Supporting the Reopening and Continuing Operation of Schools and Early Childhood Education Providers
Orders Federal Support to Reopen Schools and Child Care Safely
What it does
Agencies must provide guidance, data, supplies, and technical assistance to support safe reopening and operation of schools, child care, Head Start, and higher education.
Real-world impact
- Schools and child care must receive guidance and technical assistance for safe reopening.
- Federal data collection on pandemic impacts will be disaggregated by student demographics.
- COVID-19 testing materials and supplies to be allocated to schools and child care.
Topics
Summary
This order directs federal agencies to help schools, child care providers, Head Start programs, and colleges reopen and stay open safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. It emphasizes protecting health while ensuring students receive high-quality instruction and essential services.
The Secretary of Education must issue evidence-based guidance, create a best-practices clearinghouse, and collect disaggregated data; the Secretary of Health and Human Services must help allocate testing and supplies, support contact tracing, and provide reopening guidance for child care and Head Start to reduce learning loss and address disparities.
Questions, answered
Ask questions about this executive order and its implications. Try:
- “What agencies are affected by this order?”
- “How does this order change existing policy?”
- “What are the practical implications of this order?”