Sunday, March 15, 2020
 
Dear Partners in Educational Ministry,
 
God’s blessings be upon and within you.
 
I am writing with a brief update regarding schools, closings, and the latest news regarding Coronavirus. A question was raised about whether or not Child Care programs fall under mandates to close a school. This is an interesting question since the oversight of child care programs does not fall under the State’s Department of Education.
 
Preschool, elementary, middles school, and high school programs fall under the guidance and mandate of the county and state in which they operate. The Governors of all of the states that comprise the Southeastern District have issued Executive Orders that mandate the closing of schools.
 
Child Care programs do not fall under the Department of Education or Public Instruction. Therefore, each jurisdiction has a different response (or will be responding). It is interesting to note that this is the first time I have seen Child Care described as an essential service.
 
I have gathered info that is available on this Sunday afternoon for each State. It will be different by this time tomorrow – but for this moment...

God grant you great wisdom and patience in your serving,

Sally J Hiller
 
Gov. John Carney has directed all Delaware public schools to close for two weeks due to the potential spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. The governor wrote to superintendents and charter school leaders late Friday, saying the closure, which comes on the same day his State of Emergency went into effect, is out of an abundance of caution and based on broad public concern.
 
March 14, 2020 – The State of Delaware issued guidance today to assist non-public school child care facilities with their response to the global outbreak of respiratory coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Based on advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Delaware Division of Public Health does not recommend closing non-public school child care settings at this time. The data available from 74,000 cases that occurred in China, show that only 2 percent of individuals under 19 years of age tested positive for COVID-19.
 
“Children appear to be less vulnerable to this virus and based upon the science we have now, it does not indicate that closing child care facilities will help in reducing the spread of COVID-19,” said Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Secretary Dr. Kara Odom Walker, a practicing family physician. “Child care centers are controlled environments generally with small classroom sizes. Providers know who is coming in and out, who is sick, and are able to restrict access to help reduce risk. We are constantly evaluating information, but right now, parents should continue sending their children to child care to help provide structure.
 
 During the March 12 Governor Larry Hogan’s press conference, Dr. Karen Salmon, State Superintendent of Schools, directed that effective Monday, March 16 th, through Friday, March 27 th, all public schools in Maryland will be closed. All scheduled school-sanctioned travel for students and staff will also be cancelled effective immediately.
 
March 14, 2020 State Department of Education Issues Enhanced Guidelines for Day Care Facilities to Prevent The Spread of COVID-19. Governor Larry Hogan today enacted an emergency order to expand child care access to child care for critical personnel during the state of emergency. This will help ensure that child care services are available for providers of health care, emergency medical services, and law enforcement personnel while schools are closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“Our state has taken major and unprecedented actions to protect the health, the safety, and the welfare of the people of Maryland,” said Governor Hogan. “As we continue to operate under a state of emergency, we are committed to doing everything in our power to maintain our essential services, including child care, especially for those who are on the front lines helping us combat this public health threat.”
 
As part of the directive she issued on Thursday, State Superintendent of Schools Karen Salmon announced that plans would be developed to ensure that the children of emergency services personnel have access to childcare throughout during a prolonged period of school closure. With this order, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) will work with regional and local officials to quickly and effectively meet this directive and stand up day care centers that adhere to public health guidelines.
 
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam ordered all schools in the state to close a minimum of two weeks. This is a minimum of 2 weeks, there are some counties who have extended through the first part of April.
 
Effects on daycare unclear
The governor’s order covers K-12 schools, but not daycares and other facilities that care for younger children, many of which are run by churches or other nonprofit organizations. It’s unclear how many will close. VCPE has shared that information will be coming on Monday, March 16.
 
Governor Cooper issued an executive order that bans mass gatherings of more than 100 people and closes K-12 public school statewide through March 30. 
 
All references to Child Care response to the closing of schools takes one back to the Governor’s Executive Order. I understand this to mean at this time, Child Care programs are closed. Several possible suggestions are listed in this article.
 
South Carolina Schools
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster will announce later Sunday that he is ordering all public schools closed through the end of March. The announcement and related information about the coronavirus pandemic will come at a 4 p.m. news conference
 
South Carolina Child Care
There is no information available at this time.


In Christ,
Sally J Hiller