DHS Supports CDC Update to COVID-19 Guidance for K-12 Schools and Early Care and Education Programs
On August 11, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated the Operational Guidance for K-12 Schools and Early Care and Education Programs to Support Safe In-Person Learning. After reviewing the guidance, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) supports these updates and encourages school district administrators to use this guidance as they continue working with local public health to ensure the health and safety of students, teachers, and staff.
Each school or school district is encouraged to closely monitor the COVID-19 Community Levels in their county, along with vaccination rates, illness among students, teachers, and staff, outbreaks, and the age of students served by the school, and adjust their policies as necessary.
Schools continue to play an important role in providing parents and guardians with information to protect the health of their children and families. DHS encourages schools and ECE programs to continue notifying parents/guardians of a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19 in their child’s classroom or when there is a confirmed or suspected facility-wide COVID-19 outbreak. DHS has updated its COVID-19 Case Notification Information for Schools and ECE Programs, which will be added to the DHS website. DHS has also released a new one-page resource describing strategies school and ECE program administrators can use to keep students safe and in school.
CDC's updated guidance replaces previous DHS guidance for K-12 schools and early care and education programs. DHS is currently working to update its website and materials to reflect these changes. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction also stated its support of these new CDC guidelines in its updated COVID-19 Infection Control and Mitigation Measures for Wisconsin Schools 2022/2023.
DHS will continue to offer support programs for schools and early care and education settings as the school year begins, including supporting access to mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinics, the K-12 COVID-19 testing program, and access to the DHS stockpile of personal protective equipment (PPE) that includes child-size masks.
Thank you to all education administrators, educators, and school staff statewide for continuing to be critical partners in protecting the health and wellbeing of students and staff across Wisconsin.
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