ED COVID-19 HANDBOOK - Volume 2 - Roadmap to Reopening Safely and Meeting All Students’ Needs

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Angel

This handbook provides updated guidance for safe reopening of Kindergarten through Grade 12 schools amid COVID-19, emphasizing evidence-based strategies enabled by federal funding under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. It outlines actions to create safe and healthy learning environments, meet students’ social, emotional, and mental health needs, and address lost instructional time through accelerated learning and effective technology use. It also supports educator and staff stability and well-being, and addresses inequities affecting students of color and other impacted groups.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages53

Reading Time2 h 14 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Creating Safe and Healthy Learning Environments

Meeting basic needs: providing school meals regardless of educational setting

Meeting the social, emotional, and mental health needs of students

Providing all students with access to a safe and inclusive learning environment

Addressing Lost Instructional Time

Accelerating learning through instructional approaches, tutoring, and expanded learning time

Supporting equitable access and effective use of technology

Using data about students’ opportunity to learn to help target resources and support

Addressing resource inequities

Supporting Educator and Staff Stability and Well-Being

Stabilizing a diverse and qualified educator workforce

Supporting educator and staff well-being

CDC has recently updated its guidanceforCOVID-19Prevention in Kindergarten and(K)-12SchoolsandED isworking quicklyto revisethis Handbook accordingly. OPEPD-IO-21-02 Volume 2 • 2021 ED COVID-19 HANDBOOK Roadmap to Reopening Safely and Meeting All Students’ Needs U.S. Department of Education Dr. Miguel A. Cardona Secretary of Education Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development Erin McHugh Acting Assistant Secretary April 2021 This report is in the public domain. Authorization to reproduce it in whole or in part is granted. While permission to reprint this publication is not necessary, the citation should be U.S. Department of Education, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development, ED COVID-19 Handbook, Volume 2: Roadmap to Reopening Safely and Meeting All Students’ Needs Washington, DC, 2021. This report is available on the Department’s website at [https://www2.ed.gov/documents/coronavirus/reopening-2.pdf](https://www2.ed.gov/documents/coronavirus/reopening-2.pdf). Availability of Alternate Formats On request, this publication is available in alternate formats, such as Braille or large print. For more information, please contact the Department’s Alternate Format Center at 202-260-0818 or via e-mail at [alternateformatcenter@ed.gov](alternateformatcenter@ed.gov). Notice to Limited English Proficient Persons If you have difficulty understanding English, you may request language assistance services for Department information that is available to the public. These language assistance services are available free of charge. If you need more information about interpretation or translation services, please call 1-800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872- 5327) (TTY: 1-800-877-8339), email us at [Ed.Language.Assistance@ed.gov](Ed.Language.Assistance@ed.gov), or write to U.S. Department of Education, Information Resource Center, 400 Maryland Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20202. Contents Introduction ........................................................... 1 I. Creating Safe and Healthy Learning Environments....................... 5 a. Meeting basic needs: providing school meals regardless of educational setting ................................................. 5 b. Meeting the social, emotional, and mental health needs of students ........ 8 c. Providing all students with access to a safe and inclusive learning environment.................................................. 12 II. Addressing Lost Instructional Time .................................... 18 a. Accelerating learning through instructional approaches, tutoring, and expanded learning time ............................................ 18 b. Supporting equitable access and effective use of technology .............. 25 c. Using data about students’ opportunity to learn to help target resources and support ................................................. 28 d. Addressing resource inequities........................................ 32 III. Supporting Educator and Staff Stability and Well-Being ................. 38 a. Stabilizing a diverse and qualified educator workforce .................... 38 b. Supporting educator and staff well-being .............................. 42 Introduction Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has exacerbated existing inequities and inadequacies across a range of social structures, including our nation’s education system. The pandemic has also had a more damaging impact on communities and people of color, including many who already faced health challenges. Congress has provided significant federal funding, including most recently through the historic American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP), to support the safe reopening of schools. However, this is the first of many steps ahead. For most schools, returning to the status quo will not address the full impact of COVID-19 on students’ social, emotional, physical, mental health, and academic needs or the impact on educator and staff well-being. Approac

FAQs

What is the purpose of ED COVID-19 Handbook Volume 2?

It serves as a resource for states, districts, schools, and teachers to reopen safely and support students, using evidence-based strategies enabled by federal funding.

Which areas does the handbook address for reopening schools safely?

It covers creating safe and healthy learning environments, meeting students’ social, emotional, and mental health needs, addressing lost instructional time, and supporting educator and staff well-being.

How does the handbook recommend using ARP funding to support reopening?

ARP funding can be used for COVID-19 prevention strategies, interventions addressing lost instructional time, and targeted supports for students disproportionately impacted, including afterschool or out-of-school time programs.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Angel