Coronavirus Information for Schools

AWSA Events:

AWSA has and will continue to adjust our professional learning opportunities to fit members' needs during this health emergency. You can find information on AWSA academies, conferences, and coaching in the Professional Learning Catalog or upcoming events page of the website.

AWSA Forums

AWSA, along with education leaders from around the state, will begin posting templates and plans for their schools and districts in the AWSA Member Forums. We encourage AWSA members to look over these plans, post their own, and/or ask any questions they may have.

All AWSA members have access to the Member Forums. If you are having trouble joining or posting in any of our Forums, please contact our Communications and Technology Coordinator Jena Sebald at [email protected].

Communication Support/Templates

The Donovan Group, which provides communication support to AWSA members, has created a webpage for information and guidance on how you can best communicate with parents, staff, students, and community members including great communication templates.

They have also created the Communication Plan for Reopening Schools. The plan includes a month by month roadmap of recommended communication tactics and a wealth of templates for your use. This brief video provides an overview of how to take advantage of the resources in this new resource.

This page will continue to be updated as more information becomes available regarding confirmed U.S. cases of coronavirus. If you have any further questions we encourage you to contact the Donovan Group at 414-409-7225 or at [email protected].

Announcements

NEW! (5/12/21) DHS Letter for Wisconsin School Administrators regarding COVID-19
(4/26/21) DHS Webinar for Public Health and School Stakeholders

The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and the Department of Health Services (DHS) COVID-19 Response Team (CRT) invite you to a joint webinar for local public health and school stakeholders on Thursday, April 29, from 5-6 p.m. This webinar is an opportunity to hear State experts provide updates on the implications of COVID-19 and review current guidance for schools.

(4/23/21) Deputy State Superintendent Mike Thompson 4/23 COVID-19 Updates Including:
(4/22/21) Deputy State Superintendent Mike Thompson 4/22 COVID-19 Updates Including:
(4/14/21) Deputy State Superintendent Mike Thompson 4/14 COVID-19 Updates Including:
(3/19/21) CDC Releases New Guidance on Distancing in Schools
(3/12/21) American Rescue Plan Act - DPI Summary
The DPI has released a summary of school related provisions found in the American Rescue Plan Act.
(3/9/21) The CDC’s ventilation in schools and childcare programs page provides guidance for how to improve ventilation in a school setting and links to several other more detailed resources, including cost estimates for different ventilation interventions.
(2/17/21) Educators Become Eligible for Vaccinations March 1
(2/17/21) Deputy State Superintendent Mike Thompson 2/17 COVID-19 Updates Including:

ESSER II Funds

(2/3/21) Deputy State Superintendent Mike Thompson 2/3 COVID-19 Updates Including:
(1/8/21) Deputy State Superintendent Mike Thompson 1/8 COVID-19 Updates Including:

Stimulus, Academic Testing, Vaccines

(12/2/20) Deputy State Superintendent Mike Thompson 12/20 COVID-19 Updates Including:

PI 34 Emergency Rule in Effect

(11/20/20) Deputy State Superintendent Mike Thompson 11/20 COVID-19 Updates Including:
(9/30/20) The Department of Health Services launched new data designed to help Wisconsinites better understand how Covid-19 is impacting the state. The new data comes in four areas: a) Local Data, b) Mitigation Strategies for Communities (updated by 4 pm every Wednesday), c) Percent Positive, and, d) Cases Among School-Age Children
(9/22/20) Governor Evers Issues New Emergency Order
(9/22/20) Tony Evers extends expiring statewide mask order another 60 days, pushing mandate to Nov. 21
(9/11/20) Deputy State Superintendent Mike Thompson 9/11/20 COVID-19 Updates Including:
(9/10/20) Deputy State Superintendent Mike Thompson 9/10/20 COVID-19 Updates Including:
(9/8/20) US Department of Education Will Not Waive Testing Mandates This Year. On September 3, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos informed states that they should not count on getting the same waivers from federal testing mandates for this school year that they got last spring as the pandemic shut down schools.
(8/25/20) Recording of WASDA/DHS Outbreak Guidance Meeting
(8/24/20) Deputy State Superintendent Mike Thompson 8/24/20 COVID-19 Updates Including:

Regulatory Flexibility Framework Update

(8/19/20) DHS Guidance on COVID-19 Outbreaks in Schools
(8/17/20) Answer to Frequently Asked Question Related to Governor's Order on Face Coverings
On July 30, the Governor issued an order mandating face coverings. Under exceptions, the order reads “vi. While a single individual is giving a religious, political, media, educational, artistic, cultural, musical, or theatrical presentation for an audience, the single speaker may remove the face covering when actively speaking. While the face covering is removed, the speaker must remain at least 6 feet away from all other individuals at all times.”
Question: Does this mean a teacher is NOT required to wear a mask while teaching?
Answer: Yes. This exception includes teachers leading a lesson.
(8/12/20) Mike Thompson has released the following message concerning ESSER and Guidance Updates
(8/7/20) DPI Releases COVID Regulatory Flexibility Application/Information
(8/6/20) Deputy State Superintendent Mike Thompson 8/6/20 COVID-19 Updates Including:

Announcement Archive (Prior to 5/30/20)

Links to Resources and Guidance

Staffing Strategies for Hybrid Learning
In many schools, at some point this year, students will be attending in-person while others are attending virtually. Educators are working to find staffing strategies to provide and sustain high-quality hybrid learning options. We are asking you to share staffing strategies that are working for you. The strategies that members share can be found on the AWSA website here.
What Are Districts Doing This Fall?
What are schools doing around the nation?

A recording of AWSA's "Helping Students and Staff Cope with Crisis and Loss During the COVID-19 Pandemic" is available online.
How Can Student Teachers Help School in the COVID Era? AACTE, which is the national organization for colleges of education, released these two reports that identify how student teachers and teacher candidates can help support schools during COVID.
AWSA's communication partner, the Donovan Group, has created the Communication Plan for Reopening Schools. The plan includes a month by month roadmap of recommended communication tactics and a wealth of templates for your use. This brief video provides an overview of how to take advantage of the resources in this new resource.
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Resources

Guidance

Forward Education Roadmap
Infection Control
Transportation
Food Service

COVID Information Page
Submit your own questions about COVID-19 to the DPI

Wisconsin Department of Health Services COVID-19 Information
Extra-Curricular Guidance

WIAA

Policy and Human Resources Information from WASB
CDC Resources

Promotional Health
Guidance for School Settings
Guidance for Administrators of US Childcare Program
Mitigation Strategies
IDEA related Q&A

Templates for families have been provided the Donovan Group (see other communication resources here)
Guidance from the National Association of School Psychologists about talking to children and families
Education Week Coverage of Coronavirus and Schools
If you are looking for assistance in a particular area please use your AWSA resources:

For legal issues contact AWSA's Attorney Malina Piontek
For communication support and resources contact AWSA's partner, the Donovan Group
For practical resources and questions post a question to an AWSA Forum.
If you don't receive the resources or answer you need please complete this support form.

Resource Archive