COVID-19 Resources & FAQs

School Year 2021-22 COVID-19 Guidance

The previous school year taught us that COVID is unpredictable. It is imperative that school districts create flexible action plans that will allow for the greatest likelihood of in-person instruction during the 2021-22 school year.

Preventing COVID-19 in Schools, SY 2021-22

Please take a moment to review the most recent guidance (July 2021) from the Oklahoma State Department of Health regarding how schools can implement mitigation measures if transmission within a school increases and how to provide the greatest level of protection for students and staff.

Included within the guidance:

• Five key prevention strategies
• Important considerations
• Assessing symptomatic students and staff

Preventing COVID-19 in Schools: Guidance from the Oklahoma State Department of Health and the Oklahoma State Department of Education

Coronavirus/COVID-19 FAQs & Resources For Oklahoma Public Schools

Explore a variety of information and resources related to the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on Oklahoma public schools. Please note that as we learn more about COVID-19 and the many issues surrounding it, OSDE's guidance is expected to evolve. The information below is organized by date, with the latest resources available at top.

January 18, 2022

• Federal Programs Reallocations: PPT Slides | Webinar

January 5, 2022

• Oklahoma District ARP-ESSER Plans - Alphabetical list of links to Return to Learn and ARP ESSER Funds Plans (Updated Feb. 11, 2022)

December 16, 2021

• American Rescue Plan (ARP) ESSER III Funding Guidance
• ARP ESSER III Safe Return Plan Update (Return to Learn Plan)
• ARP ESSER III Update Recorded Webinar
• ARP ESSER III Updates PPT

November 12, 2021

• ARP ESSER III MOEquity Webinar
• ARP ESSER III MOEquity Webinar Slides
• MOEquity Toolkit

October 28, 2021

• Development of COVID-19 Vaccines PPT - Dr. Dale Bratzler (presented during all-district call, 10/27/21)

October 26, 2021

• ARP Homeless I Grant Awards

October 20, 2021

• Federal Programs: ARP ESSER III Uses of Funds Plan Revival Webinar Recordings, Oct. 12 | Oct. 19
• ARP ESSER III Uses of Funds Plan Revival PPT Slides

October 7, 2021

• The COVID-19 Pandemic: Effectiveness of Masks PPT - Dr. Dale Bratzler 
• Let's Talk About Masks PPT - Dr. Donna Tyungu

October 5, 2021

• CARES Act – ESSER I Allocations
• CRRSA – ESSER II Allocations
• ARP – ESSER III Allocations
• GEER - CARES LEA Allocations
• CRRSA - ESSER II State Level Awards
• Emergency Assistance to Nonpublic Schools Allocations

September 29, 2021

• Oklahoma Schools COVID-19 Prevention Program (OSDH)

September 27, 2021

• Maintenance of Equity: Overview, Requirements & Additional Information

September 22, 2021

• COVID-19 Prevention Program: CDC/Health Department Grant (Project 723)
• COVID-19 Prevention Program: CDC/Health Department Grant (Project 723) FAQs

September 15, 2021

• P-EBT FAQs for Families
• P-EBT FAQs for School Leaders
• ARP ESSER Uses of Funds Overview

September 1, 2021

• Coronavirus/COVID-19: Mask Mandate FAQs for Oklahoma Public Schools (UPDATED Sept. 2021)

August 26, 2021

• Coronavirus/COVID-19: Quarantine and Isolation FAQs for Oklahoma Public Schools (UPDATED Aug. 2021)

August 4, 2021

• OSDE-USDE COVID-19 Waivers – Public Comment

July 15, 2021

• Memorandum – Use of ESSER Funds for School Facilities

June 7, 2021

• Oklahoma ARP ESSER State Plan

May 19, 2021

• American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary Education Relief Fund FAQs

April 23, 2021

• Title IV, Part A Waiver - Public Comment

March 26, 2021

• Accountability waiver request for SY 2020-21

March 3, 2021

• Open Meetings Act Virtual Meeting Flexibilities

December 21, 2020

• OSDE – Title IV, Part A Waiver – Public Comment

December 7, 2020

• Coronavirus/COVID-19: Quarantine FAQs For Oklahoma Public Schools

November 24, 2020

• State Health Commissioner and State Superintendent: Important Quarantine Reminder

September 28, 2020

• Voluntary Coronavirus Teacher Testing
  • Upcoming Testing Dates & Locations

September 18, 2020

• Oklahoma School Safety Protocols

September 17, 2020

• OSDE - Title IV, Part B-21CCLC Waiver - Public Comment

Septemer 10, 2020

• OSDH Statement on Quarantine & Isolation
• OSSBA - Weekly COVID-19 Map

August 31, 2020

• Important COVID-related Legal Guidance

July 12, 2020

• In wake of tragic death of child, Hofmeister urges Oklahomans to wear masks

July 10, 2020

• CARES Act Hotspot Grants

July 1, 2020

• Gov. Stitt, Supt. Hofmeister award $16 million in federal grants to 150 school districts to combat impact of COVID-19

June 19, 2020

• CARES Act Incentive Grants (Updated 06/19/20)

May 18, 2020

• Coronavirus/COVID-19 FAQs for Oklahoma Public Schools

April 24, 2020

• OSDE CARES Act Waivers – Public Comment

April 10, 2020

• Family Supports for English Learners

April 8, 2020

COVID-19 Resources in ASL

April 7, 2020

• CARES ACT Waivers
• USDE approves Oklahoma waivers granting schools spending flexibility with current federal funds

April 1, 2020

• Assessment and Accountability Waiver Public Comment

March 30, 2020

• USDA approves Oklahoma’s request for free meals for all students regardless of school free and reduced lunch percentage

March 27, 2020

• OSDE Distance Learning Resources
• CORONAVIRUS/COVID-19 WAIVERS AND ASSURANCES

March 26, 2020

• COVID-19 Technology Incentives

March 20, 2020

• OSDE Request to USDE for Waiver of 2020 Assessment & Accountability Requirements

March 19, 2020

• Hofmeister to request federal waiver suspending state testing for school year

March 17, 2020

• Important Notice Regarding COVID-19: OSDE, TRS Offices Closed to the Public Effective Immediately

March 16, 2020

• Approval of waivers ensures students’ access to meals if schools close due to COVID-19

March 14, 2020

As we continue to develop resources related to the COVID-19 pandemic, OSDE wants to ensure you have access to updated information and guidance being developed on an ongoing basis by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Centers for Disease Control "School Decision Tree" and considerations for school closure resource
School Decisions Responding to COVID-19
CDC Resource: Considerations for School Closure

Return to Learn: School Reopening Guidance (School Year 2020-21)

The resources provided below are meant to assist district and school leaders as they make decisions that are in the best interests of their students and staff.

While the Oklahoma State Board of Education voted to approve the Oklahoma School Safety Protocols as a set of recommendations instead of requirements, the OSDE encourages school districts to give these safety protocols their strongest consideration.

• Return to Learn Oklahoma (Aug. 5, 2020)
• Return to Learn: Enrollment and Attendance Q&A
• Return to Learn: Enrollment and Attendance Flowchart
• Return to Learn: English Learner Guidance
• Return to Learn: 2020-21 Instruction Support
• Return to Learn: Special Education and Related Services During the 2020-21 School Year
• Return to Learn: School Safety and Security
• Return to Learn: Social Emotional Learning Resources
• Oklahoma State Dept of Health Return to Learn School Guidance (Updated 8/31/2020)
• School Guidance Video from the Oklahoma State Department of Health.
• Oklahoma State Department of Health Statement on Quarantine & Isolation

Previous Communications

• Coronavirus - Spring Break Travel (3/6/20)
• Coronavirus: Resources and guidance (3/2/20)
• COVID-19 Student Absence and District Closing Guidelines (3/13/20)
• USDA GRANTS 2 of 4 waivers to give students access to meals if schools close due to COVID-19 (3/16/20)