Recommendations & Requirements - Continuity of Learning Essentials

Recommendation Group Safety Protocols

Recommendation Group Categories Screening students
Recommendation/Requirement
Strict records, including date and time, should be kept of non-school employees or other visitors entering and exiting the building.
- Phases 1-3:
  Not applicable
- Phase 4:
  Not applicable
- Phase 5:
  Strongly recommended
Recommendation Group Safety Protocols

Recommendation Group Categories Screening students
Recommendation/Requirement
A monitoring form (paper or electronic) for screening employees should be developed.
- Phases 1-3:
  Not applicable
- Phase 4:
  Recommended
- Phase 5:
  Not applicable
Recommendation Group Safety Protocols

Recommendation Group Categories Screening students
Recommendation/Requirement
Families are encouraged to check their child’s temperature at home every morning using oral, tympanic, or temporal scanners; students with a temperature of 100.4 or greater should stay home and consider coronavirus testing if symptoms of COVID-19 are present.
- Phases 1-3:
  Not applicable
- Phase 4:
  Recommended
- Phase 5:
  Not applicable
Recommendation Group Safety Protocols

Recommendation Group Categories Screening students
Recommendation/Requirement
Families are encouraged to monitor their children for symptoms of COVID-19. The presence of any symptoms, including cough or shortness of breath, should prompt the family to keep the student home from school and to follow up with a primary care provider.
- Phases 1-3:
  Not applicable
- Phase 4:
  Recommended
- Phase 5:
  Not applicable
Recommendation Group Safety Protocols

Recommendation Group Categories Screening students
Recommendation/Requirement
Any parents or guardians entering the building should wash or sanitize hands prior to entry.
- Phases 1-3:
  Not applicable
- Phase 4:
  Not applicable
- Phase 5:
  Recommended
Recommendation Group Safety Protocols

Recommendation Group Categories Screening students
Recommendation/Requirement
Parents or guardians are not allowed in the school building except under extenuating circumstances as determined by school officials. Only one parent or guardian per child should be allowed to enter except under extenuating circumstances as determined by school officials.
- Phases 1-3:
  Not applicable
- Phase 4:
  Not applicable
- Phase 5:
  Recommended
Recommendation Group Safety Protocols

Recommendation Group Categories Screening studentsTesting Protocols for Students and Staff and Responding to Positive Cases
Recommendation/Requirement
Parents and guardians are encouraged to check students’ temperature at home every morning using oral, tympanic (ear), or temporal scanners; students with a temperature of 100.4 or greater must stay home and consider coronavirus testing.
- Phases 1-3:
  Not applicable
- Phase 4:
  Recommended
- Phase 5:
  Recommended
Recommendation Group Operations

Recommendation Group Categories
Recommendation/Requirement
Ensure every student has access to the appropriate technology and connectivity needed to continue learning.
- Phases 1-3:
  Strongly recommended
- Phase 4:
  Not applicable
- Phase 5:
  Not applicable
Recommendation Group Operations

Recommendation Group Categories
Recommendation/Requirement
Where possible, consider implementing live streaming of classrooms for students who are medically vulnerable.
- Phases 1-3:
  Not applicable
- Phase 4:
  Not applicable
- Phase 5:
  Recommended
Recommendation Group Operations

Recommendation Group Categories
Recommendation/Requirement
Based on instructional programming, provide instructional resources and materials to staff and students as feasible.
- Phases 1-3:
  Strongly recommended
- Phase 4:
  Not applicable
- Phase 5:
  Not applicable
Recommendation Group Operations

Recommendation Group Categories
Recommendation/Requirement
Work with MDE to understand flexibility with hiring and develop a plan to govern hiring in a remote environment.
- Phases 1-3:
  Strongly recommended
- Phase 4:
  Not applicable
- Phase 5:
  Not applicable
Recommendation Group Operations

Recommendation Group Categories
Recommendation/Requirement
Ensure a plan for nutrition services and student meals is in place, and provide a list of alternative meal options to families.
- Phases 1-3:
  Strongly recommended
- Phase 4:
  Not applicable
- Phase 5:
  Not applicable
Recommendation Group Operations

Recommendation Group Categories
Recommendation/Requirement
Solidify food service processes, device distribution, delivery sites, and communication plans as necessary.
- Phases 1-3:
  Strongly recommended
- Phase 4:
  Not applicable
- Phase 5:
  Not applicable
Recommendation Group Operations

Recommendation Group Categories
Recommendation/Requirement
Define logistical expectations, including attendance expectations and time on schooling by grade level for students and teachers.
- Phases 1-3:
  Strongly recommended
- Phase 4:
  Not applicable
- Phase 5:
  Not applicable
Recommendation Group Operations

Recommendation Group Categories
Recommendation/Requirement
Support schools in assessing student arrival protocols. This should include how students arrive at and depart from school (e.g., school bus, dropped off via car, drive themselves, walk, public transportation).
- Phases 1-3:
  Not applicable
- Phase 4:
  Strongly recommended
- Phase 5:
  Recommended
Recommendation Group Operations

Recommendation Group Categories
Recommendation/Requirement
Support schools in conducting staff and student outreach to understand who is coming back.
- For staff, this should include a breakdown of the staff – administrators, educators, support staff with a teaching license, support staff without a teaching license, full-time nurses, part-time nurses, school counselors, etc.
- Develop a staffing plan to account for teachers and staff who are not returning or are at risk (i.e., those who are 65 years or have an underlying medical condition and decide not to return).
- For students, this should include those with preexisting conditions who may need a remote learning environment.
- Phases 1-3:
  Not applicable
- Phase 4:
  Strongly recommended
- Phase 5:
  Recommended
Recommendation Group Operations

Recommendation Group Categories
Recommendation/Requirement
Work with relevant local bargaining units to assess how job responsibilities may shift in light of COVID-19 and how new or additional responsibilities will be accounted for.
- Phases 1-3:
  Not applicable
- Phase 4:
  Strongly recommended
- Phase 5:
  Recommended
Recommendation Group Operations

Recommendation Group Categories
Recommendation/Requirement
Recruit, interview and hire new staff.
- Phases 1-3:
  Not applicable
- Phase 4:
  Strongly recommended
- Phase 5:
  Recommended
Recommendation Group Instruction

Recommendation Group Categories Remote Instruction / Instruction (Before Schools Reopen)
Recommendation/Requirement
Phases 1-3: Activate remote learning programs at scale to deliver standards-aligned curricula and high-quality instructional materials. Integrate synchronous and asynchronous learning and best practices that promote student engagement, consistency, and differentiation. Consult MDE for high-quality digital resources.

Phase 4: Activate hybrid learning programs at scale to deliver standards-aligned curricula and high-quality instructional materials. Integrate synchronous and asynchronous learning and best practices that promote student engagement, consistency, and differentiation. Consult MDE for high-quality digital resources.
- Phases 1-3:
  Strongly recommended
- Phase 4:
  Strongly recommended
- Phase 5:
  Not applicable
Recommendation Group Instruction

Recommendation Group Categories Remote Instruction / Instruction (Before Schools Reopen)
Recommendation/Requirement
Phases 1-3: Review students’ IEPs, IFSPs, and 504 plans in coordination with general and special education teachers to reflect the child’s evolving needs based on assessment data and parent feedback, and design accommodations and match services accordingly.
- Commence intervention and support services. Plans must include all programs and learning environments, especially
  special education, birth to five services, and
  CTE.
- Establish structures for general and special education teachers to collaborate on delivery methods for assessments and instruction as outlined in IEPs. Consider students’ needs around accessibility and provide assistive technologies, where possible."
Phases 4 and 5: Revise students’ IEPs, IFSPs, and 504 plans in coordination with general and special education teachers to reflect the child’s evolving needs based on assessment data and parent feedback, and design accommodations and match services accordingly.
- Commence intervention and support services. Plans must include all programs and learning environments, especially
  special education, birth to five services, and
  CTE.
- Establish structures for general and special education teachers to collaborate on delivery methods for assessments and instruction as outlined in IEPs. Consider students’ needs around accessibility and provide assistive technologies, where possible."
- Phases 1-3:
  Strongly recommended
- Phase 4:
  Strongly recommended
- Phase 5:
  Recommended
Recommendation Group Operations

Recommendation Group Categories
Recommendation/Requirement
Consider redeploying underutilized staff to serve core needs.
- Phases 1-3:
  Not applicable
- Phase 4:
  Strongly recommended
- Phase 5:
  Recommended
Recommendation Group Instruction

Recommendation Group Categories Remote Instruction / Instruction (Before Schools Reopen)
Recommendation/Requirement
Inventory all intervention programs and services available to students on the district and school level and identify any gaps.
- Phases 1-3:
  Not applicable
- Phase 4:
  Strongly recommended
- Phase 5:
  Recommended
Recommendation Group Operations

Recommendation Group Categories
Recommendation/Requirement
Where possible, and in partnership with local bargaining units, identify and modify staff positions, that would enable high-risk staff to provide remote services.
- Phases 1-3:
  Not applicable
- Phase 4:
  Strongly recommended
- Phase 5:
  Recommended
Recommendation Group Instruction

Recommendation Group Categories Remote Instruction / Instruction (Before Schools Reopen)
Recommendation/Requirement
Remain connected with MDE about policies and guidance.
- Phases 1-3:
  Strongly recommended
- Phase 4:
  Strongly recommended
- Phase 5:
  Recommended
Recommendation Group Operations

Recommendation Group Categories
Recommendation/Requirement
Communicate any student enrollment or attendance policy changes with school leaders, and families.
- Phases 1-3:
  Not applicable
- Phase 4:
  Strongly recommended
- Phase 5:
  Recommended