March 20, 2020
DCIU Update Special Edition:
COVID-19
Delaware County Intermediate Unit is committed to keeping our community informed during these unprecedented times. Please visit the DCIU COVID-19 webpage by clicking the link below for resources and information for Delaware County families.
DCIU: What You Should Know
Delaware County is currently at the CLOSING level of the Pandemic Action Plan . On Friday, March 13, 2020, Governor Tom Wolf announced that all K-12 Pennsylvania schools will be closed for 10 business days effective Monday, March 16 in an effort to help mitigate spread of COVID-19. The administration will continue to monitor COVID-19 in the commonwealth, and at the end of 10 days will reevaluate and decide whether continued closure is needed.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education and Department of Health have both established online resource guides to answer questions and address concerns from both families and educators during this time.
Delaware County Residents
Delaware County does not have a County Health Department, thus it must follow guidelines provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Governor Wolf. On March 18, Governor Wolf approved a request for Chester County Health Department to provide health services to Delaware County during the coronavirus outbreak . Follow the Delaware County Government page for local updates.
Talking to Children About COVID-19

The National Association of School Psychologists has published a guide on how to talk to children about the coronavirus outbreak . With their current environment in a state of constant flux due to the outbreak, children will very likely have a wide variety of questions related to the outbreak and how it will affect them. Learn more about the useful tips and practices the NASP recommends.
Delaware County COVID-19 Response Fund

The Foundation for Delaware County has launched the  Delaware County COVID-19 Response Fund . The foundation’s Board of Directors has committed $100,000 to the fund allowing us to address immediate needs. The fund’s purpose is to help minimize the economic hardship and disruption of safety-net services in our county.
Providing Services to Children with Disabilities During the Coronavirus Outbreak
The US Department of Education has created a question and answers guide to providing services for children with disabilities during the pandemic. This document is a helpful guide on how to approach educating in these unique circumstances.
Online Education and Accessibility
The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) posted a webinar on online education and website accessibility. Now more than ever, it is critical that students of all abilities can access educational content. We encourage you to watch the video to learn more about website accessibility.

The US Department of Education also provided this factsheet on protecting students' civil rights during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Families First Coronavirus Response Act Signed by President

After passing the House last weekend and the Senate on Wednesday, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act was signed into law by President Trump. The legislation allows for more lenient procedures for providing students with school meals and SNAP benefits, as well as some job protections for school employees.
Please email info@dciu.org if you have any questions or concerns.