This CDC guidance is meant to supplement-not replace-any federal, state, tribal, local, or territorial health and safety laws, rules, and regulations with which schools must comply. This guidance considers current scientific evidenceР’В and lessons learned from schools implementing COVID-19 prevention strategies. This guidance emphasizes implementing layered prevention strategies (using multiple prevention strategies together) to protect students, teachers, staff, and other members of their households, and to support in-person learning. This updated version of COVID-19 guidance for school administrators outlines strategies for K-12 schools to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and maintain safe operations.

Appendix 2: Testing Strategies for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools.

Section 2: Additional Considerations for K-12 Schools.

Section 1: Prevention Strategies to Reduce Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Schools.

COVID-19 Prevention Strategies Most Important for Safe In-Person Learning in K-12 Schools.

Added language on safety and health protections for workers in K-12 schools.

In general, people do not need to wear masks when outdoors.

Updated to align with current mask guidance.

Updated to align with guidance for fully vaccinated people.

For example, because of the importance of in-person learning, schools where not everyone is fully vaccinated should implement physical distancing to the extent possible within their structures (in addition to masking and other prevention strategies), but should not exclude students from in-person learning to keep a minimum distance requirement.

Added language on the importance of offering in-person learning, regardless of whether all of the prevention strategies can be implemented at the school.Revised to emphasize the COVID-19 prevention strategies most important for in-person learning for K-12 schools.Updated to emphasize the need for localities to monitor community transmission, vaccination coverage, screening testing, and occurrence of outbreaks to guide decisions on the level of layered prevention strategies.

Added information on offering and promoting COVID-19 vaccination.Localities should monitor community transmission, vaccination coverage, screening testing, and occurrence of outbreaks to guide decisions on the level of layered prevention strategies (e.g., physical distancing, screening testing).This guidance emphasizes implementing layered prevention strategies to protect students, teachers, staff, visitors, and other members of their households and support in-person learning.Students, teachers, and staff should stay home when they have signs of any infectious illness and be referred to their healthcare provider for testing and care.Screening testing, ventilation, handwashing and respiratory etiquette, staying home when sick and getting tested, contact tracing in combination with quarantine and isolation, and cleaning and disinfection are also important layers of prevention to keep schools safe.When it is not possible to maintain a physical distance of at least 3 feet, such as when schools cannot fully re-open while maintaining these distances, it is especially important to layer multiple prevention strategies, such as screening testing. In addition to universal indoor masking, CDC recommends schools maintain at least 3 feet of physical distance between students within classrooms to reduce transmission risk.For details see CDCРІР‚в„ўs page on Quarantine and Isolation. New CDC guidance has reduced the recommended time for isolation and quarantine periods to five days.CDC recommends universal indoor masking by all * students (ages 2 years and older), staff, teachers, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status.Vaccination is the leading public health prevention strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic.Р’В Promoting vaccination can help schools safely return toР’В in-person learningР’В as well as extracurricular activities and sports.

Students benefit from in-person learning, and safely returning to in-person instruction continues to be a priority.

Status about change in person