Attendance Work is concerned about the health and economic impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), on the attendance, health and well-being of students and families, particularly those living in low-income communities.We also want to express our appreciation and concern for teachers, school staff, administrators and community partners who support students every day. A special word for educators: we encourage self-care, especially during this time.
To support access to information about how best to respond to coronavirus disease, we are maintaining this page with links to resources. We also advise consulting your state education and public health agencies as well as your school district and local public health department for local information. We've included links to state education agency and school district pages on coronavirus below.
We’ve also developed a new a multi-phase framework to assist educators and their partners think strategically about supporting students and families from now through the time schools reopen. Learn more about the framework and Key Concepts for Leveraging Chronic Absence During the Coronavirus Pandemic.
In many districts some students and families haven’t been in touch with their schools during the pandemic. Drawing from our work with schools and districts, we’ve created detailed ideas for making this connection. Download Strategies for Connecting with Students and Families.
Important note about our materials:
Attendance Works advises suspending use of our, When is Sick Too Sick for School? handout while the United States is grappling with coronavirus disease.
In addition, following guidelines from the CDC, Attendance Works advises against perfect attendance awards or other approaches to incentives that might encourage students to attend class even when they are ill, during this time while the country is dealing with coronavirus disease.
For Educators, Administrators and Community Partners
American Federation of Teachers
The AFT has a webpage with resources on the coronavirus for teachers, administrators and health professionals in elementary, secondary and higher education institutions, including fact sheets and infographics.
American Institutes for Research (AIR). Building Positive Conditions for Learning at Home: Strategies and Resources for Families and Caregivers. To support parents and caregivers in creating positive conditions for learning at home, this resource highlights four related concepts that are essential to consider: (1) adult readiness to support their child’s learning; (2) emotional safety; (3) supportive spaces; (4) engagement in learning. Available in English and Spanish.
Common Sense
Wide Open School offers free resources for P-12 to support home schooling during Covid-19, curated by the editors at Common Sense. The site provides links to resources from contributors including American Federation of Teachers’ ShareMyLesson, National Head Start Association, Sesame Street, Scholastic and more. The site includes resources in Spanish.
Inside SEL
Inside SEL (Social Emotional Learning) has created a list of resources, blog posts and guides for Parents, Educators & School Communities Related to Covid-19.
Institute for Educational Leadership COVID-19 Resource Page
MENTOR, the National Mentoring Partnership, has provided great resources on their website to provide additional support. Please see their MENTOR Coronavirus Tips & Resources for mentors, including their E-Mentoring Guide.
Parent Teacher Home Visits: Maintaining Relationships In A Time Of Social Distancing. PTHV is collecting a list of tools, resources, and inspiration for home visit practitioners as they navigate the “new normal” of state and local stay-at-home orders.
NYU Steinhardt: Tools for Educators to Listen to and Learn from Families During COVID-19 School Closures
Keeping Students Healthy
Action for Healthy Kids: Resources for Schools and Families During COVID-19. Includes resources for physical activity, access to food, online learning/home schooling, and more.
Alliance for a Healthier Generation: COVID-19: Resources & Updates. Provides resources for stress reduction, healthy eating, active living, and quality sleep.
The American Academy of Pediatrics 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). These resource for parents and caregivers (healthychildren.org) has recommendations for dealing with school and childcare closings, as well as talking points for speaking with children about the virus.
Johns Hopkins University & Medicine
The Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center offers resources for the public, health provider and policymakers. The resources explaining how the virus is transmitted and tips for staying healthy, a webcast. A Covid-19 interactive map tracts cases of the virus around the world.
National Association of School Nurses
NASM resources include considerations for school nurses regarding care of students/staff as well as materials to help teach children and families about Covid-19.
Ensuring Equity
Ed Trust
Ed Trust is collecting resources and information to ensure that equity is at the forefront of plans and responses to the coronavirus.
Massachusetts Education Equity Partnership: Keeping Equity at the Forefront During COVID-19 School Closures
NAACP
With guidance from its Emergency Management Task Force, the NAACP Environment and Climate Justice program developed, Ten Equity Implications of the Coronavirus Outbreak in the U.S.
Southern Education Foundation
The Southern Education Foundation notes that data on digital disparities reveal that nearly 20% of African American children ages 3-18 and 21% of families earning less than $40,000 per year have no access to the internet at home. The brief, Digital Learning During COVID-19: 7 Equity Considerations for Schools and Districts, provides equity considerations with examples of how some districts are addressing these issues now.
Federal Resources
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CDC has developed interim guidance and resources for K-12 schools and childcare programs to help plan, prepare and respond to coronavirus disease 2019. This guidance includes a section on monitoring and planning for absenteeism.
CDC has developed Considerations for School Closure.
Find further information and updates from the CDC here.
The Office of Head Start
Head Start is regularly updating its guidance and resources to help all programs support staff, children, and families, such as guidance for Sites Currently Serving Children, Supporting Food Security for Families, and webinars, such as Caring for Children in Group Settings During Covid-19.
U.S. Department of Education
The Department of Education has created, Impact of COVID-19 on Assessments and Accountability under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
Supplemental Fact Sheet: Addressing the Risk of COVID-19 in Preschool, Elementary and Secondary Schools While Serving Children with Disabilities
State and District Resources
California
The California Department of Education, in collaboration with the California Department of Public Health, issued School Guidance on Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19.
Colorado
The Colorado Department of Education issued the COVID-19 Resources for Schools
Connecticut
Find up-to-date information on this School Resources website page.
The state Department of Education issued the Planning Tool in the Event Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Impacts Connecticut Public Schools
Professional Support Series for Families (recorded webinars)
Florida
The Florida Department of Education issued Coronavirus (COVID-19) EM-Response
Georgia
The Georgia Department of Eduction issued COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and Schools
The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) issued Resources to Support Home Learning
Indiana
The Indiana Department of Education issued COVID-19 Resources for Indiana Schools
Memo on Indiana's 20 day waiver: Instructional Day Waiver Requests and COVID-19 Pandemic
Kentucky
The Kentucky Department of Education issued Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information
The Kentucky Teacher (KDOE) issued USDA grants waiver to allow Kentucky schools to serve students off-site meals
Maine
The Maine Department of Education issued Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources for Schools
Minnesota
The Minnesota Department of Education issued COVID-19 Updates
Missouri
The Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education issued Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information
Nebraska
The Nebraska Department of Education issued Coronavirus Resources for Schools:
Public Health Resources for Districts, Schools, Students, and Families
Ohio
The Ohio Department of Education created a website page, Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information for Ohio’s Schools and Districts, and How to Support Your Child’s Health and Well-Being During Ohio’s Ordered School-Building Closure.
Oregon
The Oregon Department of Education issued COVID-19 Resources
Washington
The Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction issued Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance & Resources
Special Education Guidance: Supporting Inclusionary Practices during School Facility Closure
District Resources
Detroit Public Schools Community District
DPSCD website page offers information for families, parents, students and staff. Resources include Grab-and-Go breakfast and lunch, academic packets and online learning and letters to families.
Cleveland Metropolitan School District
https://www.clevelandmetroschools.org/Coronavirus
News
Education Week
Special coverage features in-depth reporting and information about the impact coronavirus is having on schools and expert advice and guidance on how administrators, principals, and teachers can respond. Find a video that explains 6 steps school leaders need to take if the virus emerges in your community, and an interactive map showing which schools and districts have closed and/or re-opened.
News articles about coronavirus and chronic absenteeism
Chronic Absenteeism in the Time of Coronavirus
FutureEd, April 21, 2020
Focus on outreach, health and data can help schools limit COVID-19 impacts
CSBA Blog, April 17, 2020
Ways to Handle Student Absences in Remote Teaching & When We're Back in School
EdWeek, April 16, 2020
Responding to Absenteeism During the Coronavirus Pandemic & Beyond
EdWeek Teachers, April 13, 2020
Present and accounted for? Closures create attendance challenges
Education Dive, March 19, 2020
Maintaining Ties When School Closes Is Critical to Preventing Dropouts
EdWeek, March 17, 2020
Absenteeism Driven by Virus Could Trip Up States on ESSA
EdWeek, March 12, 2020
Do you have a resource to share? Email Catherine Cooney (catherine@attendanceworks.org).
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