Schools and Child Care COVID-19
Planning, Guidance, and Data

Data and guidance around policies, practices, and strategies that schools and child care programs can use to optimize education and programming to promote health and safety while mitigating risks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On this page:
Data
School guidance and planning
Child care and youth-serving programs
General guidance
Additional resources

Data

• Data for K-12 Schools: 14-day COVID-19 Case Rate by County (PDF)
  This document provides data that can be used by schools in making decisions about their safe learning model. Updated: 5/6/21, updated every Thursday.
  • School Data and Decision-making
    How school districts and charter schools should use county-based data in their decision-making.

School guidance and planning

• 2020-2021 Planning Guide for Schools: Health Considerations for Navigating COVID-19 (PDF)
  This document provides parameters for schools to use in their planning and operations for the 2020-2021 school year.
  Updated 5/7/21
  
  
• Guidance for Delivering Direct Student Support Services: Staff Protective Equipment (PDF)
  This document provides direction to school staff on the type of protective equipment that will be needed to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission when delivering direct student support services.
  Updated 5/7/21
  
  
• Guidance for Providing Support to Students in Their Homes (PDF)
  This document outlines guidance for school district staff providing in-home services to meet individual student needs.
  Updated 5/7/21
  
  
• Guidance for Providing Nebulization Treatments (PDF)
  This document provides guidance on the use of nebulizers and peak-flow meters in schools and other educational venues.
  Updated 3/30/21
  
  
• Handling a Suspected or Confirmed Positive Case of COVID-19: Information for Schools (PDF)
  Instructions for schools when students and staff test positive. Use these instructions to report positive students and staff, and identify and notify close contacts.
  Updated 1/20/21

Child care and youth-serving programs

• COVID-19 Prevention Guidance for Certified Child Care, Youth Programs, and Camps (PDF)
  Requirements and recommendations for youth-serving programs.
  4/30/21
  
  
• What To Do When Notified of a Lab-Confirmed Case of COVID-19 in Child Care Settings or Youth Programs (PDF)
  Instructions for child care, youth programs (i.e., camp, sports, and other community activities) and youth sports when children and staff within the program test positive. Follow the steps to submit information to report lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 for children, attendees, and staff, to identify and notify close contacts.
  Updated 1/20/21
  
  
• Masking Requirements for Child Care
  Requirements and guidance for the use of face coverings in child care settings.

General guidance

• Playground Guidance for Schools and Child Care Programs (PDF)
  This document outlines infection prevention measures for playgrounds.
  5/28/20
  
  
• Communities: Sports activities, music, camps, and youth programs
  Schools and youth programs should refer to this additional guidance related to sports, pools, and music activities and performances.

Additional resources

• Infectious Diseases in Childcare Settings and Schools Manual
  Hennepin County infectious disease manual. See section 2 – Guidelines: Environment – Cleaning, Sanitizing and Disinfecting.