Schools and COVID Information
COVID-19: RETURN TO SCHOOL RESOURCES
(Redirect to UW Madison Waisman Center)On November 10, Governor Evers issued Executive Order #94(link is external) which lists new measures to stop the spread of COVID-19. This order advises Wisconsinites to stay home, use extra precautions if they have to leave their home, and adopt good public health practices. Businesses are also encouraged to take further steps to protect workers, customers, and the surrounding community. Go to https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/community.htm#-holidays for help, hints and colorful handouts on staying safe as we approach the holidays.
State and National Guidance and Resources
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS)
Guidelines for the Prevention, Investigation, and Control of COVID-19 Outbreaks in K-12 Schools in Wisconsin (8/19/20)
COVID-19 Decision Tool for Individuals and Families (8/19/20) - Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (WI DPI)
Education Forward: Reopening Wisconsin Schools from Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
COVID-19 Special Education Information (PowerPoint slides) from Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (9/15/20)
Arts Education School Operating Considerations from Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (9/15/20)
Supports for Students with Neurodiverse, and Social and Emotional Needs During Covid-19 Resource list (8/20/20)
DiSH Special Session on COVID-19 and Schools recording along with a Q and A document (8/20/20)
Information on COVID-19 From this page you can find information on Special Education and other Instructional Areas
Education Forward: Operating Schools During a Pandemic (8/19/20)
Special Education Updates from WI DPI
Student Services/Prevention and Wellness ADDED recorded webinars–Session 1: When school starts back: Helping students and yourself cope with crisis during a pandemic and Session 2:When school starts back: Supporting grieving students during a pandemic
COVID-19 Information for School Health Services School Nurses and other Health Professionals play a CRUCIAL role in keeping our kids safe - Wisconsin Department of Children and Family Services (DCF) and WI DPI Guidance for Child Care
COVID-19 Letter to District Administrators:
New DHS Guidance, DCF Resources, and Digital Equity (8/19/20) Includes: DHS Guidance on COVID-19 Outbreaks in Schools and DCF guidance documents to help child care providers and local educational agencies as families, schools, and child care providers navigate the reopening of school this fall, (This information can also be found on the DCF website: https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/childcare/families) and Support for digital equity
4K Outreach-COVID-19: Guidance and Considerations (8/17/20) Includes: This document provides information for school districts offering 4K Outreach during 2020-2021 school year. It provides guiding questions and examples of outreach efforts that are acceptable during this time of COVID-19. These are offered to support districts in developing outreach activities that best meet the unique needs of their individual districts and communities.
EARLY LEARNING INFORMATION-COVID-19 (8/24/20) Includes: Link to the running updates for Early Learning information for DPI. The above information is included in this document. - United States Department of Education and the Office of Special Education Programs
IDEA Dispute Resolution Q&A during COVID-19 (Part B)
IDEA Dispute Resolution Q&A during COVID-19 (Part C)
COVID-19 Monthly Updates (August available 8.27)
COVID-19 Resources for Supporting Students with Disabilities from the National Center for Systemic Improvement (NCSI)
Coronavirus Disease updates from Early Childhood Technical Assistance (ECTA) Center - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Strategies for Protecting K-12 School Staff from COVID-19 (updated 8.20.20)
Back to School Planning: Checklists to Guide Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers Includes: Preparing for At-Home Learning and and Preparing for In-Person Classes
Schools and Childcare Programs (updated 8.21.20)
Includes: Decision-Making Tool for Parents and Caregivers, Checklist for Families; Helping Children Cope; Support for Teens and Young Adults
Toolkit for K-12 Schools (updated 8.21.20)
Includes: Preparing for a Safe Return; Cloth Face Coverings; Screening; Considerations for schools (foundational document); Posters and Graphics - National Association of School Nurses
NEW videos for Return to School on Wearing Cloth Face Coverings, Washing your Hands, and Staying Home When you are Sick in Spanish and English (9.3.20)
Return to School Post COVID-19 Closure Considerations for Students with Disabilities and Special Healthcare Needs - American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
NEW 9.4.20—Caring for Children and Youth With Special Health Care Needs During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Children and COVID-19: State-level Data Report
COVID-19 Planning Considerations: Guidance for School Re-entry
Pediatricians, Educators and Superintendents Urge a Safe Return to School This Fall
Healthychildren.org Guidance in English
Healthychildren.org Guidance in Spanish - Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL)
Reunite, Renew and Thrive: SEL Roadmap for Reopening School - National Education Association
All Hands on Deck: Initial Guidance Regarding Reopening School Buildings
Returning Safely to In-Person Instructions: What Educators Need to Know - Public Health Madison and Dane County
K-12 School Requirements during COVID-19 - National Down Syndrome Congress
Back to School or Not? Understanding Your Options Webinar - Federation for Children with Special Needs
Fall Schools Reopening - American Occupational Therapists Association (AOTA)
Back to School Resources During COVID-19
Tips for Families: Helping Children and Adolescents Transition Back to School (.pdf) - National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI)
Reopening Early Childhood Programs
Having to Stay at Home
Children: Stress and Challenging Behavior - Center on Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)
Returning to School During and After Crisis Practice Guides
FULL LIST: District Reopening Plans for upcoming school year from nbc15.com
MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - Wisconsin school districts continue working to craft reopening plans amid the coronavirus pandemic. Here’s a full list by county of where districts stand in those decisions. These plans are subject to change and this list will be updated as we learn of those changes.
Resources for Families to Support Learning from Home During COVID-19
- Using Parental Controls for TV and Digital Video: Toddlers through Teens from Digital Literacy, Inclusion and Safety Council (DLISC)
- CDC’s Operating schools during COVID-19: CDC’s Considerations was updated on October 29, 2020
- “Psychological PPE”: Promote Health Care Workforce Mental Health and Well-Being from Institute for Healthcare Improvement
- Education Department Addresses Special Ed Concerns Related To COVID-19 from Disability Scoop
- Parents: Supporting Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic Online Modules from Vanderbilt University
- How to Thrive — Not Just Survive — in the Age of the Coronavirus: Focus On 5 Core Principles from Thrive Global
- Q&A: Mental health expert talks emotional well-being, building resiliency for the 2020-21 school year from Community Impact Newsletter
- As schools reopen, addressing COVID-19-related trauma and mental health issues will take more than mental health services from Child Trends
- August Family Engagement from WI FACETS Articles on Other Health Impairments and Education during COVID-19; At-Home Learning Strategies; Dispute Resolution During the Pandemic and more.
- At-home Learning Resources for the COVID-19 Outbreak from FamilyEducation
- School’s Out: A Parents’ Guide for Meeting the Challenge During the COVID-19 Pandemic from NYU Langone Health
- Preparing to Learn from Home from Victoria State Government (Australia)
- ‘This is hell’: Parents and kids hate online learning, but they could face more of it from USA Today
- “When Should My Child Go Back to School?” is the topic discussed by a school nurse and a child neurologist in an educational series sponsored by the Child Neurology Foundation and the American Academy of Pediatrics
- Parent Webinar Series including Preparing Yourself, Your Family and Your Home for Online Learning; The ABC’s of K-12 Online Learning for Students with Disabilities; Practical Tips and Tools for Online Learning from National Down Syndrome Congress
- Florida Back-to-School Checklist (English) from Florida AAP
- Florida Back-to-School Checklist (Spanish) from Florida AAP
- A LOT of resources to help support students with ASD learning from home
https://sites.google.com/view/studentswithasdathome/home - Working and Learning from Home from the American Academy of Pediatricians
- Balancing Complex Care Giving and Educating Children from Complex Child
- Online Teaching Resources for Children and Families from Wide Open School (you can select that you are a family and find resources in a number of categories including Special Needs)
- Tips for Families in Supporting Their Children with Disabilities in Virtual Formats (English and Spanish) from the Florida Inclusion Network
- COVID-19 page which includes Educational Resources for teaching at home from the National Down Syndrome Society
- Cloth Face Coverings in School: What Families Need to Know from WI DHS
- Special Education and IEPs (Live June 3, 2020) Recording available on YouTube
- Anxiety: Ideas to help our kids be calm(er) and (more) focused (Live May 20, 2020). Recording available on YouTube
- What we can learn from a virtual school (Live May 13, 2020). Recording available on YouTube
- Learning from home and Neurodiversity (Live May 6. 2020). Recording available on YouTube
- Handout on Anxiety and Autism–helpful tips from Martha Walter who presented at the CoP ASD/DD in March. (I think some of us might be experiencing some anxiety recently). Presentations from the CoP ASD/DD Anxiety and Autism gathering are available
School and Special Education
If you have questions about your child’s school services or special education; call 800-532-3321, email cyshcn@waisman.wisc.edu or contact one of these organizations for more information:
- CESAs (Cooperative Educational Service Agencies) serve educational needs in all areas of Wisconsin by serving as a link between child’s school districts and between school districts and the state. CESAs provide education and training for parents and professionals related to educational needs and advocacy within the education evnironment. They may also facilitate communication and cooperation among all public and private schools, agencies, and organizations that provide services to students in the state.
- WI FACETS (Family Assistance Center for Education, Transition, & Support) helps parents build partnership through information and training with professionals who provide educational services to their child.
- WSPEI (Wisconsin Statewide Parent-Educator Initiative) Creates partnership between parents and educators for students with disabilities.
- WSEMS (Wisconsin Special Education Mediation System) provides mediators free-of-charge to help parents and school districts to resolve disputes regarding special education.
- Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is a state agency that advances public education in Wisconsin.
For more information about what you can expect after your child leaves the education system, please visit the Transitions page.