PA Issues School Reopening Guidelines

HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania elementary and secondary schools in the state’s yellow and green phases can resume in-person instruction and activities starting July 1, provided they create an approved safety plan, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Wednesday.

Preliminary guidance on the school safety plans was released the governor's office.

Plans must encompass several elements, including identifying a pandemic coordinator or team to lead response efforts. There must be steps in place to protect high-risk children and staff, as well as processes for monitoring students and staff for symptoms.

The safety plan must also include guidelines for hygiene practices and processes for cleaning and disinfecting. The plan must address the use of face masks, protocols for social distancing, and procedures for restricting large gatherings.

You can see specific details on what the school safety plans must encompass here.

The plans must be approved by local boards of directors and posted on the school or district public website before a school reopens. The plans must also be submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

“As school leaders resume instruction in the 2020-21 school year, the department recognizes the need for preliminary guidance to aid in planning for a return to in-person instruction, delivery of services, and resumption of extracurricular activities," Secretary of Education Pedro A. Rivera said in a news release.

But given the "dynamic nature of the pandemic," the preliminary guidance are merely a starting point for schools to use as they prepare to reopen, River said. The guidance will continue to evolve as further research, data and resources become available, he said.

State education officials said they will release additional guidance that outlines steps for school openings in the near future.

Post-secondary institutions and adult basic education programs can begin in-person instruction as of June 5, immediately following the development of a health and safety plan outlining strategies for safe operations. Guidance for those institutions is here.