For Students

• Some may need accelerated teaching and instruction to make up for skills or lessons missed during online study.
• Some will need access to digital devices and high-speed broadband internet.
• Some will need additional support for academics, technology use and emotional health.
• Extracurricular activities such as sports and the arts may be impacted — practice schedules, local travel for games or events, etc.

For Staffing

• Teachers and staff may not wish to return to school buildings, even when prompted, and may need special accommodations.
• New shortages could emerge if teachers and staff with health challenges or who are caring for at-risk family members retire or leave their jobs.
• Teachers may need professional development on teaching online and using digital tools more effectively.
• Child care for teachers and staff may not be available if daycare centers are not yet open or have closed permanently.

For Parents

• Parents who work at home may not have the time to assist their children with schoolwork when students return to distance learning.
• Digital devices may be in short supply if families must share computers or tablets for work and school.
• School reopening may need to be coordinated with local government and businesses, so children are not left home alone.

For Attendance

• Waivers may be necessary for school attendance and nontraditional instruction requirements.
• Does your state have requirements around classroom seat-time and minutes of instruction? Do they need to be waived or changed?
• If schools are funded based on attendance, do districts need waivers or policy changes from the state?
• What are your state attendance policies and should they be adjusted?

For Transportation

• Social distancing may limit the number of students on each bus or trip.
• Should students be screened when they board a bus? How exactly? What supplies will be needed?
• More bus drivers and additional maintenance and fuel could be needed depending on how schedules change.
• Buses will need to be cleaned and disinfected more often and in new ways, possibly impacting staffing and supply costs.
• Some bus drivers have underlying health conditions. Schools may need to screen drivers regularly.
• Some bus drivers have other jobs and may face challenges in changing schedules.
• What happens if a student gets sick or tests positive for COVID-19 and has been on a bus with others? New procedures may be required.

For Nutrition/Food Services

• Schools may need to adjust plans for students who need school meals, providing deliveries by bus or through community pick-up sites.

For Facilities

• At what intervals will schools need to keep classrooms clean and disinfected? What about common areas, such as hallways, playgrounds, cafeterias and pick-up and drop-off locations?
• Social distancing could change schedules as the numbers of students are restricted in classrooms, restrooms, larger common areas, playgrounds, buses, school offices and other spaces.
• Will additional classrooms or other space be necessary, requiring districts to repurpose areas in schools, reopen old schools or use community buildings or other facilities?
• Career and technical centers that serve multiple communities may need to adjust schedules depending on their situations.
• Schools need guidelines for when students, teachers and staff should wear protective gear like masks and gloves.

For Policy/Accountability

• Waivers may be necessary for school attendance and nontraditional instruction requirements.
• Does your state have requirements around classroom seat-time and minutes of instruction? Do they need to be waived or changed?
• How does your state fund schools, and will those policies be affected? (Kentucky uses average daily attendance. West Virginia requires schools to meet attendance goals.)
• What are your state attendance policies and should they be adjusted?
• Contracts for maintenance, transportation, nutrition and teaching staff may need to be modified to add hours or alter schedules.