CategoryNewsletters

• Track the status of reopening in all 50 states.
• Compare the status of one industry or activity across the country.
• Answer key questions about state school reopening plans.
• Give you the latest stories on other reopening plans and ideas.

Want to know what happened yesterday? Click here.

The next 24 hours

What is changing in the next 24 hours?

• New Jersey (Democratic trifecta): The state is expected to release guidance on July 24 regarding a remote-only learning option for public school students.

• Oregon (Democratic trifecta): Gov. Kate Brown (D) announced the state’s mask requirement will apply to every person five years of age or older starting on July 24. Bars and restaurants will have to stop serving customers at 10 p.m. every night.

Since our last edition

What is open in each state? For a continually updated article on reopening status in all 50 states, click here. For our last edition, click here.

• Idaho (Republican trifecta): Gov. Brad Little (R) announced the state will remain in Phase 4 of reopening for at least two more weeks.

• Maryland (divided government): Maryland Superintendent of Schools Karen Salmon announced that school boards had until Aug. 14 to submit reopening plans to the state board of education. Districts will be allowed to open in-person so long as they follow specific CDC and state health guidelines and meet state benchmarks.

• Michigan (divided government): The Michigan House of Representatives voted 55-49 in favor of a package of four bills related to reopening schools. The bills require school districts to offer in-person instruction to students in elementary school. The bills head to the Senate for consideration. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) has already released her own reopening plan allowing for in-person instruction if the state remains in Phase Four.

• Ohio (Republican trifecta): A statewide mask mandate is taking effect on July 23. The order requires all individuals 10 years and older to wear a mask indoors and outdoors if social distancing isn’t possible. Gov. Mike DeWine (R) previously imposed mask requirements on counties with high numbers of COVID-19 cases.

• South Dakota (Republican trifecta): The South Dakota High School Activities Association board voted unanimously to allow sports practices to begin on Aug. 3 with the first competition scheduled for Aug. 11. Masks are not required at competitions but spectators are recommended to wear them.

Tracking industries: Nursing home visits

All 50 states are reopening in some way. Here, we give the status of one industry or activity across the states. Today’s question: in which states may you visit someone in a nursing home? This does not include end-of-life or other emergency-related visits. Visits limited to family members only, or that are only allowed outdoors, are counted as “visitors allowed” in the chart and map below.

We last looked at nursing home visitation in the July 16th edition of the newsletter. Since then, no new states have allowed or restricted visitation.

This is an in-depth summary of two state plans to reopen public K-12 schools for the 2020-2021 school year.

West Virginia’s Re-entry Toolkit

The West Virginia Department of Education released school reopening guidance on July 8.

West Virginia does not have an official date for public schools to reopen, but Gov. Jim Justice (R) said the state is aiming to re-start on Sept. 8. According to EdWeek, public schools in West Virginia traditionally start the academic year between early and mid-August, with the exact start date varying by district.

On March 13, Gov. Justice closed public schools indefinitely. On March 21, the state announced schools would remain closed through April 17. On April 1, the closure was extended through April 30. Justice ended the public school year on April 21.

Context

West Virginia is a Republican trifecta. The governor is a Republican, and Republicans hold majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. The state became a Republican trifecta in 2017.

The following tables show public education statistics in West Virginia, including a rank comparing it to the other 49 states. Rank one is the highest number of each figure, rank 50 is the lowest. All data comes from the Common Core of Data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics.

Details

District reopening plans

County school boards are free to develop their own schedules and re-entry plans as long as they comply with state requirements. State guidance does not indicate that such plans need to be formal, publicly posted, or submitted to the state, though schools and counties are advised to “Clearly communicate re-entry plans with students, families and school staff. Identify and address concerns related to re-entry.”

In-person, hybrid, and online learning

The reopening plan allows county boards of education to choose between fully in-person, blended, and online schedules depending on the effects of the coronavirus and the needs of students in their districts. Counties are required to offer a fully online curriculum option for families who want such an option. Parents who want to enroll their children in an online program must contact their county’s board of education. The plan also notes, “Districts must be prepared to implement full remote learning should it be required by the Governor.”

Mask requirements

West Virginia’s reopening plan contained the following mask requirements for staff and students:

In-person health recommendations and requirements

Schools and county boards that choose to reopen for in-person and blended instruction are required to implement the following safety precautions:

The plan also includes the following recommendations to limit the spread of the coronavirus:

To view cleaning and hygiene guidelines for schools, students, and staff, click here (page 12).

Transportation and busing requirements and restrictions

West Virginia’s reopening plan contains the following requirements for schools and counties coordinating transportation for in-person and blended learning:

West Virginia recommends schools take the following steps to ensure safe transportation for students:

Wyoming’s Smart Start

The Wyoming Department of Education released public school reopening guidance on July 1. School districts will use the guidance to craft individual reopening plans.

On March 20, Gov. Mark Gordon (R) ordered public schools to close through April 3. Gordon extended the closure three times: March 27 (through April 17), April 3 (through April 30), and April 29 (through May 15). Schools in the state were allowed to reopen beginning May 15 pending approval from local authorities.

Wyoming does not have a statewide date for public schools to reopen. According to EdWeek, public schools in Wyoming traditionally start the academic year in August, with the exact date varying by district.

Context

Details

District reopening plans

The state’s 48 public school districts are responsible for developing reopening plans in accordance with the guidance and for submitting those plans for state approval. Each plan must account for three scenarios: traditional learning, hybrid learning (a mix of in-person and distance learning), and distance-only learning. The plans are due by Aug. 3.

In-person, hybrid, and online learning

Districts are to develop plans that include scenarios for in-person, hybrid, and online-only learning. The state labels these different scenarios as tiers, defined as follows:

Mask requirements

The guidance says that in both Tier I and Tier II, face coverings should be used “to the greatest extent possible” for those attending school in person.

In-person health recommendations and requirements

The guidance recommends that during Tier I and Tier II, physical education classes meet outside if possible and that schools adhere to local health department recommendations regarding recess and other outdoor activities.

The guidance recommends that schools serve students food in classrooms or other designated areas rather than cafeterias. Each district is required to “operate district nutrition services in a way that maximizes social distancing, use of face coverings, and appropriate hygiene measures.”

The guidance recommends that desks be placed six feet apart when possible. It also recommends that districts develop protocols to ensure social distancing in hallways, during arrival and dismissal, and during moments of student movement during the school day.

Transportation and busing requirements and restrictions

The guidance requires each district to transport students “in a way that maximizes social distancing, use of face coverings, and appropriate hygiene measures.” It recommends that students wear face coverings “to the greatest extent possible” when social distancing is not possible.

The guidance recommends that members of the same household are seated together on the bus and that each bus have an area for students that are visibly sick.

Additional activity

In this section, we feature examples of other federal, state, and local government activity, as well as influencers relevant to recovering from the pandemic.

• AMC Theaters announced it was delaying its reopening date to “mid to late August.” Previously, the theater chain had announced reopening dates of both July 15 and July 30.
• Baltimore Mayor Bernard Young ordered restaurants in the city to suspend indoor dining services for two weeks effective July 24 at 5 p.m. The city will also require everyone over the age of 2 to wear a face mask in public.

• Track the status of reopening in all 50 states.
• Compare the status of one industry or activity across the country.
• Answer key questions about state school reopening plans.
• Give you the latest stories on other reopening plans and ideas.

Want to know what happened yesterday? Click here.

The next 24 hours

What is changing in the next 24 hours?

• Ohio (Republican trifecta): On July 22, Gov. Mike DeWine (R) announced that a statewide mask mandate will go into effect the evening of July 23. DeWine previously imposed mask requirements on counties with high numbers of COVID-19 cases. The mandate will require all individuals 10 years and older to wear a mask indoors and outdoors if social distancing isn’t possible.

Since our last edition

What is open in each state? For a continually updated article on reopening status in all 50 states, click here. For our last edition, click here.

• California (Democratic trifecta): EdSource reported that school districts could petition their local county health departments to reopen elementary schools to in-person instruction. The petition would waive Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) July 17 order closing all public schools in the counties on the state’s coronavirus watch list. The waiver provision appeared as a footnote in a document on reopening schools to in-person learning released by the Department of Public Health (DPH) on July 17 but was not included in the “Industry Guidance: Schools” document released by DPH or in a press release from Newsom’s office announcing the closure.

• Colorado (Democratic trifecta): Gov. Jared Polis (D) ordered that bars and restaurants statewide make their last call for alcohol at 10 p.m. The order will last at least 30 days.

• Indiana (Republican trifecta): Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) announced that anyone 8 or older would be required to wear a face mask in indoor public spaces, commercial businesses, transportation services, or in outdoor public spaces where social distancing is not possible. Students in third grade or higher, along with faculty and staff, must wear face masks in school. The requirement takes effect on July 27.

• Kansas (divided government): The Kansas State Board of Education voted 5-5 on Gov. Laura Kelly’s (D) executive order delaying the start of the public school year from August 10 until Sept. 9. The order required board approval before taking effect, so the tie vote effectively cancels the governor’s executive order.

• Louisiana (divided government): Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) announced he will extend Phase Two of the state’s reopening plan through August 7.

• Minnesota (divided government): On July 22, Gov. Tim Walz (D) announced that he will issue a statewide mask mandate effective July 25. The order will require all people except small children and those with documented medical conditions to wear a mask in businesses open to the public.

• Connecticut, New Jersey, New York (Democratic trifectas): Govs. Ned Lamont (D-Conn.), Phil Murphy (D-N.J.), and Andrew Cuomo (D-N.Y.) announced on July 21 that 10 additional states had been added to their joint travel advisory. Travelers from Alaska, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Virginia, and Washington will need to quarantine for 14 days upon arriving in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut. Minnesota was removed from the list, bringing the number of states on it to 31.

Tracking industries: Restaurants

All 50 states are reopening in some way. Here, we give the status of one industry or activity across the states. Today’s question: in which states may you dine in at a restaurant?

We last looked at restaurants in the July 15th edition of the newsletter. Since then, no states have opened or closed dine-in services at restaurants. California and New Jersey remain the only two states that do not allow indoor dining at restaurants.

This is an in-depth summary of two state plans to reopen public K-12 schools for the 2020-2021 school year.

Tennessee’s reopening guidance

The Tennessee Department of Education released school reopening guidance on June 8. The guidance is presented as “a framing document and not an implementation document. It is intended to provide broad questions and considerations for local districts.” The guidance is split into an overview document and several toolkits focused on specific areas that require consideration in crafting a reopening plan.

On March 16, Gov. Bill Lee (R) ordered public schools to close by March 20 and remain closed until March 31. On March 24, the Department of Education extended the closure through April 24. Lee closed schools for the remainder of the academic year on April 15.

Tennessee does not have a statewide date for schools to reopen. According to EdWeek, public schools in Tennessee traditionally start the academic year from late July to early August, with the exact date varying by district.

Context

Details

District reopening plans

Both local districts and individual schools are tasked with developing their own reopening plans. The guidance does not say whether the plans need to be approved by the state or posted publicly.

In-person, hybrid, and online learning

The guidance lays out four different scenarios that schools should prepare for, and recommended several options for how the school could function in each of those scenarios. The scenarios are:

• Scenario One – All students physically in school buildings
  • Traditional return
  • Staggered return
  • Staggered schedules
• Scenario Two – All students participating in virtual and distance education
  • Full-time distance education
  • Self-paced or semi-independent programs
• Scenario Three – Some students in physical buildings and some students virtual
  • Split days
  • Alternating days
  • Physical attendance based on need
• Scenario Four – Cyclical or intermittent physical and virtual education
  • Staff and family choice
  • Emergency or responsive situations only (i.e. – virus resurgence)

Mask requirements

The guidance refers to recommendations released by the Tennessee Department of Health on June 30 for managing COVID-19 in schools. The Department of Health recommended the following for face coverings:

• All staff should wear a cloth face covering at all times while on campus unless medical conditions dictate they cannot.
• All middle and high school students should wear a cloth face covering at all times while in the school building unless the student is unable to remove the covering without assistance.
• All elementary school students should wear a cloth face covering at all times while in the school building unless the student is unable to remove the covering without assistance or is sleeping.
• Preschool children under the age of two should not wear cloth face coverings.
• Young children or elementary school students who continuously play with, suck on, or chew their face covering should be excused from wearing one.

In-person health recommendations and requirements

The guidance offers the following recommendations when schools are operating with students physically in the building:

• Limit the daily movement of students in non-classroom environments for meals or recess and implement one-way hallways.
• Rotate teachers through classrooms and allow students to remain in cohorts together.
• Use non-traditional classroom space to allow for 6-foot distancing.
• Implement plans that allow for social distancing measures during extra-curricular activities (clubs, sports, band, etc.).

Transportation and busing requirements and restrictions

The guidance’s transportation toolkit published as part of the guidance does not include a recommendation or requirement on the use of face coverings on buses. Instead, it asks local districts to consider whether or not drivers and students should wear cloth face coverings and whether the district can provide these coverings.

The toolkit recommends that districts follow CDC guidelines on social distancing between the driver and students. It recommends taping off every other row and allowing only one student per seat. To support contact tracing efforts, the toolkit recommends that districts use assigned seats.

Texas’ SY 20-21 Public Health Planning Guidance

On July 7, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) released a framework for returning students to classrooms in the 2020-2021 school year. The guidance, a mix of requirements and recommendations, covers health and safety procedures for students, teachers, and staff, and provides guidelines for the length of time schools can offer distance learning before reopening classrooms.

The Texas Education Agency released updated guidance on July 17 allowing schools to limit in-person instruction during the first four weeks of the school year. The guidance states that schools can continue to limit in-person instruction for an additional four weeks if the school board votes to do so. Under the original guidelines released on July 7, that transition period had been limited to three weeks. The guidelines state that schools can continue to limit in-person instruction for an additional four weeks if the school board votes to do so.

When the original guidelines were released, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said, “Both as Commissioner and as a public school parent, my number one priority is the health and safety of our students, teachers, and staff. That is why the guidance laid out today will provide flexibility to both parents and districts to make decisions based on the ever-changing conditions of this public health crisis. The state is and remains committed to providing a high-quality education to all Texas students, while ensuring the health and safety of students, teachers, staff, and families.”

Gov. Greg Abbott (R) first ordered schools to close on March 20. He extended the closure on March 31 and ordered schools to stay closed to in-person instruction for the remainder of the year on April 17.

Texas does not have a statewide date for public schools to reopen. According to EdWeek, the school year typically starts in August, with the exact date varying by district.

Context

Texas is a Republican trifecta. The governor is a Republican, and Republicans hold majorities in both chambers of the state legislature.

Details

District reopening plans

Schools are required to develop and publicly post a plan for mitigating the spread of COVID-19 based on the guidance developed in the Texas Education Agency’s framework. The plans must be posted on the system website at least a week before the start of on-campus activities and instruction.

Schools are not required to submit the plans to the TEA or any other government agency.

In-person, hybrid, and online learning

The latest guidance says that schools may limit in-person instruction at the beginning of the school year for up to four weeks. During that time, most students can engage in distance learning. Schools must provide in-person instruction to students who do not have access to the internet or computers.

Schools can delay returning most students to physical classrooms for an additional eight weeks with the permission of the local school board.

The guidance allows parents to decide if their children will learn remotely or on-campus and provides them with the option of transitioning between one form of instruction or the other at different points during the school year. The Texas Education Code requires that students attend 90% of the days a course is offered to earn credit, but this requirement can be satisfied through virtual instruction.

Mask requirements

Students, teachers, staff, and visitors, must follow Gov. Abbot’s July 2 executive order mandating face coverings in indoor and outdoor areas in counties with 20 or more coronavirus cases.

In-person health recommendations and requirements

The guidance provides a list of recommendations for reducing the spread of the virus when students are on-campus. The list includes some of the following:

Transportation and busing requirements and restrictions

The guidance includes the following transportation recommendations:

Additional activity

In this section, we feature examples of other federal, state, and local government activity, as well as influencers relevant to recovering from the pandemic.

• The Clark County School Board in Nevada unanimously voted to begin the 2020-2021 school year with full-time remote learning. The board will revisit the decision at least once every 30 days based on information from health officials.
• On July 16, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) filed suit in Sangamon County Circuit Court against three schools that announced their refusal to comply with mandatory COVID-19 health and safety protocols for students and faculty returning to the classroom in the fall. At issue are Executive Order 2020-05, which closed schools across the state, and Executive Orders 2020-40 and 2020-44, which allow schools to resume in-person instruction subject to public health directives issued by Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). IDPH and ISBE guidance says that public and nonpublic schools must implement certain health and safety measures before reopening. This includes a requirement that individuals in school facilities wear face coverings. The preemptive suit comes after the defendants, a public school district and two private schools, informed the state that they would not abide by the guidance, arguing that it “is unlawful, is arbitrary and unreasonable, and was issued without legal authority.” Pritzker countered in his complaint that the Illinois Constitution and the Emergency Management Act provide him emergency powers during disasters, and thus form a legal basis for his school guidance. Pritzker’s suit seeks a judicial declaration confirming the legality of his executive orders and the reopening guidance, as well as injunctive relief requiring that the three schools cease their refusal to comply with the orders and guidance.
• Orangeburg County Circuit Court Judge Edgar Dickson temporarily blocked South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) from using federal coronavirus funds for private and religious school vouchers.

• Track the status of reopening in all 50 states.
• Compare the status of one industry or activity across the country.
• Answer key questions about state school reopening plans.
• Give you the latest stories on other reopening plans and ideas.

Want to know what happened yesterday? Click here.

Since our last edition

What is open in each state? For a continually updated article on reopening status in all 50 states, click here. For our last edition, click here.

• California (Democratic trifecta): Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced guidelines for hair salons, barbershops, and other personal care services. Those services are required to close indoor operations in counties on the state’s coronavirus watch list, but may continue operations outdoors with customers and staff wearing masks at all times.

• Colorado (Democratic trifecta): The Colorado Department of Education released guidance for reopening public schools for the 2020-2021 school year. The guidelines contain separate criteria for elementary schools and secondary schools. Decisions about school start dates and remote learning would be left to local districts.

• Georgia (Republican trifecta): At a press conference, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) and Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey requested Georgia residents wear a mask in public or when social distancing inside is not possible. Georgia is one of 20 states with a Republican governor to not have a face mask mandate.

• Kansas (divided government): Gov. Laura Kelly (D) signed an executive order delaying the start of the public school year until Sept. 9 and requiring students, faculty, and visitors to wear face coverings in school buildings.

• Kentucky (divided government): Gov. Andy Beshear (D) announced he was limiting social gatherings to 10 people. The state had permitted social gatherings of up to 50 people since the end of June.

• Maryland (Divided government): Health officers in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George’s counties and Baltimore City sent a letter to Maryland Deputy Secretary of Health Fran Phillips asking the state to roll back some of its reopenings. The letter focused on reducing gathering sizes, mandating face coverings for indoor and outdoor activities, and closing indoor service at restaurants and bars.

• Nebraska (Republican trifecta): The Loup Basin Public Health Department became the first public health district in the state to proceed to Phase Four of reopening. Phase Four removes the capacity limits on bars, restaurants, and childcare facilities. Outdoor venues can operate at 100% capacity, while indoor venues can operate at 75% capacity.

Tracking industries: Indoor gathering limits

All 50 states are reopening in some way. Here, we give the status of one industry or activity across the states. Today’s question: what is the indoor gathering size limit in each state?

We last looked at indoor gathering size limits in the July 14th edition of the newsletter. Since then, the following changes took place:

• Kentucky’s limit decreased from 50 people to 10.
• Washington’s limit for counties in Phase Three decreased from 50 people to 10. The limit for counties in Phase Two did not change.
• West Virginia’s limit decreased from 100 people to 25.

The following is an overview of gathering limits by state:

• Fifteen states have no statewide indoor gathering size limit. Twelve of those states have Republican governors and three have Democratic governors.
  • On July 14, 15 states had no limit.
• Thirteen states have a limit between 1 and 25. Nine of those states have Democratic governors and four of those states have Republican governors.
  • On July 14, 11 states had a limit between 1 and 25.
• Fourteen states have a limit between 26 and 50. Nine of those states have Democratic governors and five of those states have Republican governors.
  • On July 14, 17 states had a limit between 26 and 50.
• Two states (New Jersey and Vermont) have a limit between 51 and 100. New Jersey has a Democratic governor and Vermont has a Republican governor.
  • On July 14, one state had a limit between 51 and 100.
• Six states have limits greater than 100. Four of those states have Republican governors and two of those states have Democratic governors.
  • On July 14, six states had limits greater than 100.

Reopening Pre-K to 12 Schools in Pennsylvania

On June 3, the Pennsylvania Department of Education released preliminary guidance to assist schools in reopening for the 2020-2021 school year. The guidance applied to school districts, charter schools, regional charter schools, cyber charter schools, career and technical centers, and intermediate units. It was informed by Gov. Tom Wolf’s (D) phased, color-coded reopening plan. On July 16, the Department of Education released updated guidance.

In a press release announcing the updated guidance, Secretary of Education Pedro A. Rivera said, “The health and safety of students, teachers and staff must be paramount as schools prepare for the upcoming school year. The Department of Education has been focused on supporting schools with resources and best practices to help school leaders make informed decisions within their local contexts and in response to evolving conditions.”

The Pennsylvania Department of Education must approve district plans to reopen. Direct governing bodies (like school districts) must approve individual school plans to reopen.

On March 13, Wolf first ordered schools to close on March 16. He extended the closure on March 23 and again on March 30, before announcing on April 9 that students would not return to physical classrooms for the remainder of the academic year.

Pennsylvania does not have a statewide date for public schools to reopen. According to EdWeek, school districts in Pennsylvania traditionally select the start of the academic year, which can vary from late August to early September.

Context

Pennsylvania has a divided state government. Democrats hold the governorship, while Republicans have majorities in the House and Senate.

Details

District and school reopening plans

Before resuming in-person instruction, all local education agencies in Pennsylvania must submit a Health and Safety Plan to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. All plans must follow Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Rachel Levine’s July 1 order mandating universal face coverings.

Similarly, individual schools must also develop Health and Safety Plans before returning students to physical classrooms. A school’s governing body must approve the individual plan, and it must be made available to the public online. The plans should consider how schools can pivot to remote learning when necessary with minimal disruption to student learning.

In-person, hybrid, and online learning

The Phased School Reopening Health and Safety Plan Template that schools and Local Education Agencies must fill out includes four options for reopening. Schools can determine which options to adopt based on local conditions and the county’s current designation under the state’s reopening plan:

Mask requirements

On July 1, Health Secretary Rachel Levine issued an order requiring individuals to wear face coverings outside of the home, including on school property. The order applies to all individuals aged two and above.

All students, staff, and visitors are required to wear a face covering while on school property. Details include:

In-person health recommendations and requirements

The guidance calls for all schools to implement social distancing strategies for adult and staff interactions, as well as for students in hallways and classrooms.

For adult and staff interactions, the guidance calls for some of the following:

When students are in classrooms, the guidance calls for students to be seated at least six feet apart and facing the same direction. Additionally, the guidance recommends holding classes in gyms, auditoriums, or outdoors, where physical distancing can be maintained, when possible.

The guidance recommends the following for hallways:

The guidance recommends some of the following for meals and cafeterias:

For outdoor playground spaces, the guidance recommends students be grouped within a cohort, and that the size of groups should be limited at any one time. Students and staff should wash their hands or use hand sanitizer before and after playground use.

Transportation and busing requirements and restrictions

The following guidance is included for transportation and busing. This is not a complete list.

Nevada’s Path Forward

The Nevada Department of Education released school reopening guidance on June 9. According to the plan’s introduction, “This document is designed to help districts and schools make community-based decisions regarding the re-opening of school buildings and builds on their unique strengths to address local challenges. We hope the Framework will serve as a starting point for conversations. It is not formal guidance or a directive. While we hope that the Framework will be a valuable resource, districts and schools may apply the concepts and guidelines of the Framework at their discretion and as relevant to local circumstances.”

On the day the Department of Education released the guidance, Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) issued a directive requiring school districts, charter schools, and private schools to develop individualized reopening plans. The plans must be made public and approved by a district or school’s governing body at least 20 days before the 2020-2021 school year begins.

On March 15, Gov. Sisolak closed public schools through April 6. The state extended the closure on March 21 and again on April 1. Sisolak ended the public school year on April 22.

Nevada does not have a statewide date for schools to reopen, but they have been allowed to reopen since June 10. According to EdWeek, public schools in Nevada traditionally start the academic year between mid- and late August, with the exact start date varying by district.

The plan encourages decision-makers to refer to the CDC’s school reopening decision tree in assessing whether or not they should resume in-person operations.

Context

Nevada is a Democratic trifecta. The governor is a Democrat, and Democrats hold majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. The state became a Democratic trifecta in 2019.

The following tables show public education statistics in Nevada, including a rank comparing it to the other 49 states. Rank one is the highest number of each figure, rank 50 is the lowest. All data comes from the Common Core of Data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics.

Details

District reopening plans

Districts, character schools, and private schools are required to develop their own specific reopening plans. The plans have to be publicly available and approved by the body governing the district or school at least 20 days before the school year begins.

In-person, hybrid, and online learning

The plan recommends schools reopen using a hybrid schedule that incorporates online and in-person learning. However, the plan suggests local schools and boards work with local health authorities to develop an appropriate schedule using the online and in-person resources at their disposal.

Mask requirements

The guidance recommends that schools require students and faculty to wear masks whenever feasible. The document says mask-wearing is especially important when social distancing cannot be maintained.

In-person health recommendations and requirements

The reopening plan recommends schools develop answers to the following questions to ensure general in-person operations resume safely:

Transportation and busing requirements and restrictions

Nevada’s reopening plan suggested schools and boards answer the following questions regarding busing and transportation:

Additional activity

In this section, we feature examples of other federal, state, and local government activity, as well as influencers relevant to recovering from the pandemic.

• Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) added Kansas to the list of states from which travelers must quarantine for two weeks. There are now 18 states on the city’s mandatory quarantine list.
• On July 16, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) sued Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) and members of the Atlanta City Council, seeking to have the Superior Court of Fulton County invalidate and prohibit enforcement of local orders related to COVID-19. The local orders mandate that people wear face coverings inside all businesses and restrict the number of individuals who can congregate on city property, exceeding current state requirements. Kemp’s complaint argues Atlanta “may only exercise the powers delegated to it by the state, and Mayor Bottoms’ attempts to exercise an undelegated power against the state are” beyond her legal authority. Kemp also claims Georgia law provides him “the power to suspend municipal orders that are contradictory to any state law or to his executive orders.” Kemp has asked the court to invalidate the orders and prohibit Bottoms from making press statements indicating she has the authority to impose measures beyond those ordered by the governor. Bottoms responded to the suit on Twitter: “3104 Georgians have died and I and my family are amongst the 106k who have tested positive for COVID-19,” adding that “[a] better use of taxpayer money would be to expand testing and contact tracing.” The case was originally assigned to Judge Kelly Lee Ellerbe, who later recused herself and canceled a hearing scheduled for the morning of July 21.