On June 22, 2020, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) released its anticipated guidance for Wisconsin school districts as they work to reopen their schools in a COVID-19 environment. The guidance is designed to aid Wisconsin school districts in their decision-making as they look to build educational services and supports for next school year.
The guidance, entitled “Education Forward,” provides health information, resources, and possible action steps aligned to closing out the 2019-20 school year and preparing for and implementing provisions for the 2020-21 school year. This guidance document is a starting point for school leaders as they consider the decisions they will need to make and the conversations they will need to have with local public health authorities and with their school communities as they plan for the coming school term.
The guidance includes a wide variety of information on infection control and mitigation. The document also presents sample scenarios for physical distancing and a variety of instructional models. Specific considerations for special education students, English language learning students and gifted and talented students are included. The guidance also provides information related to school libraries, teaching and learning staff, school safety/mental health, and out-of-school time programs. Resources such as a risk assessment tool and a school nurse toolkit are also included in the over 80-page document.
It is expected that the guidance will be continually updated by DPI as information becomes available.
