Today’s episode is the first in a three-part series covering guidelines for going back to school for in-person learning for the 2021-2022 school year. It’s hard to believe that we are here on the cusp of beginning another school year, and as with the last two school years, COVID-19 has changed everything for students, educators, and parents.

Join us for this three-part guide to everything you need to know and the momentum you need to kick off a new school year. We are discussing COVID-19 guidelines, safety protocols, and the recent teacher vaccine mandate in California.

Show Highlights:

• The Safe Schools for All Hub through the www.cde.ca.gov website is THE place to go for updates and guidelines from the CA Department of Public Health.
• The main components of the guidelines for schools include: recommended vaccines for everyone over age 12 and a mask mandate for all to allow less social distancing within school activities
• Mask mandates (with medical exemptions) are identified as part of the best practices for schools, and districts have been busy developing their testing protocols.
• After a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, the requirements for returning to school are as follows:
• A negative COVID-19 test
• 24 hours fever-free (without using fever-reducing medications)
• Improvement of all symptoms

**With any positive COVID-19 test, the guideline is for the person to isolate at home for ten days, even if they have no symptoms

• Assembly Bill 86, approved in March, requires schools to report COVID-19 cases to their local public health department.
• If a vaccinated person comes into close contact (per CDC definition) with a positive COVID-19 case, they only have to quarantine if they show symptoms.
• These safety protocols have to be documented to account for various scenarios and posted on schools’ websites before the school year begins.
• The recommendation remains that schools limit non-essential visitors, volunteers, and activities for those not fully vaccinated.
• Why it is still important to conduct meetings virtually when possible so as to limit exposure for those under vaccination age
• Hand-washing hygiene and rigorous cleaning recommendations are still in place, as well as maximum social distancing when possible for school activities.
• As of August 11, CA Governor Newsome stated that teachers in CA be fully vaccinated or submit to weekly COVID-19 testing.
• CA has 6.1 million students and 550,000 teachers (about 90% of teachers are vaccinated so far)

Links/Resources:

Thank you for listening! We welcome your questions regarding the new school year, guidelines, and protocols, so send them in!

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