January 10, 2022
Dear CSI School Leaders,
See below for resources that can help your school’s efforts to address this year’s physical, psychological and emotional challenges. New and important information will be highlighted.
COVID-19 Communications
As we begin the second half of the 2021-22 school year, CSI staff want to ensure we are providing meaningful, relevant, and timely communications to your school about COVID-19 resources, guidance, and support. After receiving survey feedback, moving forward we will be sending COVID updates out every two weeks - unless there is an important or time sensitive update.
Updated Practical Guide for Operationalizing CDC's School Guidance
Summary of Recent Changes
- Aligned with CDC’s new recommendations for five-day isolation and quarantine and new Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools.
- Clarified that Colorado educators have until February 1, 2022 to receive third (booster) doses if they have not done so already. Until that date, staff who have completed their primary vaccine series but have not yet received a third dose may return to work following exposure if they obtain a negative test and wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 days after exposure. They should get tested again on day five after exposure. Additionally, staff will be considered up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations immediately after they have received their third dose; they do not have to wait 14 days after vaccination
- Clarified the definition of and special considerations for Early Care Education.
- Added a definition of the Test to Stay program, which will be operationalized February 1, 2022. Colorado will be adding Test to Stay guidance and support to our statewide school guidance soon.
- Added link to parent letter templates to "Monitoring and communication" section.
Applicability
This guidance applies to all circumstances where a teacher or caregiver cares for multiple children outside the usual home of the children. These circumstances include, but are not limited to:
- K-12 schools, both public and private.
- Licensed child care settings.
- Home-based family child care settings.
- License-exempt child care programs such as single skill building and 72-hour camps.
- Guest child care facilities at ski resorts and courthouses.
- “Pods” and other home learning/homeschooling groups.
This guide also applies to extracurricular activities, including sports, where the participants are in grades P-12. Additional guidance for sports can be found on the
Organized sports page.
School Cases and Quarantines Survey
Click here to take the SY21-22 CSI School Cases and Quarantines Survey. We strongly encourage your school to complete this form on a weekly basis so CSI staff are able to provide assistance that is timely for your school community. This form is required to be completed if at least one of the following scenarios occur:
- The whole school/campus shifts to online learning
- More than one class or cohort is quarantined
-
An outbreak is confirmed (Five or more cases of COVID-19 among students/teachers/staff from separate households with onset within 14 days in a single classroom/activity or other close contact in the school setting (including transportation to- from- school and affiliated events).
COVID-19 Updates and News
