Information for Schools and Childcare

Información para escuelas y atención infantil

 

Helping Children Cope:

Take time to talk

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Let them know they are safe

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Limit media exposure

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Help maintain structure & routines

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Be a role model: rest, eat well & exercise

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Categories:

Contra Costa Health Services works closely with the Contra Costa County Office of Education and CocoKids on issues related to COVID-19 for schools and childcare facilities. Guidance regarding school and childcare closures, reopening, etc. is developed in close consultation with these agencies, and based on health guidance from the California Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We encourage you to please look through the guidance provided on this page before contacting CCHS.

 

Schools and School Reopening

Escuelas y apertura de las escuelas

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued its “COVID-19 and Reopening In-Person Instruction Framework & Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools in California, 2020-2021 School Year”.

 

Please review carefully, as this guidance supersedes the following prior guidance documents:

  • COVID-19 Industry Guidance: Schools and School-Based Programs (first published in May 2020; last updated August 3, 2020)

  • The COVID-19 and Reopening In-Person Learning Framework for K-12 Schools in California, 2020-2021 School Year (July 17, 2020)

  • The Elementary Education Waiver process and the associated School Waiver Letter and Cover Form and Local Health Officer Waiver Notice Form (all issued on August 3, 2020)

  • CDPH Schools Frequently Asked Questions (first issued August 3, 2020; last updated October 20, 2020)
     

* As used throughout the CDPH document, “Kindergarten” (K) is inclusive of Transitional Kindergarten (TK).

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Effective January 14, 2021, every local educational agency (school district, county office of education, and charter school) and private school in California must notify the local public health department of a case of COVID-19 in a student or employee who was present on a K-12 campus within the 10 days before the positive test. Cases should be reported to the Contra Costa County COVID Schools team via the intake form.

 

Beginning January 25, 2021, every local educational agency (school district, county office of education, and charter school) and private school in California must provide biweekly updates about in-person instruction status to the CDPH.

 

New COVID Safety Plan Requirement (CSP)

Schools should review the CDPH guidance’s definition of reopen, found on pages 5-6. Schools that reopened with an approved K-6 school waiver or when the county was in the Red or Orange Tier may continue to hold in-person instruction. These schools need to complete and post their COVID Safety Plan on their website by February 1, 2021 to continue in-person instruction. Already open and reopened schools must follow the CDPH guidance for in-person instruction, including new requirements for stable groups of students that do not mix with other groups, and K-12 face coverings.

 

When the county is in the Purple Tier, and during a stay-at-home order, schools serving grades K-6 may reopen for in-person instruction when they:

When all four conditions are met, the school may reopen for K-6 in-person instruction on the 8th business day.

 

However, if deficiencies are identified, the school will be notified within 7 business days and a revised CSP will need to be simultaneously submitted to all three agencies. If not notified of deficiencies within 7 business days of resubmission, the school may assume approval and may reopen on the 8th business day if the adjusted case rate is less than 25/100,000 for 5 consecutive days.      

 

When the county is in the Red Tier for 5 consecutive days, K-12 schools may reopen after posting their CSP on their website for at least 5 days prior to providing in-person instruction. When these conditions are met, CSPs do not need to be reviewed by Public Health prior to reopening.

 

When the county is in Orange or Yellow Tier, K-12 schools may reopen after posting their CSP on their website for at least 5 days prior to providing in-person instruction. CSPs do not need to be reviewed by Public Health prior to reopening.

 

CDPH Cohort Guidance for Targeted Services and Special Education is not changed or affected by the new in-person instruction guidance. Schools may continue to provide targeted services and special education to small, stable cohorts when following cohort guidance and no CSP submission is required for these in-person activities. The term “cohort” is a specific CDPH term used for targeted services and special education staff and students, while “stable group” is a specific CDPH term for students receiving in-person general education.
 

Additional Resources

State​ (Estado)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention​ (Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades)

 
 
 
 
 
 

Childcare

Atención infantil
 

Local

 

State (Estado)

Centers for Disease Control​ and Prevention (Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades)

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Small Cohorts/Groups of Children & Youth

Haga clic para ver información sobre cohortes para niños y jóvenes en entornos supervisados

 

A cohort is a stable group of no more than 14 children or youth and no more than two supervising adults in a supervised environment. The group stays together for all activities, including meals and recreation. And this group avoids contact with anyone not in their group. 

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Follow the guidance for cohorts of children and youth in controlled, supervised and indoor environments. These environments include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • public and private schools (not open for in-person instruction at this time)

  • licensed and license-exempt child care settings 

  • organized and supervised care environments, like “distance learning hubs”

  • recreation programs

  • before and after school programs

  • youth groups

  • day camps

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Follow additional guidances and directives for specified settings:

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Kids and adults in supervised care environments must be in groups as small as possible. Kids and supervising adults in one group must not physically interact with:

  • kids and supervising adults in other groups

  • other facility staff

  • parents of kids in other groups

 

Practicing a cohort structure:

  • decreases opportunities for exposure to or transmission of the virus

  • facilitates more efficient contact tracing in the event of a positive case

  • allows for targeted testing, quarantine, and isolation of a single group instead of an entire population of kids and supervising adults

 

Click for the State’s answers to frequently asked questions about cohort guidance.

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Youth Sports 

Haga clic para ver información sobre los deportes juveniles

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Youth sports are allowed when they are outdoors and part of childcare or an organized/supervised youth sports program with distancing and face coverings at all times. Click here to view additional guidance for outdoor and indoor youth and recreational adult sports from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).

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Outdoor Playgrounds 

Haga clic para ver información sobre los patios de juego al aire libre

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To keep our outdoor playgrounds open and safe for all, please follow these simple steps:

  • Wear a face covering

  • Maintain at least 6 feet of distance

  • Wash or sanitize your hands

  • Eat or drink away from others

  • Visit during less busy times

  • Limit your visit to 30 minutes to reduce crowding

  • Stay home if you’re sick or have underlying health or medical conditions

 

Click here to download a PDF with safety tips.

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All playground facilities operators should review and follow the State's safety guidelines as well as post this flyer at all outdoor playgrounds.

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Resources for Parents and Families

Haga clic para ver recursos para padres y familias

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COVID-19 has made the back-to-school season a challenging time for students and their families. This school year is beginning with students having to get their education remotely instead of in a classroom with their friends and teachers. The following resources have been compiled to assist families in dealing with the impact of COVID-19 as students and teachers remotely head back to school.

 

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  • Meal Services During School Closures: Children eligible for free or subsidized meals can still get food through their schools at specific times. Please check with your local school district to verify the details.

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  • Borrowing computers or digital devices: School districts may let students borrow computers so they can engage in distance learning. Check with your local school district for details.

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  • Low-Cost Internet Access: A guide from the California Dept. of Education on cheap Internet plans from various service providers

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  • GoNoodle.com has videos with lots of activities for motor skills and mindfulness, mostly movement-oriented. Registration is free.

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  • Help for Students in Crisis: Resources for addressing mental health and wellness while school sites are closed from the California Department of Education (CDE). 

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  • California Parent & Youth Helpline®: Emotional support for families challenged by the pressures of Covid-19. Provides support and resource referrals to parents and youths during the current COVID-19 pandemic, 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Call or text 1-855-4APARENT (855-427-2736) for services in English, Spanish and other languages.
     

  • Kindergarten Countdown Resources: Contra Costa County Library created Kindergarten Countdown to provide families with examples of fun and open-ended activities to support future school success. The activities are all designed to promote the early literacy skills of talking, singing, reading, writing, playing, fine-motor skills and self-help. 

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Health Tools & Materials

Herramientas y materiales de Salud​