Preparing for a Pandemic Illness: Guidelines for School Administrators and School Crisis Response Teams

 Among the many emergencies to which schools must be prepared to respond is the possibility of a local and community-wide infectious disease outbreak. While it is difficult to predict if or when an illness will rise to an epidemic or even pandemic level, there are steps that schools can take to work collaboratively and effectively with local and state health departments in order to limit the spread of disease and to provide safe learning environments. The information provided here is based on U.S. Department of Education (DoE) guidance and NASP’s PREPaRE School Crisis Prevention and Intervention Training Curriculum. It draws on pandemic influenza guidelines that can be applied to any potential infectious disease event, including the current COVID-19 (coronavirus) virus. (See also interim CDC guidance for schools regarding COVID-19.)

Preparing for a Pandemic Illness: Guidelines for School Administrators and School Crisis Response Teams. (n.d.). Retrieved October 9, 2020, from https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-climate-safety-and-crisis/health-crisis-resources/preparing-for-a-pandemic-illness-guidelines-for-school-administrators-and-school-crisis-response-teams