Special Report
How Schools Plan to Reopen in Every State
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Schools across the country have begun to reopen. Some students are already going for in-person classes, while others will be starting the new academic year online. While each school or school district has the final say about the method of reopening, state health departments have released different sets of guidelines — sometimes accused of being somewhat vague and confusing — for safely reopening schools.
The guidelines each state department has released are only a guidance and not a mandate. They offer advice on what schools should require from students, parents, and staff in order to prevent the transmission of the coronavirus.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed executive orders, directives, and guidelines issued by either governors or education and health departments to create a list of restrictions and safety recommendations for resuming in-person instruction in every state.
Though the recommendations vary largely from state to state, classes across the country will all look very different than they did in March, when schools were suddenly ordered to close because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Most states require that school districts at the very least plan for the possibility of remote learning, as the shutting down of schools may be necessary again depending on community spread. Districts are taking different precautions to prevent outbreaks. Officials in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Chicago, which are some of the largest school districts in the country, have already decided the fall semester of the new academic year will be held full-time online.
Many of the requirements and suggestions are dependent on whether states have been able to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Most states’ guidelines were released at the beginning or in the middle of June, before a resurgence of COVID-19 infections was reported across the country — here are the cities where the virus is growing the fastest right now.
Click here for every state’s plan to reopen schools.
Alabama
> Weekly schedule changes: 2 days in school alternating AM and PM schedule, 3 days remote learning
> Daily routine changes: Reinforce hand-washing, limit use of classroom materials
> Mask or face covering rules: Recommended for nurses and school visitors
> Health screening precautions: Daily temperature checks
> Classroom space organization: Reduce class sizes, limit entries and exits to school, use gyms as classrooms
> Extracurricular activities status: Allowed
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Alaska
> Weekly schedule changes: Based on community spread, elementary school in-person, middle and high school online
> Daily routine changes: Based on community spread, extended dismissal times, scheduled arrival times
> Mask or face covering rules: Encouraged whenever possible
> Health screening precautions: Daily temperature and symptom screening for all students and staff
> Classroom space organization: Based on community spread; same groups every day, reduce mixing of students
> Extracurricular activities status: Based on community spread
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Arizona
> Weekly schedule changes: Up to each district
> Daily routine changes: Assigned seating, designated arrival times or locations, serve lunch in classrooms
> Mask or face covering rules: Recommended for everyone when physical distancing is not possible
> Health screening precautions: Daily temperature and symptom checks
> Classroom space organization: Reduce class sizes, reorganize classrooms to allow 6 feet between students; install physical barriers
> Extracurricular activities status: Allowed, with guidance
Arkansas
> Weekly schedule changes: Up to each district
> Daily routine changes: Lunch in classrooms; no gatherings in hallways and cafeterias; rotating teachers, not students
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for children 10+ on buses, drivers
> Health screening precautions: Have screening stations, screening signs
> Classroom space organization: Repurpose unused spaces, modify existing spaces to allow for maximum distancing of students and staff
> Extracurricular activities status: Allowed, with guidance
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California
> Weekly schedule changes: Alternate distance learning days with in-person days
> Daily routine changes: Stagger cafeteria use, lunch in classrooms, limit gatherings
> Mask or face covering rules: Recommended for all staff
> Health screening precautions: Daily screening and temperature checks, hand-washing required before entering school
> Classroom space organization: Reduce class sizes, use gyms and auditoriums for classes, install physical barriers
> Extracurricular activities status: Allowed if physical distance can be maintained
Colorado
> Weekly schedule changes: Up to each district
> Daily routine changes: Encourage frequent hand-washing, staggered arrival and dismissal times, assigned seats
> Mask or face covering rules: Recommended for students 11+, required if 6 feet distance cannot be maintained
> Health screening precautions: Temperature and symptom screenings for all at home or on site
> Classroom space organization: Same groups every day if 6 feet physical distance cannot be maintained, direct flow of movement in hallways, install physical barriers
> Extracurricular activities status: Vary by reopening phase
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Connecticut
> Weekly schedule changes: Mixing online and in-school classes
> Daily routine changes: Less free movement through school facilities, assigned seating
> Mask or face covering rules: Masks required for all when inside school
> Health screening precautions: Maximize social distancing, frequent hand-washing, students bring their own water
> Classroom space organization: Same groups every day, use gyms and auditoriums for classrooms
> Extracurricular activities status: Allow completely independent ones like yoga
Delaware
> Weekly schedule changes: Based on community spread
> Daily routine changes: Direct flow of people in common areas, do activities that allow for social distancing, minimizing mixing of classes
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for staff and grades 4-12, recommended for Pre-K – 3 grade
> Health screening precautions: Parents check students for symptoms every morning
> Classroom space organization: Individual desks, minimize table seating, use outdoor space for classrooms, desks face the same direction
> Extracurricular activities status: Canceling recommended
Florida
> Weekly schedule changes: In-person, unless barred by local directives
> Daily routine changes: Lunch in classrooms or outdoors, no sharing of supplies
> Mask or face covering rules: Up to each school
> Health screening precautions: Set up secondary clinic for kids showing symptoms
> Classroom space organization: Same groups every day, convert cafeterias, libraries, gyms, auditoriums, and outdoor areas into classrooms
> Extracurricular activities status: Virtual activities
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Georgia
> Weekly schedule changes: Up to each district
> Daily routine changes: Walking zones for in-person drop-off, schedule arrival times, schedule many outdoor activities
> Mask or face covering rules: Personal choice
> Health screening precautions: Students wash their desks daily, ban sharing of supplies
> Classroom space organization: Close every other row of seats; use separate partitions in open spaces; use markings on floors or walls
> Extracurricular activities status: Not those that require close guarding and contact
Hawaii
> Weekly schedule changes: First 9 days will be half days; prioritize in-person classes for young kids
> Daily routine changes: Same groups every day, organize more virtual activities, lunch in classroom, stagger arrival and dismissal protocols
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for all outside the classroom and when 6 feet spacing is not possible
> Health screening precautions: Daily health screenings
> Classroom space organization: Install physical barriers, maintain physical distancing, keep desks at least 3 feet apart
> Extracurricular activities status: Canceling recommended
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Idaho
> Weekly schedule changes: Hybrid instruction based on community transmission
> Daily routine changes: Limit physical interaction through group work
> Mask or face covering rules: Recommended for all when practical
> Health screening precautions: Daily symptom and temperature checks for all
> Classroom space organization: Use large spaces for classrooms, remove unused desks
> Extracurricular activities status: Based on community spread
Illinois
> Weekly schedule changes: Most schools will resume in-person instruction
> Daily routine changes: Schedule restroom breaks, stagger arrivals and dismissals, restrict sharing of any items, suspend use of lockers
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for all students age 5+
> Health screening precautions: Daily symptom screenings and temperature checks
> Classroom space organization: Rearrange desks to allow 6-foot distance in all directions, keep windows open, mark path of travel inside the classroom
> Extracurricular activities status: Allowed, with guidance
Indiana
> Weekly schedule changes: Most schools offer option of full-time in-person or remote instruction
> Daily routine changes: Stay in single classroom, no mixing of classes or grade levels, discourage attendance awards
> Mask or face covering rules: Recommended for school staff
> Health screening precautions: Daily temperature screenings
> Classroom space organization: Rearrange desks facing same direction, assign seating
> Extracurricular activities status: Allowed, with guidance
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Iowa
> Weekly schedule changes: At least 50% of classes in person
> Daily routine changes: Up to each school
> Mask or face covering rules: Not recommended but allowed
> Health screening precautions: Up to each school
> Classroom space organization: Post signs on how to stop the spread of the virus, properly wash hands
> Extracurricular activities status: Up to each school
Kansas
> Weekly schedule changes: Up to each school: on-site, hybrid, or remote
> Daily routine changes: Designate single entry and exit points, staggered arrival and dismissal times, change bell schedule to minimize foot traffic
> Mask or face covering rules: Masks for staff, visitors, and most students required
> Health screening precautions: Daily temperature checks for staff
> Classroom space organization: Install physical barriers, physical guides to direct traffic, seating areas at least 6 feet apart
> Extracurricular activities status: Pursue virtual activities
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Kentucky
> Weekly schedule changes: Based on virus transmission; calculate how many students should be allowed in classrooms
> Daily routine changes: Schedule arrival and dismissal times,
> Mask or face covering rules: Recommended or required, depending on local virus transmission level
> Health screening precautions: Daily temperature checks
> Classroom space organization: Hallways and stairways should be marked with “lanes” for traffic flow
> Extracurricular activities status: Allowed with social distancing precautions
Louisiana
> Weekly schedule changes: Reopen in phases; up to each school
> Daily routine changes: Hand-washing at least every two hours, remain separated even outdoors
> Mask or face covering rules: Required; students who can’t wear them will be in static groups
> Health screening precautions: Daily health and temperature screenings
> Classroom space organization: Same groups every day, 10 people, including adults, per class, separate groups with walls or partitions when indoors
> Extracurricular activities status: Based on reopening phase
Maine
> Weekly schedule changes: Based on community spread
> Daily routine changes: Interdisciplinary courses, 6 feet of physical distancing is required during lunch
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for adults, required for students age 5+
> Health screening precautions: Symptom screening for all
> Classroom space organization: Keep students in small groups, increase spacing, mark one-way directions if possible
> Extracurricular activities status: Restricted
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Maryland
> Weekly schedule changes: 2-3 days a week in school, longer school days
> Daily routine changes: Restrict students from changing classrooms, stagger school bus schedules
> Mask or face covering rules: Recommended
> Health screening precautions: Daily temperature checks for staff
> Classroom space organization: Reduce class sizes, place desks 6 feet from each other
> Extracurricular activities status: Not allowed
Massachusetts
> Weekly schedule changes: Up to each district; academic year start postponed until Sept. 16 and cut to 170 days
> Daily routine changes: Limit traffic in hallways, spend time in same groups
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for grade 2 and up, encouraged for the rest
> Health screening precautions: Temperature checks are not recommended
> Classroom space organization: Same groups every day for elementary students, no maximum number for class size but students must be 6 feet apart, use large spaces for classrooms
> Extracurricular activities status: TBD
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Michigan
> Weekly schedule changes: Up to each district, online classes must be an option
> Daily routine changes: Reinforce proper hand-washing techniques required, hand-washing every 2-3 hours, limit use of classroom materials
> Mask or face covering rules: Required
> Health screening precautions: Daily temperature checks
> Classroom space organization: Desks at least 6 feet apart, facing same direction, reduce class sizes, post signs showing proper social distancing
> Extracurricular activities status: Not allowed
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Minnesota
> Weekly schedule changes: Up to each district
> Daily routine changes: Schedule hygiene routines
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for students, staff, and others in schools, offices, and transportation
> Health screening precautions: Daily symptom and temperature checks
> Classroom space organization: Give students as much space as possible
> Extracurricular activities status: Allowed, with guidance
Mississippi
> Weekly schedule changes: Up to each district
> Daily routine changes: Stagger cafeteria use
> Mask or face covering rules: Required indoors and outdoors when social distancing is not possible
> Health screening precautions: Routine symptom and temperature screening
> Classroom space organization: 6 foot distancing is recommended
> Extracurricular activities status: Allowed, with guidance
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Missouri
> Weekly schedule changes: Up to each district
> Daily routine changes: Assigned seating, lunch in classrooms
> Mask or face covering rules: Recommended for staff and faculty only
> Health screening precautions: Daily symptom screenings
> Classroom space organization: Desks should face the same direction, be 6 feet apart if possible
> Extracurricular activities status: Allowed, with guidance
Montana
> Weekly schedule changes: Students may alternate school days or attend half days, allow for cleaning time in classrooms
> Daily routine changes: Lunches suggested to be served in classrooms, staggered arrival times
> Mask or face covering rules: Recommended for all students and staff
> Health screening precautions: Visitor temperature checks
> Classroom space organization: Separate desks as much as possible, break large classes in small groups, close gyms, playgrounds, and libraries
> Extracurricular activities status: Canceling recommended
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Nebraska
> Weekly schedule changes: Up to each district
> Daily routine changes: Frequent and proper hand-washing
> Mask or face covering rules: No mandate
> Health screening precautions: Change air filters regularly, make visitors wash their hands before entering the school, self-screen, sanitize, and maintain physical distancing
> Classroom space organization: Move high school choirs to larger spaces, or practice in smaller groups
> Extracurricular activities status: Only sports is allowed to continue
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Nevada
> Weekly schedule changes: Schools open on the scheduled date have to be prepared if there are any renewed concerns
> Daily routine changes: Limit use of common areas like playgrounds, teachers rorate, not students, restroom rotation
> Mask or face covering rules: Recommended for staff and students
> Health screening precautions: Post signs about proper hand-washing and other ways to stop the virus spread in visible locations, recommended symptom checks for staff and student
> Classroom space organization: Desks to be 6 feet apart, install markings
> Extracurricular activities status: Sports allowed to continue
New Hampshire
> Weekly schedule changes: Up to each school district
> Daily routine changes: Consider staggering recess times
> Mask or face covering rules: Masks recommended, but not required
> Health screening precautions: Daily health screenings for staff, students
> Classroom space organization: Desks to be placed 3 to 6 feet apart, all desks should face in the same direction, students should have assigned seats
> Extracurricular activities status: Up to each school
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New Jersey
> Weekly schedule changes: Up to each district, focus on hybrid learning
> Daily routine changes: Staggering meal times, recess held in staggered shifts, gym classes in marked areas
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for school staff and visitors
> Health screening precautions: Screening for symptoms and history of exposure
> Classroom space organization: Install physical barriers between desks, desks face the same direction
> Extracurricular activities status: Avoid close-group activities like reading circles
New Mexico
> Weekly schedule changes: Up to each district
> Daily routine changes: Establish protocols for bus stops and loading/unloading students
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for all students and staff
> Health screening precautions: Daily temperature checks
> Classroom space organization: Limit in-person classes to 50% of classroom capacity,a space seating, utilize outdoor seating as practicable> Extracurricular activities status: Eliminate field trips and nonessential travel except travel conducted under NMAA guidelines for sports and extracurricular activities
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New York
> Weekly schedule changes: 1-3 days a week in-person instruction
> Daily routine changes: Lunch in classroom, restrict use of hallways
> Mask or face covering rules: Required if 6 feet cannot be maintained
> Health screening precautions: Daily temperature checks for all
> Classroom space organization: Use large common areas for classrooms, keep students in same groups, use visual aids for traffic flow
> Extracurricular activities status: Canceling recommended
North Carolina
> Weekly schedule changes: Up to each district
> Daily routine changes: Frequent hand-washing, lunch in classrooms
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for teachers and students K-12
> Health screening precautions: Daily temperature checks
> Classroom space organization: One-way hallways, students in same groups, installing physical barriers
> Extracurricular activities status: Ban activities that bring many people together
North Dakota
> Weekly schedule changes: Up to school district
> Daily routine changes: Students in same groups, group sizes should be no more than 15 people
> Mask or face covering rules: Recommended for all students and staff, especially when physical distancing is difficult to maintain
> Health screening precautions: Testing for COVID-19 based on risk level
> Classroom space organization: Use large areas such as gyms and playgrounds to hold classes
> Extracurricular activities status: Cancel all field trips, inter-group events, and extracurricular activities
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Ohio
> Weekly schedule changes: 2-3 days a week in schools
> Daily routine changes: N/A
> Mask or face covering rules: Mandated for staff
> Health screening precautions: N/A
> Classroom space organization: Social distancing required
> Extracurricular activities status: Contact sports may be played in fall, pending decision on Sept. 4 from Ohio High School Athletic Association
Oklahoma
> Weekly schedule changes: Up to each district
> Daily routine changes: Lunch in classrooms
> Mask or face covering rules: Encouraged for staff and students
> Health screening precautions: Recommended temperature self-screenings at home
> Classroom space organization: Use larger spaces such as gyms, cafeterias, libraries and outdoor areas as additional class space,desks should be spaced at least 6 feet apart and point the same direction
> Extracurricular activities status: Pursue virtual activities and events in lieu of field trips, student assemblies, special performances
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Oregon
> Weekly schedule changes: Staggered schedules
> Daily routine changes: Students should remain in one classroom environment for the duration of the learning day, including lunch
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for staff and students
> Health screening precautions: Screen students and staff for COVID-19 symptoms
> Classroom space organization: Establish a minimum of 35 square feet per person when determining room capacity,use of plexiglass at library and cafeteria
> Extracurricular activities status: Allow sports
Pennsylvania
> Weekly schedule changes: Staggered schedules
> Daily routine changes: Create social distance between children on school buses
> Mask or face covering rules: Required unless social distancing can be maintained
> Health screening precautions: Recommend checking for COVID-19 symptoms before entering the school
> Classroom space organization: Space students 6 feet apart in class to the extent possible, hold classes in gyms, auditoriums, or other large spaces
> Extracurricular activities status: Sports will be held, with social distancing and mask-wearing requirements
Rhode Island
> Weekly schedule changes: Up to school district
> Daily routine changes: Maintain stable group sizes
> Mask or face covering rules: Required if maintaining 6 feet apart is difficult
> Health screening precautions: Screen students at home, or opt for on-site verbal symptom screening and/or temperature checks
> Classroom space organization: Reduce class sizes if necessary, recommended to us partitions, other dividers to create separation between students
> Extracurricular activities status: Field trips are not recommended
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South Carolina
> Weekly schedule changes: Up to each school
> Daily routine changes: Routinely clean frequently touched surfaces
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for students and staff who ride the state’s pupil transportation system
> Health screening precautions: No screening at school
> Classroom space organization: Space desks further apart
> Extracurricular activities status: Sports will be held, with social distancing and mask protocols
South Dakota
> Weekly schedule changes: Plan for full time remote learning if some students test positive
> Daily routine changes: Frequent hand-washing, lunch in classrooms
> Mask or face covering rules: Strongly recommended
> Health screening precautions: Daily temperature and symptom checks before entering the school
> Classroom space organization: Stagger students 6 feet apart,
> Extracurricular activities status: Sports will be held, with social distancing and mask protocols
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Tennessee
> Weekly schedule changes: Up to each district
> Daily routine changes: Frequent hand-washing, lunch in classrooms
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for all staff, students in middle and high school
> Health screening precautions: Daily temperature and symptoms checks
> Classroom space organization: Students must be at least 6 feet from one another
> Extracurricular activities status: Cancel events that involve mass gatherings
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Texas
> Weekly schedule changes: In-person instruction in public schools, offer online option as transition period
> Daily routine changes: Shorter schools days if there is a need for fewer people in buildings
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for adults and old enough students
> Health screening precautions: Symptom self-screening for staff
> Classroom space organization: Rearrange to practice social distancing
> Extracurricular activities status: Allowed
Utah
> Weekly schedule changes: Up to each district
> Daily routine changes: Frequent hand-washing, physical distancing
> Mask or face covering rules: Recommended
> Health screening precautions: Self-monitoring
> Classroom space organization: Reduce large gatherings, space desks 6 feet apart
> Extracurricular activities status: Allowed, with guidance
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Vermont
> Weekly schedule changes: Staggered student schedules
> Daily routine changes:Assign section of the school yard, no mingling
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for all staff
> Health screening precautions: Daily health check prior to boarding the bus
> Classroom space organization: Keep students in small groups by age in classrooms, but no more than 10 students
> Extracurricular activities status: Allowed, with guidance
Virginia
> Weekly schedule changes: Reopen in three phases, use a hybrid model
> Daily routine changes: Limit classes to 10 people
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for all staff
> Health screening precautions: Daily health screenings
> Classroom space organization: Close common areas like cafeterias, maintain physical distance
> Extracurricular activities status: Not allowed
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Washington
> Weekly schedule changes: Many districts going to hybrid approach
> Daily routine changes: Frequent hand-washing, physical distancing
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for staff, recommended for students > Health screening precautions: Daily temperature checks and symptoms checks
> Classroom space organization: Elementary students in same groups, place student desks to maximize space between students, facing in the same direction
> Extracurricular activities status: Cancel activities in which students may be in close contact
West Virginia
> Weekly schedule changes: Expected to open for in-person instruction
> Daily routine changes: Students to stay in the same classroom, lunch in classroom
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for staff and students 9+
> Health screening precautions: Daily temperature checks, age-appropriate screening checklist
> Classroom space organization: Space meal serving lines and space seating
> Extracurricular activities status: Field trips will likely not be scheduled
Wisconsin
> Weekly schedule changes: Up to each district, many will start in-person classes
> Daily routine changes: More lunch periods, practice physical distancing when possible, frequent hand-washing
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for teacher when close to other people, required for students in high-traffic periods
> Health screening precautions: Daily temperature checks or symptoms screenings recommended
> Classroom space organization: Keep children in grades 4K-8 in same groups and in same classroom
> Extracurricular activities status: Allowed, with guidance
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Wyoming
> Weekly schedule changes: Three-tiered plan based on community spread
> Daily routine changes: Specific groups use specific school entrances, lunch in classrooms, snacks not allowed
> Mask or face covering rules: Required in schools when 6 feet of physical distancing is not possible
> Health screening precautions: Up to each district
> Classroom space organization: Install physical barriers, partition certain areas to reduce crowding
> Extracurricular activities status: Allowed, with guidance
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