Interim Guidance for Administrators of US K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs to Plan, Prepare, and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Oct 15, 2026

Interim guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for administrators of K-12 schools and child care programs on planning, preparing for, and responding to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Revisions dated 3/11/2020 clarify mitigation strategies based on community transmission levels and presence of cases, and emphasize local decision-making in collaboration with health officials. The document outlines steps for preparedness, minimal-to-moderate transmission, and substantial transmission, plus actions when a confirmed case enters a school, to support safe learning and continuity while protecting vulnerable populations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages10

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

Who is this guidance for?

Why is this guidance being issued?

What is the role of schools in responding to COVID-19?

How should schools prepare for, and respond to, COVID-19?

When a confirmed case has entered a school, regardless of community transmission

When there is no community transmission (preparedness phase)

When there is minimal to moderate community transmission

When there is substantial community transmission

Interim Guidance for Administrators of US K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs to Plan, Prepare, and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Summary of Recent Changes Revisions were made on 3/11/2020 to reflect the following: • Clarification of appropriate mitigation strategies based on level of community transmission of COVID-19 and presence of COVID-19 cases within the school. • Schools, working together with local health departments, have an important role in slowing the spread of diseases and protecting vulnerable students and staff, to help ensure students have safe and healthy learning environments. • Guidance for child care programs and schools is organized into three categories based on the level of community transmission: 1) when there is no community transmission (preparedness phase), 2) when there is minimal to moderate community transmission, and 3) when there is substantial community transmission. • Guidance is also provided for when a confirmed case has entered a school, regardless of the level of community transmission. • All decisions about implementing school-based strategies (e.g., dismissals, event cancellations, other social distancing measures) should be made locally, in collaboration with local health officials who can help determine the level of transmission in the community. Information about level of transmission is available in CDC’s framework for mitigation. In This Document Who is this guidance for? Why is this guidance being issued? What is the role of schools in responding to COVID-19? How should schools prepare for, and respond to, COVID-19? When a confirmed case has entered a school, regardless of community transmission When there is no community transmission (preparedness phase) When there is minimal to moderate community transmission When there is substantial community transmission 3/25/2020 For more [information:](information: www.cdc.gov/COVID19)[ www.cdc.gov/COVID19](information: www.cdc.gov/COVID19) This interim guidance is based on what is currently known about the transmission and severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will update this guidance as needed and as additional information becomes available. Please check the following CDC website periodically for updated interim guidance: [https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html). Health officials are currently taking steps to prevent the introduction and spread of COVID-19 into US communities. Schools play an important role in this effort. Through collaboration and coordination with local health departments, schools should take steps to disseminate information about the disease and its potential transmission within their school community. Schools should prepare to take steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among their students and staff should local health officials identify such a need. Schools should continue to collaborate, share information, and review plans with local health officials to help protect the whole school community, including those with special health needs. School plans should be designed to complement other community mitigation strategies to protect high risk populations and the healthcare system, and minimize disruption to teaching and learning and protect students and staff from social stigma and discrimination. Plans should build on everyday practices (e.g., encouraging hand hygiene, monitoring absenteeism, communicating routinely) that include strategies for before, during, and after a possible outbreak. Who is this guidance for? This interim guidance is intended for administrators of public and private child care programs and K-12 schools. Administrators are individuals who oversee the daily operations of child care programs and K-12 schools, and may include positions like child care program directors, school district superint

FAQs

Who is this interim guidance intended for?

It is intended for administrators of public and private child care programs and K-12 schools, including roles such as child care directors, superintendents, principals, and assistant principals.

Why was this guidance issued?

The guidance helps child care programs, schools, and partners prevent transmission of COVID-19, react quickly if a case is identified, and plan for continuity of teaching and learning during community spread.

How should schools decide on mitigation actions?

Decisions about dismissals, event cancellations, and other social distancing measures should be made locally in collaboration with local health officials, who can help determine the community transmission level using CDC’s mitigation framework.

Oct 15, 2026

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