts / “Test and Stay” (BinaxNOW)
Operations
Identify Staffing Needs: CIC Health will provide a Program Coordinator and any additional staffing you request (or, you can use your existing school staff if preferred)
Determine Testing Design: CIC Health can assist in planning
Determine Your Masking Protocol
Communicate Close Contact / “Test and Stay”
Learn your Technology Platforms
Communications
Develop Three Phase Communication Plan
Get Consent (DESE Template)
Utilize Parent/Caregiver Page for Materials
Vaccination
School Vaccination Drive: Fully funded and and staffed, sign up here
Engage Parents: Trust the Facts. Get the Vax Campaign
Share short, animated video (available in 10 languages)
Additional Family Resources
Have P-EBT? Get SNAP!
Many students who got P-EBT could also be eligible for more monthly food money with SNAP
Now that P-EBT is likely ending, please encourage your families to get SNAP
Visit MAp-EBT.org for outreach materials in 11 languages
Child Tax Credit
If families haven't filed taxes in the last few years, they may be missing out on thousands of dollars in federal payments (including $250-$300 per child per month with the Child Tax Credit)
Families can file taxes to get the money, even if they have no or very low income
Learn more and find outreach materials in 11 languages at FindYourFunds.org
Questions? Contact Sarah McKitterick (sarah@shahfoundation.org)
Interested in testing for EECs?
Neighborhood Villages is offering weekly screening testing to Massachusetts child care programs at no cost.