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~~P~~andemic ~~Era~~  ~~  \nSETTING A NEW  \nCOURSE  \nA Legal Guide to Operating Schools in the Pandemic Era  \nTable of Contents  \nIntroduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 5  \nHealth and Safety .............................................................................................................................................. 7  \nFunding ................................................................................................................................................................12  \nEmployment and Labor ....................................................................................................................................15  \nSchool District Operations ............................................................................................................................ 24  \nEquity & Discrimination.................................................................................................................................. 26  \nServing Students with Disabilities...............................................................................................................30  \nServing English Learners................................................................................................................................ 35  \nVirtual Platforms and Student Data Privacy .............................................................................................. 37  \nSources............................................................................................................................................................... 41  \n© 2020 National School Boards Association, All Rights Reserved  \nIntroduction  \nPerhaps no public service shutdown has affected other enterprises more than the mass closures of K-12 public schools associated with the coronavirus pandemic. When K-12 school districts nationwide closed buildings and moved instruction online in the spring of 2020, American life changed. Teachers, students, and their families were asked to support the online learning effort, and employers were asked to adjust for employees whose children were learning from home. Families struggled to support their learners. Many of them faced extra challenges like limited technology access, limited supports for students with disability-related needs, and limited time given other demands like working and caring for family members.  \nThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest that schools consider risks associated with various reopening models and determine reopening measures that are “feasible, practical, acceptable, and tailored to the needs of each community.” Some schools may limit attendance to those children who live in the school’s geographical area only or who come from limited transmission areas ina phased process. The CDC notes that schools must provide students experiencing homelessness equal access to free, appropriate public education, and residency requirements should not be a barrier to the enrollment, attendance, or success in school. McKinney Vento Act, 42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.  \n5  \n© 2020 National School Boards Association, All Rights Reserved  \nK-12 schools are considering a new pandemic operating scheme that presumes the following realities will continue:  \n1. Classrooms and activities will be less crowded. Any in-person instruction will take place with active mitigation measures in place. These measures likely will include social distancing of staff and students, reduced class sizes, elimination of events with large crowds like sports spectators, and elimination of travel events like field trips. Other measures include the formation of cohorts of students and staff that do not mix with other cohorts, frequent handwashing and sanitizin","cbCaiivEZNdQpK9e","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiivEZNdQpK9e","pdf",1575295,44,"English","# Introduction\n# Health and Safety\n# Funding\n# Employment and Labor\n# School District Operations\n# Equity & Discrimination\n# Serving Students with Disabilities\n# Serving English Learners\n# Virtual Platforms and Student Data Privacy\n# Sources","[{\"question\":\"What is the purpose of this legal guide for school leaders?\",\"answer\":\"It identifies legal issues school leaders should consider when reopening and operating schools during the COVID-19 era, including how operational shifts may increase legal liability risk.\"},{\"question\":\"Which main topics are covered to support reopening decisions?\",\"answer\":\"The guide covers health and safety, funding, employment and labor, district operations, equity and discrimination, disability services, English learners, and virtual platforms and student data privacy.\"},{\"question\":\"How does the guide address health and safety measures for in-person instruction?\",\"answer\":\"It discusses realities that assume mitigation measures such as social distancing, reduced class sizes, cohort formation, frequent sanitation and disinfecting, and use of personal protective equipment for some staff and students.\"}]","Setting a New Course - A Legal Guide to Operating Schools in the Pandemic Era | PDF",1792055805,111]