CDC, Ed Department Issue Guidance On Reopening Schools To Students With Disabilities

Via Disability Scoop:

Federal officials are laying out a roadmap for safely reopening schools to in-person learning complete with details on how to serve students with disabilities. In a pair of documents issued late last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Education are emphasizing that evidence shows schools can safely operate during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic if they take precautions. That means universal masking and social distancing in addition to other measures including hand-washing, cleaning facilities and contact tracing, according to the CDC’s newly released operational strategy for schools. Regular testing and prioritizing vaccinations for school staff also play a role, but neither are prerequisites for opening to in-person learning, the agency said. A separate handbook from the Education Department that serves as a supplement to the CDC document clarifies that students with disabilities shouldn’t be left behind as schools resume in-person learning. In fact, given that their needs are often difficult to meet in a virtual environment, it may be appropriate to prioritize this group, the document indicates.

Source/more: Disability Scoop