Guidance, Resources in School Year 2021-22

Guidance Documents, FAQs

• One-pager: 2021-22 updates for reopening schools (en español/Spanish, an kreyòl ayisyen/Haitian Creole) - Important information for schools and families for the 2021-22 school year. Developed by DDOE and DPH. 
• Infographic: Responding to positive COVID-19 tests and close contacts in K-12 school settings (en español/Spanish, an kreyòl ayisyen/Haitian Creole) - Defines close contacts in school settings as well as response protocol based on vaccination status. 
• Fall 2021 school guidance and recommendations - Required and recommended mitigation strategies for Delaware public and private schools. May be continually updated based on CDC guidance.  
• Antigen Testing in Schools FAQs - Guidance on COVID-19 antigen testing for Delaware districts, charter, private and parochial schools. Primarily meant for use by school nurses, COVID-19 coordinators and school personnel.

COVID-19 Antigen Testing

• COVID-19 testing program – Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) in partnership with Quidel is providing asymptomatic COVID-19 screening services to participating school districts. Students and staff who opt-in to the COVID-19 screening program will receive rapid COVID-19 antigen testing. Program covers all staffing, communication, costs and more.
• Antigen Testing in Schools FAQs - Guidance on COVID-19 antigen testing for Delaware districts, charter, private and parochial schools. Primarily meant for use by school nurses, COVID-19 coordinators and school personnel.

COVID-19 Vaccinations, Testing

• School-based vaccine clinics - Information on vaccine clinics offered at Delaware districts and charter schools.
• Find all Delaware vaccination locations - Information on COVID-19 vaccinations and where to obtain a vaccine in Delaware.
• Find a COVID-19 test location - Find COVID-19 testing locations in Delaware. 

Instructional Resources

• Digital Delaware - Current digital and online instructional resources, professional development and family resources for educators to best support students in all learning environments. 
• Summer Accelerated Learning - Summer resources to support learning acceleration for students in literacy and mathematics.
• Classroom Ready Plan - Communicates to districts and charter schools a clear, cohesive vision and approach for accelerating student learning in the for the 2021-2022 school year. Includes resources, tools, and spending priorities. 
• Delaware Tier 1 Planning Guide - This resource is intended to support districts and charters in prioritizing Tier 1 instruction for the 21-22 school year as they begin to implement the MTSS framework.
• Instruction Partners Unfinished Learning Toolkit - Evidence-based, content specific guidance to support unfinished learning.
• Instruction Partners Guidelines for Effective Distance Learning Practices - Actionable strategies for maintaining high content and pedagogy expectations, as well as ensuring all students have access to high-quality instruction.
• Student Achievement Partners Priority Instructional Content - Names instructional content priorities in mathematics (K-8, high school) and ELA/literacy (K-12) still relevant for the 2021-22 academic year. Provides guidance for the field about the content priorities by leveraging the structure and emphases of college- and career-ready mathematics and ELA/literacy standards.
• Delaware Professional Learning Partner Guide - Identifies partner organizations who have the expertise and ability to provide the professional learning (PL) and coaching needed to help Delaware educators provide curriculum-aligned instruction in every classroom, every day. Details are included in this presentation.
• CCSSO Academic Guidance - Designed to support states and school systems in addressing the critical set of challenges for teaching and learning in the 2021-2022 school year. Consists of customizable guidance and vetted resources designed to:
  • Support school systems as they thoughtfully plan for a strong launch and school year in a rapidly shifting environment
  • Prioritize equity for all learners
• EdReports Enhanced Reports with Key Technology Information - Information collected from publishers to empower local schools and districts with evidence to select materials that will work best for them given their technological capabilities and instructional vision.
• Collaborative for Student Success - Publishers whose materials are rated green on EdReports post information about their adaptations, programs, and resources being developed to meet the COVID context.
• Reopening school considerations amid Coronavirus, social injustices - Developed collaboratively with Delaware students, educators and caregivers to best address student needs as schools begin instruction. Includes best practices in all educational settings and circumstances. Additionally highlights first-person narratives from educators and families.
• Driver Education Guidance Document - Guidance for driver education in the 2020-21 school year. Includes protocols, driving range options and more.

Special Education Resources

• Special education guidance - Federal guidance to assist K-12 schools in meeting their obligations under IDEA and other federal civil rights laws during COVID-19.
• A successful launch of the 2020-21 school year - Information on recovery efforts and free and appropriate education (FAPE) for students with disabilities during the reopening of school buildings.
• LRE, UDL guidance - Guidance issued by the National Association of State Directors of Special Education on least restrictive environment (LRE) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in the wake of COVID-19.
• Distance learning, IDEA requirements - Clarification from the U.S. Department of Education on distance learning and IDEA requirements during COVID-19.
• COVID-related guidance on IDEA Part B Provision of FAPE - U.S. Department of Education guidance on IDEA Part B during COVID-19.
• Additional guidance on IDEA and FAPE - DDOE-issued guidance document to accompany U.S. Department of Education’s guidance on IDEA and FAPE during COVID-19.
• Fact sheet: Protecting the civil rights of students - Information on protecting all students’ civil rights during COVID-19.
• FAQS: Providing services to children with disabilities during Coronavirus outbreak - Answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about services for students with disabilities during COVID-19. Issued by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Mitigation strategies: Working with students with special needs - Answers frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to students with disabilities or special healthcare needs who are unable to wear face coverings or practice social distancing.
• Materials for students who are blind, visually impaired, print disabled - Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM) and Division of the Visually Impaired (DVI) support for students who are blind, visually impaired or print disabled.
• DDOE response to COVID-19 Pandemic - DDOE response regarding COVID-19 Pandemic. Issued April 17, 2020.

Educator Support

• Delaware Evaluation System guidance - Information on summative evaluations, observations, Component 5, alternative evaluations and more for the 2020-21 school year.
• Delaware License and Certification guidance - Information on licensing and certification for Delaware educators.
• DPAS-II look-for guidance - Provides priorities, practices and sample evidence/artifacts that may be seen in a remote learning environment.
• Educator preparation guidance during COVID - Guidelines for educator preparation during the 2020-21 school year.

Health Resources

• Infographic: Responding to positive COVID-19 tests and close contacts - Defines close contacts in school settings as well as response protocol based on vaccination status. 
• COVID-19 testing program – Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) in partnership with Quidel is providing asymptomatic COVID-19 screening services to participating school districts. Students and staff who opt-in to the COVID-19 screening program will receive rapid COVID-19 antigen testing. Program covers all staffing, communication, costs and more.
• Antigen Testing in Schools FAQs - Guidance on COVID-19 antigen testing for Delaware districts, charter, private and parochial schools. Primarily meant for use by school nurses, COVID-19 coordinators and school personnel.
• One-pager: 2021-22 updates for reopening schools - Important information for schools and families for the 2021-22 school year. Developed by DDOE and DPH. 
• Supporting student, staff socio-emotional and behavioral health needs - Assists districts and charters in assessing, planning and implementing strategies to support student and staff wellbeing and mental health when reopening.
• School health return-to-school additional guidance - Provides supplemental information for school nurses for reopening. (Note to School Nurses: Please refer back to this webpage periodically for updates and/or additional information.)
• Considerations for students with special healthcare needs - Supplements information found in the Returning to School guidance and school health return-to-school additional guidance. Primarily for use by school nurses collaborating with school personnel providing care for students with special healthcare needs.
• Mitigation strategies: Working with students with special needs - Answers frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to students with disabilities or special healthcare needs who are unable to wear face coverings or practice social distancing.
• Exercise recommendations for students post-positive COVID-19 - Provides a sample exercise challenge intended to promote health and safety for students following a COVID-19 illness as well as encourages communication between homes and schools.

Communication Resources

• Additional COVID-19 communication resources for schools - Offers additional COVID-19-related video and print resources for schools to use when communicating with students and families. Covers mask requirements, social distancing and more.

Early Childhood Provider Information

• Infographic: Responding to positive COVID-19 tests and close contacts in child care settings (en español/Spanish, an kreyòl ayisyen/Haitian Creole) - Defines close contacts in child care settings as well as response protocol based on vaccination status.
• Emergency child care regulations - Emergency regulations issued Monday, Aug. 16, 2021, for all licensed Delaware child care.
• Revised child care guidance - Issued July 19, 2021. Changes previous child care guidance in place due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.  
• ECE Child Care Conference Call - Thursday, Aug. 19
  • Presentation

Additional Support

• School Support Opportunities - A list of non-profit, community and agency support available to Delaware districts and charter schools in the 2020-21 school year.
• Internet resources - Support available to help Delaware families connect to the internet during the 2020-21 school year. Services are continually updated so families should contact providers directly for more information, including potential changes.
• Child care resources - A list of hybrid and remote learning support for families of school-age children. Includes resources for early learners.
• Homeschooling considerations - Answers frequently asked questions about homeschooling in Delaware.
• Emergency assistance to non-public schools (EANS) - Fact sheet on program available to non-public schools that reimburses expenses related to addressing educational disruptions caused by COVID-19.
• Archive: Guidance and Updates (Released Spring/Summer 2020)
• Archive: Spring 2020 Closure Information