Ready Schools Safe Learners was the guidance document for the 2021-2022 school year. For school year 2022-2023, guidance is called “Safe Return Plans”. Visit that page to view current information. This page is retained only as a reference.
Ready Schools, Safe Learners Resiliency Framework for the 2021-22 School Year is dated 3/29/22.
We make best attempts to update the information here; please reach out if you have questions or need confirmation.
Tanya Frisendahl
Reopening Advisor
Educational Services Team
tanya_frisendahl@soesd.k12.or.us
Date of most recent document/update is listed in (parenthesis).
Office hours are now hosted as needed. View more details here.
Here are the videos from prior sessions:
Testing will help to quickly identify COVID-19 cases in K-12 schools, interrupt viral spread through households and in classrooms, reduce the risk for students and staff during in-person learning, and may be used to shorten the length of quarantine for exposed individuals who test negative when this is recommended by the local public health authority.
On-Site COVID19 School Testing Requirements – Oregon Health Authority (OHA) guidance for how to implement on-site testing in K-12 facilities. (1/14/22)
OHA K-12 Reporting Portal – Daily reporting of all positive (no longer negative) results through the OHA K-12 Reporting Portal OHA requires all COVID-19 test results, both positive and negative, to be reported daily. Schools must submit all test results through the portal.
Schools can order more Binax NOW and iHealth home tests nowvia Smartsheet. Due to nationwide shortages, it is recommended that schools order early.
Note: Oregon’s state distribution warehouse will move to a new facility between Feb. 21 and March 4, 2022 and will be unable to operate during that time. If you order supplies from the warehouse, including COVID-19 test kits and personal protective equipment (PPE), please place your order no later than Feb. 15 to avoid disruption of service. Plan on ordering enough supplies to last through mid-March.
Please send any questions to ORESF8.LogisticsChiefs@dhsoha.state.or.us
Binax NOW tests — Order reagent only
Abbott BinaxNOW Testing Log (2/20/21) – Results of each test must be promptly logged. Testing logs must be kept in a secure location and may be audited by OHA. Jackson County schools must use the Jackson County log below.
COVID19 Testing K-12 Registration Form (2/20/21)
COVID19 Testing Consent Form – All students must have written consent on file prior to COVID-19 testing; staff may give verbal consent at the time of testing. Staff are not required to have a consent form on file in order to be tested for COVID-19. (2/20/21)
Understanding your Positive COVID19 Result (2/25/21)
Understanding your Negative COVID19 Result (2/25/21)
ODE Update (2/9/21)
The release of Ready Schools, Safe Learners guidance on 1/19/21 (RSSL has since been replaced by RSRF) included information and requirements related to a new Oregon Health Authority (OHA) administered school testing program for COVID-19 using BinaxNow Antigen tests. Many are now registered and actively implementing the testing strategy as outlined by OHA.
This testing program is available to all public and private schools in Oregon. It is a service to students and staff that can help to reduce disruption from COVID-19.
The testing program guide was updated on 2/10/21 with the following small changes:
You can email schooltesting.covid@dhsoha.state.or.us for more information on this aspect of the program.
Any formal complaints regarding schools who are required to offer access to the testing program will be processed through OSHA.
ODE provided a closed captioned recording of a webinar provided by Dr. Judy Guzman-Cotrill titled, “A Review of BinaxNow COVID-19 Antigen Testing in K-12 Schools.”
This training covers essential information for offering access to the Oregon Health Authority coordinated school testing program.
Click here for the presentation slides and an FAQ.
Oregon will no longer consider masked contact in K-12 settings, including school buses, to be an exposure, regardless of distancing. The updated guidance will strongly advise students and staff to maintain physical distancing to the greatest extent possible.
View ODE’s new COVID19 Testing in K-12 Schools Guide now. (eff. 1/14/22).
Please provide OHA– at the very least– a full name, DOB, test date and the county which the case resides in. This helps OHA link cases to outbreaks.
OHA and ODE strongly advise the following:
Isolation and quarantine protocols
Response to Outbreak protocols
Contacts should still monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19 for the full 14 days after exposure, and if symptoms develop they should isolate and seek testing.
Any person who has been in close contact with someone else who was exposed to COVID-19 does not need to quarantine. That is, quarantine is only recommended for people who have close contact with a person who is confirmed or presumptive as determined by the LPHA, not close contact with a contact (an exposed person without COVID-19 symptoms and no positive test result).
SOESD provides evaluative services in our offices, as well as direct student instructional services in the schools of the districts we serve. Each district we serve submits a blueprint for each of their schools where we may serve students. SOESD’s other direct instructional services for students are outlined in separate SOESD blueprints here.
Community Christian Academy
The blueprints for all the districts in southern Oregon (and the state) are located on ODE’s web site.
SOESD assists districts with preparing and updating blueprints to Operational Plans with resources available in the Operational Blueprint Templates and Protocols.
On July 15, USED announced formal approval of the Esser III Plan.
All Oregon school districts are required to complete and submit the following items through a single Smartsheet form to ODE no later than August 23, 2021:
About the ESSER III District Plan
The ESSER III District Plan is designed to be completed and submitted by school districts. Districts must include all public schools within the district boundaries that the district operates or sponsors, including district-sponsored charter schools, as part of their plan. In addition the ESSER III District Plan:
About the Safe Return to In-Person Instruction & Continuity of Services Plan
Outcomes realized through the use of the ESSER III funds can set a foundation for years to come. Focusing on a small number of high-impact items, within a cohesive and aligned strategy, and investments rooted in research and best practice can set a foundation for strong growth and lasting legacy.
With the investment of ESSER III funds, Oregon can expand efforts already underway, such as:
Process Steps for Completing & Submitting All Plans by August 23, 2021
OHA and ODE strongly advise face coverings for all students in grades kindergarten and up, and all staff when students are inside the building. Certain accommodations for medical needs or disability may be necessary. (06/30/21)
Per OHA guidance, it is acceptable for both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated people to be outdoors without a face covering. In general, face coverings are preferred over face shields, as they provide better containment of small aerosols that can be produced while talking.
A face covering is NOT a substitute for physical distancing. Face coverings remain strongly recommended in addition to maintaining at least 3 feet of physical distancing to the extent possible, especially when indoors around people from different households.
If a school is experiencing active transmission of COVID-19 or is located in a community experiencing increased rates of COVID-19, they should strongly consider maintaining or reinstating universal requirements for face coverings.
None of these provisions should limit an individual or family decision to continue to wear face coverings in school settings. Schools should take steps to prevent and interrupt teasing, bullying, or harassment related to COVID-19 or COVID-19 mitigation efforts, especially when the civil rights of students may be violated.
OHA and ODE strongly advise that schools support and promote physical distancing as described below (06/30/21):
School facilities are the responsibility of the local school district and as such they are responsible for cleaning the buildings. Because this is a local control issue, the state does not have systems in place to provide additional supplies to districts.
Try these options for more information:
Early Learning Updates: https://oregonearlylearning.com/COVID-19-Resources
