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www.dpi.nc.gov

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LIGHTING OUR WAY FORWARD

The North Carolina State Board of Education (SBE) and Department of Public Instruction

(DPI), in consultation and response to guidelines issued by the North Carolina

Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), have developed guidance to

support public school units (PSUs) and communities in determining their plans and

strategies for reopening schools. Lighting Our Way Forward: Summary Document

provides an overview and synthesis of NCDHHS requirements, clear, actionable steps

that are advisable before students and employees return to school buildings, and

guidance that is applicable throughout the 2020-2021 school year. This Summary

Document includes links to the more comprehensive and detailed Lighting Our Way

Forward: North Carolina’s Guidebook for Reopening Public Schools. The Guidebook is a

living document that will continue to capture the most current information to help guide

districts and communities.

This approach is built upon the guidance and recommendations of public health officials;

it is strongly aligned to the reopening guidelines that have been provided by our state and

federal leaders; and it’s designed to help districts prioritize the health and safety of

students and teachers as they open school buildings and deliver instruction for the 2020-

2021 school year.

The Lighting Our Way Forward: Summary Document focuses heavily on operational

guidance for district and school leaders based on the health and physical requirements

necessary for reopening school buildings. As impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic unfold,

the SBE and DPI will continue to provide guidance and recommendations to districts and

schools on navigating the academic, social, and emotional effects on students and

employees.

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Lighting Our Way Forward: Summary Document provides considerations, recommendations, and best practices to ensure

a safe and successful 2020-2021 school year. Outside of requirements designated by Executive Orders issued by the

Governor’s Office, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, North Carolina General Statute, or North

Carolina State Board of Education Policy, the guidance and recommendations contained within this document is not

mandated. PSUs have the authority and flexibility to meet their individual needs and be responsive to their communities.

THIS GUIDE PROVIDES INFORMATION

ON THE FOLLOWING TOPICS:

• Reopening Plans and Scheduling

• Student Health & Safety

• Employee Health, Safety & Support

• Social & Emotional Learning & Mental Health

• Operations:

• Facilities

• School Nutrition

• Transportation

• Before and After-School Programming

• Athletics and Extra-Curricular

• Communicating & Combating Misinformation

• Student Learning

• Instructional Planning

• Special Populations

• Resources

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Families and students should use this guidance to understand what health practices will be in place when students return to school. All

public schools will be required to follow certain health practices directed in DHHS guidelines noted as “required.” Many schools may also

choose to implement some or all of the recommended practices.

Local education leaders are encouraged to use this guidance to understand what health practices they must meet, and to develop detailed

district and school plans for how to implement all required health practices directed by DHHS guidelines. The operational guidance provided

in this Summary Document and more detailed Guidebook should be used in combination with The Health Guidance Toolkit provided by

DHHS. Districts and schools should develop strategies to implement the health guidance in schools and to address other non-health areas

for reopening planning, including scheduling supports, how to approach instructional practice, and providing staff training.

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Click the links or photo strip on

each page for in-depth

information about each topic.

HOW TO USE THIS DOCUMENT

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Educators, Parents, and Caretakers –

Together, we have faced the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19. This virus has threatened our health, our economy, our students’ education, and

even our way of life. Thank you to all the students, all the educators, and all the parents across North Carolina for the difficult sacrifices you have all made

to confront this crisis.

Your NC education and health leaders strive to return as many students and teachers back to classrooms as safely as possible this fall.

We are excited to move forward in the expectation that we will start the upcoming school year with students back in school buildings. As you know, COVID- 19 will present unique challenges as we welcome back students, staff, and families. Given these challenges, the NC Department of Public Instruction (DPI),

along with the help and feedback of many diverse stakeholders, has drafted this Lighting Our Way Forward guidance to provide operational strategies for

schools that can help to implement the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) requirements and recommendations released on

Monday, June 8, 2020.

Our goal is to provide a roadmap that supports reopening schools to make this enormous task less difficult for our districts, schools, and communities.

It is our honor and privilege to serve and support North Carolina’s education communities, including students, parents, caretakers, educators, and local

leaders. We express our deepest appreciation for the commitment of all stakeholders to educate, feed, and support the over 1.5 million students during this

COVID-19 crisis. Your dedication has been extraordinary. Thank you for your service to your communities and our state.

Eric C. Davis

Chair, NC State Board of Education

Mark Johnson

State Superintendent

N.C. Department of Public Instruction

A MESSAGE FROM OUR LEADERSHIP

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REOPENING PLANS & SCHEDULING

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COVID-19: Reopening Plans School Facilities and Students Health Precautions *

PLAN A

Minimal Social Distancing

Will be implemented assuming state COVID-19 metrics

continue to stabilize and/or move in a positive direction. All

requirements in this guidance apply to Plan

Open

All students in school at same time

Enhanced health protocols

See DHHS requirements and recommendations

PLAN B

Moderate Social Distancing

Will be required if state COVID-19 metrics worsen and it is

determined additional restrictions are necessary. All

requirements in this guidance apply, with additional

requirements noted for Plan B only.

Open

Limit student density in facilities to no

greater than 50% occupancy

Enhanced health protocols

See DHHS requirements and recommendations

Under Plan B only, schools are required to adhere to all

requirements outlined above AND:

• Ensure sufficient social distancing with at least 6 feet

between people at all times in school facilities and on

school transportation vehicles.

• Limit density of people in school facilities and

transportation vehicles to no greater than 50%

maximum occupancy to ensure social distancing of at

least 6 feet apart between people.

PLAN C

Remote Learning

Would be implemented only if state COVID-19 metrics

worsen significantly enough to require suspension of in- person instruction and the implementation of remote

learning for all students, based on the remote learning plans

required by Session Law 2020-3. The requirements listed in

this guidance would not apply, as children and staff would

not be gathering together in groups on school grounds.

Closed

No students in school facilities

N/A

All at home

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COVID-19 REOPENING PLANS & SCHEDULING

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STUDENT HEALTH & SAFETY

Social Distancing, Cleaning & Hygiene, Monitoring Symptoms, Managing COVID-19 Cases, Communications

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EMPLOYEE HEALTH, SAFETY & SUPPORT:

Symptoms Monitoring, Protecting Vulnerable Populations, Coping & Resilience, Employment, Leave

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SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL LEARNING & MENTAL HEALTH

Coping and Resilience

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OPERATIONS

Facilities, School Nutrition, Transportation

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COMMUNICATION & COMBATING MISINFORMATION

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STUDENT LEARNING

Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, Determine Learning Needs, Athletics & Extra Curricular, Before & After School

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RESOURCES

APPENDIX

NC DHHS:

North Carolina COVID-19

CDC:

Considerations for Schools

CDC:

Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility

CDC:

Reopening Guidance

CDC:

Coping with Stress

EPA:

Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2

FDA:

Food Safety and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

HHS/OSHA:

Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19

DHS:

Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and

State Board of Education gratefully acknowledge the

collaborative expertise and creativity of district and school

leaders, community partners, national organizations, and

state leadership for the collaboration that inspired the

creation of the Lighting Our Way Forward: North

Carolina's Guidebook on Reopening K-12 Public Schools

and Lighting Our Way Forward: Summary Document.

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