COVID-19 School District and Board Guidance
During this unprecedented national health emergency, school districts face a myriad of issues in terms of dealing with school governance and operations. IASB has compiled a variety of guidance resources to assist boards of education as they confront the challenges of providing quality public education oppertunities during a worldwide pandemic.
TRO Information and Updates for School Boards
On Friday, February 4, Judge Raylene Grischow issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against all defendants — including the named school districts, ISBE, IDPH, and Governor JB Pritzker — in both the student and employment cases before the Sangamon County Circuit Court.
Learn more about the TRO, the implications for school districts, and what boards of education can do.
Resources for School Districts
Statewide and local data on COVID-19 cases, positivity rates, tests administered, and deaths is available by following this link, https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19/data.html.
Illinois metrics on hospital admissions and patients, daily case counts, and vaccination numbers are available by following this link, https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19/data/statewide-metrics.html.
School and youth COVID data, including transmission rates, vaccinations, cases, and emergency visits are available by following this link, https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19/data/school-and-youth-data.html?county=Illinois.
Resetting for the New Year and Key Considerations for School Boards
In April of 2021, IASB compiled a list of discussion items, questions, and board activities to guide the strategic thinking and processes for boards to learn, prioritize, monitor, and evaluate plans for returning to classroom for the start of the 2021-2022 school year. The document is intended to provide a framework for board discussions around articulating a clear vision and purpose for their district, connecting with the community on priority issues, monitoring progress toward goals, and maintaining productive relationships with their administration and staff.A suggested timeline for discussing key considerations — academic, social and emotional/mental health, fiscal and operational, and governance and policy — begins this May.
Download Return to School: Resetting for the New Year and Key Considerations for School Boards (April 2021)
Read IASB Letter to Governor and State Superintendent Calling for Local Control in COVID Mitigation Decision-Making (July 2021)
State Guidance and Resource Links
-
Illinois Department of Public Health: Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools (July 5, 2022)
Additional Resources
-
2022: Staying in school in-person, U.S. Department of Education (January 2022)
-
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Operational Information for Schools