El Paso Health Officials Provide COVID 19 Guidance for School Districts and Private Schools

As the COVID-19 pandemic looms and is rapidly being transmitted through community spread, health officials are providing guidance to local schools.

El Paso County Public Health officials have issued an updated order for all independent school districts and private schools for the upcoming reopening of on-campus instruction.

The order will go into effect today, Thursday, July 9 and recommends the following guidelines to local schools:

• All school systems (public and private) will not re-open schools for on-campus, face-to-face instruction until after September 7, 2020
• Virtual instruction shall be permitted as per a school system’s own plan
• To the extent permitted under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”), and consistent with the procedures required under the federal regulations and state rules implementing the IDEA, all children with special healthcare needs that are considered medically fragile under the IDEA shall not return to school for on-campus, face-to-face instruction, until the 2021-2022 school year.
• Extracurricular sports and activities will not take place until school systems re-open for on-campus instruction
• School systems shall develop a plan for re-opening on-campus activities and instruction and makes it available to parents and the public, at least two weeks prior to reopening

Earlier this week, health and area school system officials met to discuss ongoing preventative measures to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 on campuses.

The full Health Order issued is available online at epstrong.org.