Coronavirus Resources For Charter Schools

Health & Safety

• In March 2021, the U.S. Department of Education hosted a virtual Safe School Reopening Summit to support schools working to reopen buildings quickly and safely.
• The CDC and U.S. Department of Education’s COVID-19 Handbook, Volume 1: Strategies for Safely Reopening Elementary and Secondary Schools focuses on health and safety measures. (updated April 2021)
• The CDC and U.S. Department of Education released the COVID-19 Handbook, Volume 2: Roadmap to Reopening Safely and Meeting All Students’ Needs to provide additional strategies to support the safe reopening of school buildings. (April 2021)
• The CDC provided updated guidance in July 2021
• The American Academy of Pediatrics updated their guidance in July 2021

Funding Resources

• The U.S. Department of Education published an Interim Final Rule on the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act and a template for submission of State plans. See this memo from our partners at Penn Hill Group for more information. (April 2021)
• USDA extended School Nutrition Flexibility through June 2022 to allow schools to serve meals in non-group settings at flexible meal times while maintaining social distancing consistent with federal recommendations.   
• The Emergency Broadband Benefit is a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program to help families afford internet service during the pandemic. Families can navigate the sign-up process using this toolkit and eligibility materials and a Companies Near Me tool to identify participating providers.

Teaching Supports

• The National Summer Learning & Enrichment Collaborative is a professional learning community that brings together key stakeholders to help states plan to use the American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding for summer programs. 
• FutureEd’s new Covid Relief Playbook: Smart Strategies for Investing Federal Funding highlights evidence-based practices to improve instructional quality, school climate, student attendance, or student achievement.

School Reopening

Where can I find information about reopening schools?

• From #NCSCVirtual: Reopening Schools in a Time of Uncertainty: Insights for School Leaders Watch for Free
• The American Academy of Pediatrics released their Guidance for School Re-Entry.
• The CDC created a COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit for school leaders to communicate with their staff about vaccination
• The CDC's Teachers, School Staff, and Childcare Workers: How to Get Vaccinated webpage has the latest information on how to get vaccinated
• The Brooklyn Laboratory School released a Back to School Facilities Toolkit.
• The Safe School Six from the National Charter Schools Institute shares six tips to prepare school buildings for students' return.
• The Building Owners and Managers Association International released guidance on how to implement building safety and emergency evacuation procedures promoting social distancing and preventing exposure.
• Penn Hill Group produced a memo about the U.S. Department of Education's guidance on statewide assessments and accountability

Federal Resources

The National Alliance and Bellwether Education Partners produced What Charter Schools Need to Know: Federal COVID-19 Response Legislation and Charter Schools.

What resources are available from the federal government?

• The Affordable Connectivity Program provides eligible households with discounts on broadband service and a computer or tablet.
• The Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds allows several education-related expenditures, including programs that address educational disparities, premium pay for essential school employees, and more.
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture built a webpage compiling all available information about their nutrition programs. Waivers to continue providing free meals to all children under 18 are extended through September 30, 2021.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released guidelines for reopening schools.
• The Department of Education built a webpage dedicated to coronavirus. They also answered questions on how to provide services to children with disabilities and offered an updated guidance document.
• The National Charter School Resource Center has created a webpage of resources to support Charter School Programs grantees during the COVID-19 pandemic
• The Small Business Administration's COVID-19 page has information about its programs, including debt relief.

Educational Equity

• Center for Learner Equity, The Rising Tide that Lifts All Boats: Investing Stimulus Dollars with an Equity Focus, for specific strategies that districts, schools, and educators can consider to optimize the positive impact of stimulus dollars on students, especially students with disabilities.   
• SchoolHouse Connection shares best practices and ideas for use of American Rescue Plan K-12 Education Funds to Identify and Support Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness.

Where can I find resources to help develop plans to educate students with disabilities?

• A coalition including the National Center for Special Education in Charter Schools and the Center on Reinventing Public Education is curating and developing special education resources for educators to serve students who learn differently during this time of challenge.
• The National Center for Special Education in Charter Schools shares resources on how to better serve students with disabilities.
• The Department of Education answered questions on how to provide services to children with disabilities. On March 21, the Department issued updated guidance clarifying that while federal law mandates that students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in everything schools provide, including online learning, districts have flexibility in reaching that goal and that federal law should not be used to prevent schools from offering online learning.

How can I ensure school closures do not increase educational inequities?

• The Education Trust focuses on educational equity and how to help students during school closures.
• School House Connection has put together a resource guide for schools to proactively and intentionally incorporate outreach to homeless families and unaccompanied youth.
• The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness offers an FAQ on supporting students experiencing homelessness. 
• The American Bar Association has a list of at-home and learning resources for foster youth.

How can I protect my students' privacy and civil rights in situations that affect the health or safety of students or other individuals?

• The Department of Education offers guidance about the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and COVID-19.
• The Department of Education produced a fact sheet about protecting students' civil rights during COVID-19. 

What can I do to ensure my students are getting fed? 

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture built a webpage compiling all available information about their nutrition programs.
• The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) and The School Superintendents Association released a new resource for school superintendents about the two options — the Summer Food Service Program and the Seamless Summer Option —available for schools to receive funding to serve meals and snacks when schools are closed.
• Hoonuit built a school meal finder tool. Find meal sites closest to you during school closures here.

Distance Learning

Charter-Specific Resources

• Success Academy shared their Remote Learning Framework—you can view the webinar here and the slides here.
• KIPP's COVID-19 Resource Bank helps families and teachers manage remote learning and support students.
• Uncommon Schools made their K-8 Remote Learning and 9-12 Remote Learning sites free and open to the public.
• The National Alliance partnered with DonorsChoose.org to develop a toolkit to support charter school classrooms.

Additional Resources

• Teach For America has created a list of free resources developed for educators engaging in distance learning.
• Instruction Partners has studied early distance learning plans from districts and provides guidance for decision-makers in what is and isn’t working. They also have Grab and Go Instructional Materials which will be updated weekly.
• The U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences’ 10 Regional Educational Laboratories collaborated to produce a series of evidence-based resources and guidance about teaching and learning in a remote environment.
• entangled.solutions built a distance learning playbook to address the broad needs of a diverse student population—including best practices for supporting English learners.
• Code.org allows students to learn how to code—even without a computer. Learn more here.
• Common Sense Media is leading an initiative at WideOpenSchool.org for educators and families with material from companies including Scholastic, Khan Academy, PBS, and Sesame Workshop.
• The Barbara Bush Foundation put together a home school toolkit.
• Learning Heroes provides parents with tools to teach at home.
• The National Summer Learning Association has compiled a list of resources programs and families. Learn more here.
• The team at We Are Teachers compiled a list of free resources for teaching virtually.
• The National School Choice Week team has compiled resources for schools shifting online.
• Emerson Collective has provided a list of online learning resources to support students here.
• The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) has a quick start guide to implementing homeschool. Watch an HSLDA consultant share tips.
• Girls Rising has created a Girls Rising Family Guide to support families and educators in discussing resilience in the face of challenge.

Webinars

Other Information

Where else can I go for more information? 

• Bellwether Education Partners have a new resource about what local educational agencies, state education agencies, and advocates should know about the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund.
• The PIE Network will regularly update the resources listed on this page for Districts, Schools, & Educators and Families.
• Charter School Capital is hosting a webinar series on COVID-19 featuring expert presenters. 
• Save the Children provides resources to support parents, caregivers, teachers, and school administrators.
• KIPP created an open-source repository of resources, templates, guidelines to help support staff, students, and families. 
• ExcelinEd has a map and database with state-by-state updates on actions education systems have taken in response to COVID-19.
• Chiefs for Change have listed resources for education system leaders. 
• Education Week maps all school closures by state. 
• The Charter School Facility Center at the National Alliance hosted a webinar about how the coronavirus is impacting construction for charter school facilities. You can watch the recording online below.