ODE updates guidance, shares tool that shows schools’ instructional model

The latest “Ready Schools, Safe Learners” guidance is the final word for Oregon schools, even if it contradicts authorities such as the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to the Oregon Department of Education.

ODE released an updated guidance Friday, Feb. 19. The new document adds Oregon Health Authority requirements for school-based testing, clarifications on cohorts and face covering rules, and updated transportation rules that conform with a CDC order.  

ODE and OHA have collaborated to create an interactive tool that shows schools’ instructional model and the recommended model based on county COVID-19 case numbers. Oregon has more than 131,000 students in classrooms, according to Gov. Kate Brown in a statement Friday.  

ODE has also revised its “Planning for COVID-19 Scenarios in Schools” and the operational blueprint template.