Coronavirus Updates from NYSSBA

During the coronavirus pandemic, members of NYSSBA will receive regular On Board Extra updates as well as the print editions of On Board. All of these resources are made possible by the support of our member schools districts.

School Reopening Guidance

• Interim Guidance on COVID-19 Testing Requirements for Public and Non-Public Schools Located in Areas Designated as “Red” or “Orange” Cluster Zones Under the New York State Cluster Action Initiative 
• Recent Amendments to Education Law §2801-a Regarding Pandemic Planning (New York State Education Department) 
• Interim Guidance on Mandatory COVID-19 Testing in Public and Non-Public Schools Located in Areas Designated as “Yellow Zones” Under the New York State Cluster Action Initiative (New York State Department of Health) 
• January 2021 Regents Examinations Cancelled Due to Ongoing Pandemic (New York State Education Department)
• Pre-K to Grade 12 COVID-19 Toolkit (New York State Department of Health) 
• 2020-21 School Reopening – Instructional Models Report and Report of School Closure and Report of School Re-Opening (State Education Department) 
• 2020-21 School Reopening – Instructional Models Report and Report of School Closure and Report of School Reopening for Approved Special Education Programs (State Education Department) 
• School Reopening FAQs July 22, 2020 (New York State Education Department) 
• Supplement to the Interim Guidance for In-Person Instruction at Pre-K to Grade 12 Schools during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (New York State Department of Health) 
• Recovering, Rebuilding, and Renewing: The Spirit of New York’s Schools - Reopening Guidance (New York State Education Department)
• Regulatory Flexibility for the Reopening of Schools (New York State Education Department)
• Interim Guidance for in-person instruction at pre-k to grade 12 schools during the COVID-19 public health emergency (New York State Department of Health) 
• New York State Checklist for Pre-K to Grade 12 School Reopening Plans
• New York State Guidelines for In-Person Instruction at Pre-K to Grade 12 Schools
• New York State Reopening Guidance – Presentation to the Boards of Regents
• NYC Return to School 2020 (New York City Department of Education)

School Reopening Resources

• Dashboard for COVID-19 Data in New York State Schools
• National School and Campus COVID-19 Tracker (National Education Association)
• Interactive: Roadmaps to Reopening – States’ Guidance to Schools on Meals, Masks, Handwashing and More
• State-by-State Map of Where School Buildings Are Opened or Closed
• Study Break Podcast: On Reopening Schools: How Students Can Thrive
• NYSSBA Research Report: Beyond The New Normal  
• Preparing K-12 School Administrators for a Safe Return to School in Fall 2020 (CDC)
• Reopening Schools Task Force (New York State Education Department)
• School Reopening Resources (New York State Education Department)
• Considerations for school-related public health measures in the context of COVID-19 (World Health Organization)
• School Decision-Making Tool for Parents, Caregivers, and Guardians (CDC)
• Reopening Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, and Homes (Center for Disease Control)
• All Hands on Deck: Initial Guidance Regarding Reopening School Buildings (National Education Association) 
• COVID-19 Planning Considerations: Return to In-person Education in Schools (American Academy of Pediatrics)
• A Plan to Safely Reopen America’s Schools and Communities (AFT) 

School Board Resources

• CARES Act Information (New York State Education Department)
• Reopening Schools: Bob Schneider interview with LI Newsradio with Jay Oliver
• Dave Allen Podcast: Reopening New York Schools
• WBFO: Resources needed for schools to reopen safely
• What Will it Cost to Reopen Schools (Association of School Business Officials and the School Superintendents Association) 
• Bob Schneider interview with LI Newsradio with Jay Oliver
• Research Report: Coping with Economic Fallout from the Coronavirus
• NYSSBA Sample Policy 8131: Pandemic Planning 
• National School Boards Association: COVID-19: Preparing For Widespread Illness in Your School Community

School Resources

• CDC Shortens COVID-19 Quarantine Periods. Here’s What That Means for Schools
• Updated Guidance on Driver and Traffic Safety Education in Response to COVID-19 (New York State Education Department) 
• State Education Department
• Handbook for Summer School Administrators and Principals (2020) 
• Memo: Supplement #2  - Provision of Services to Students With Disabilities During Statewide School Closures Due to Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Outbreak in New York State - June 20, 2020
• Memo: Supplement #3  - Provision of Services to Students With Disabilities During Statewide School Closures Due to Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Outbreak in New York State - June 20, 2020
• Resources for K-12 Schools and Childcare Programs (CDC)
• US Department of Education - COVID-19 ("Coronavirus") Information and Resources for Schools and School Personnel
• NYSED.gov Facilities Planning Website
• Board of Regents Acts on Third Series of Emergency Regulations to Ease Burdens on Educators, Students and Professionals in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic
• NYSSBA News: Teaching from Home
• 10 Strategies for Online Learning During a Coronavirus Outbreak
• Study Break Podcast: Lovin’ Learnin’ at Home
• Study Break Podcast: The 1918 Spanish Flu
• Study Break Podcast: Pass the Transition Playbook

Legal Information

• Implementing the Open Meetings Law during the COVID-19 Outbreak
• NSBA COVID-19 Legal Guide

Mental Health Resources

• Mental Health And COVID-19 – Information And Resources
• Trauma-Informed Resources During COVID-19
• Study Break Podcast: Make Stress Your Ally
• Study Break Podcast: How to Beat the Self-Quarantine Blues
• Study Break Podcast: How to Reduce Youth Pandemic Anxiety

Health Information

• NYS Department of Health
• NYSSBA News: Healthy Eating - In this edition of NYSSBA News health and nutrition expert, Dr. Marcie Fraser, provides healthy eating tips for families while being at home during the Coronavirus pandemic.
• Coronavirus Virus Fact Sheet 
• March 3: NYSSBA News: Coronavirus: Impact on School Districts - Rebecca O’Donnell, director of epidemiology at Albany Medical Center Hospital provides her expertise on the impact of the coronavirus virus and how school districts can be prepared.
• Social Distancing Simulator
• World Health Organization Advice for the Public

Public Statements

• December 9: Statement of NYSSBA Executive Director Robert Schneider on Federal Education Funding
• August 7: Statement of NYSSBA Executive Director Robert Schneider on School Reopening
• July 29: Board members wary of safely reopening schools in September without additional funding
• May 1: Statement of NYSSBA Executive Director Robert Schneider on the Closing of Schools for the Remainder of the 2019-20 School Year
• April 7: Statement from New York State School Boards Association Executive Director Robert Schneider on Regents Exams
• April 3: Statement of New York State School Boards Association Executive Director Robert S. Schneider on the 2020-21 State Budget