How Schools Are Managing Coronavirus in Every State

Alabama
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Mid-to-late August
> Reopening plan: Hybrid model, 2 days a week in-person instruction, alternating AM and PM schedule
> Re-closing schools: One high school in Limestone County closed from Aug. 17 to Aug. 21, after 4 students tested positive for COVID-19. Gadsden City Schools will allow in person instruction as an option beginning Sept. 28.
> Daily routine changes: Reinforce hand-washing, limit use of classroom materials. Travel between buildings should be stopped or minimized.
> Mask or face covering rules: Recommended for nurses and school visitors
> Health screening precautions: Daily temperature checks
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 2,868 per 100,000 people — 5th highest (total: 140,160)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 4.9% — 24th largest increase (from 132,973 to 139,459)
> Population: 4.9 million

Alaska
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Mid-August
> Reopening plan: Based on community spread, elementary school in-person, middle and high school distance learning
> Re-closing schools: 3 schools in the Mat-Su Borough School District, the state’s largest, closed as of Sept. 1 after 5 COVID-19 cases were reported. The Anchorage School District has also temporarily closed schools because of the coronavirus. The goal is to reopen by mid-October.
> Daily routine changes: Extended dismissal times, scheduled arrival times
> Mask or face covering rules: Encouraged whenever possible
> Health screening precautions: Daily temperature and symptom screening for all
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 992 per 100,000 people — 9th lowest (total: 7,313)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 8.7% — 9th largest increase (from 6,690 to 7,270)
> Population: 737,000

Arizona
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Mid-August
> Reopening plan: Up to each district
> Re-closing schools: One school in Tucson closed from Aug. 25 – Sept. 7 after one student tested positive. Another schools partially closed after a teacher tested positive
> Daily routine changes: Assigned seating, designated arrival times or locations, lunch in classrooms
> Mask or face covering rules: Required if social distancing is difficult
> Health screening precautions: Daily symptom screening and temperature checks
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 2,917 per 100,000 people — 4th highest (total: 209,209)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 1.3% — 3rd smallest increase (from 205,964 to 208,725)
> Population: 7.2 million

Arkansas
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Mid-to-late August
> Reopening plan: Must provide in-person instructions as option 5 days a week
> Re-closing schools: Several schools temporarily moved classes online after 100+ students and staff had to quarantine due to possible exposure to the virus. The Earle School District close one elementary school indefinitely after a second person tested positive
> Daily routine changes: Lunch in classrooms, no gatherings in hallways and cafeterias, rotating teachers, not students
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for children 10+ on buses, drivers, required for adults and students 10+ in school buildings
> Health screening precautions: Have screening stations, screening signs
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 2,368 per 100,000 people — 11th highest (total: 71,357)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 8.0% — 11th largest increase (from 65,377 to 70,627)
> Population: 3.0 million

California
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Early September
> Reopening plan: Based on community spread, alternate distance learning with in-person instruction
> Re-closing schools: N/A
> Daily routine changes: Stagger cafeteria use, lunch in classrooms or outdoors, limit gatherings
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for adults and Grade 3 and up
> Health screening precautions: Daily symptom screening and temperature checks, hand-washing required before entering school
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 1,921 per 100,000 people — 23rd highest (total: 760,013)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 3.1% — 10th smallest increase (from 735,235 to 757,778)
> Population: 39.6 million

Colorado
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Early August
> Reopening plan: Up to each district, maximize in-person learning
> Re-closing schools: In mid-September, 1 school closed temporarily and one shifted to remote learning after students and staffers tested positive for COVID-19.
> Daily routine changes: Frequent hand-washing, staggered arrival and dismissal times, assigned seating, limit capacity on buses
> Mask or face covering rules: Recommended for students 11+, required for staff and if social distancing is difficult
> Health screening precautions: At-home or on-site symptom screening, temperature checks
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 1,090 per 100,000 people — 11th lowest (total: 62,099)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 4.1% — 21st smallest increase (from 59,274 to 61,699)
> Population: 5.7 million

Connecticut
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Late August
> Reopening plan: Up to each district, most open for in-person instruction
> Re-closing schools: Since the start of the new academic year, more than a dozen public schools across Connecticut have temporarily shut down in-person learning due to COVID-19 cases among students and staff
> Daily routine changes: Less free movement through school facilities, assigned seating, frequent hand-washing
> Mask or face covering rules: Masks required for all when inside school
> Health screening precautions: Maximize social distancing, students bring their own water
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 1,540 per 100,000 people — 18th lowest (total: 55,031)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 2.9% — 9th smallest increase (from 53,365 to 54,895)
> Population: 3.6 million

Delaware
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Early-to-mid August
> Reopening plan: Up to each district
> Re-closing schools: N/A
> Daily routine changes: Direct flow of people in common areas, do activities that allow for social distancing, minimize mixing of classes, stay with same group for no more than 15 minutes
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for staff and grades 4-12, recommended for Pre-K – 3 grade
> Health screening precautions: Daily symptom screening and temperature checks at home, the state will provide testing for staff and students
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 1,979 per 100,000 people — 20th highest (total: 19,137)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 3.8% — 18th smallest increase (from 18,249 to 18,937)
> Population: 967,000

Florida
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Mid-August
> Reopening plan: In-person instruction, unless barred by local directives
> Re-closing schools: At least one high school closed for 2 weeks on Sept. 8 after 6 people tested positive. Classes were moved online. 3 schools in Central Florida, were forced to shut down because of COVID-19 cases, one closd due to lack of substitute teachers
> Daily routine changes: Lunch in classrooms or outdoors, no sharing of supplies
> Mask or face covering rules: Up to each school
> Health screening precautions: Set up secondary clinic for kids showing symptoms
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 3,140 per 100,000 people — 2nd highest (total: 668,846)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 2.7% — 7th smallest increase (from 648,269 to 665,730)
> Population: 21.3 million

Georgia
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Early August
> Reopening plan: Up to each district
> Re-closing schools: Georgia schools closed to in-person learning in August after students and staff members tested positive for COVID-19
> Daily routine changes: Walking zones for in-person drop-off, schedule arrival times, schedule many outdoor activities, frequent hand-washing
> Mask or face covering rules: Personal choice
> Health screening precautions: Daily temperature checks for all
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 2,822 per 100,000 people — 6th highest (total: 296,833)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 4.1% — 20th smallest increase (from 283,807 to 295,337)
> Population: 10.5 million

Hawaii
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Mid-August
> Reopening plan: Distance learning for at least first few weeks
> Re-closing schools: N/A
> Daily routine changes: Same groups every day, organize more virtual activities, lunch in classroom, stagger arrival and dismissal protocols
> Mask or face covering rules: Required if social distancing is difficult
> Health screening precautions: Daily symptom screenings
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 763 per 100,000 people — 6th lowest (total: 10,844)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 8.6% — 10th largest increase (from 9,855 to 10,700)
> Population: 1.4 million

Idaho
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Early September
> Reopening plan: Two of Idaho’s three largest districts decided to begin the year online
> Re-closing schools: The Cambridge School District closed 1 school for Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 after a staff member tested positive
> Daily routine changes: Limit physical interaction through group work, designate arrival points
> Mask or face covering rules: Required by some districts
> Health screening precautions: Daily symptom screening and temperature checks for all
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 2,041 per 100,000 people — 18th highest (total: 35,810)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 5.3% — 22nd largest increase (from 33,741 to 35,532)
> Population: 1.8 million

Illinois
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Early September
> Reopening plan: Up to each district, with majority going remote
> Re-closing schools: At least one elementary school in Palos Heights temporarily closed for 2 weeks until Sept. 8 after one staff member tested positive
> Daily routine changes: Schedule restroom breaks, stagger arrivals and dismissals, restrict sharing of any items, stagger indoor and outdoor play
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for all students age 5+
> Health screening precautions: Daily symptom screenings and temperature checks for all
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 2,074 per 100,000 people — 17th highest (total: 264,210)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 4.7% — 25th largest increase (from 250,961 to 262,744)
> Population: 12.7 million

Indiana
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Mid-August
> Reopening plan: Most schools offer option of full-time in-person or distance learning
> Re-closing schools: Schools in Indiana closed to in-person learning in August after students and staff members tested positive for COVID-19
> Daily routine changes: Stay in single classroom, no mixing of classes or grade levels, discourage attendance awards, assign students to entrances
> Mask or face covering rules: Recommended for school staff
> Health screening precautions: Daily temperature checks
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 1,602 per 100,000 people — 21st lowest (total: 107,229)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 6.1% — 17th largest increase (from 100,394 to 106,540)
> Population: 6.7 million

Iowa
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Late August
> Reopening plan: Option for hybrid model or distance learning, at least 50% must be in-person instruction
> Re-closing schools: 3 days after opening for in-person instruction, one high school moved classes online for 2 days after a student tested positive. The Des Moines school district defied Gov. Kim Reynolds order and started the fall semester in early September by teaching remotely.
> Daily routine changes: Up to each school
> Mask or face covering rules: Not recommended but allowed
> Health screening precautions: Up to each school
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 2,385 per 100,000 people — 10th highest (total: 75,275)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 6.3% — 15th largest increase (from 70,314 to 74,767)
> Population: 3.2 million

Kansas
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Early-to-mid September
> Reopening plan: Based on community spread
> Re-closing schools: N/A
> Daily routine changes: Designate single entry and exit points, staggered arrival and dismissal times, change bell schedule to minimize foot traffic
> Mask or face covering rules: REquired for staff, visitors, and most students
> Health screening precautions: Daily temperature checks for staff
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 1,714 per 100,000 people — 22nd lowest (total: 49,899)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 6.4% — 14th largest increase (from 46,914 to 49,899)
> Population: 2.9 million

Kentucky
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Mid-to-late August
> Reopening plan: Distance learning or a full return to in-person instruction
> Re-closing schools: In mid-August one school in Clinton County moved classes online for 2 weeks after a student tested positive
> Daily routine changes: Schedule arrival and dismissal times, direct traffic flow in hallways, assigned seating, schools may bring small groups of students for tutoring
> Mask or face covering rules: Recommended or required, depending on local virus transmission level
> Health screening precautions: Daily temperature checks
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 1,298 per 100,000 people — 16th lowest (total: 58,000)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 7.9% — 12th largest increase (from 53,064 to 57,282)
> Population: 4.5 million

Louisiana
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Early August
> Reopening plan: Reopen in phases, up to each school
> Re-closing schools: Several schools in Louisiana closed to in-person learning in August after students and staff members tested positive for COVID-19
> Daily routine changes: Hand-washing at least every two hours, remain separated even outdoors, maintain social distancing
> Mask or face covering rules: Required, students who can’t wear them will be in static groups
> Health screening precautions: Daily symptom screening and temperature checks
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 3,397 per 100,000 people — the highest (total: 158,318)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 3.1% — 11th smallest increase (from 153,177 to 157,947)
> Population: 4.7 million

Maine
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Mid-August
> Reopening plan: Based on community spread, many choose a hybrid model
> Re-closing schools: One school district delayed the start of the academic year by a week until Sept. 14 after a staff member tested positive. St. Dominic Academy said on Sept. 15 that its Lewiston campus will remain closed through Sept. 28 after 2 students tested positive.
> Daily routine changes: Interdisciplinary courses, social distancing is required during lunch
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for adults, required for students age 5+
> Health screening precautions: Daily self-checks for students and staff
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 367 per 100,000 people — 2nd lowest (total: 4,918)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 4.3% — 22nd smallest increase (from 4,701 to 4,903)
> Population: 1.3 million

Maryland
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Late August
> Reopening plan: Up to each district
> Re-closing schools: At least one prep school temporarily closed for 2 days in mid-August after 2 staff members tested positive
> Daily routine changes: Restrict students from changing classrooms, stagger school bus schedules, one way routes in hallways
> Mask or face covering rules: Recommended
> Health screening precautions: Daily temperature checks for staff
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 1,940 per 100,000 people — 21st highest (total: 117,245)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 3.3% — 15th smallest increase (from 112,883 to 116,646)
> Population: 6.0 million

Massachusetts
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Late August
> Reopening plan: Up to each district, based on community spread
> Re-closing schools: Salem summer programs were closed for a week in mid-August after one staff member tested positive
> Daily routine changes: Limit traffic in hallways, spend time in same groups
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for grade 2 and up, encouraged for the rest
> Health screening precautions: Temperature checks are not recommended
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 1,788 per 100,000 people — 24th lowest (total: 123,425)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 1.7% — 4th smallest increase (from 121,046 to 123,139)
> Population: 6.9 million

Michigan
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Early-to-mid September
> Reopening plan: Up to each district, online classes must be an option
> Re-closing schools: At least one high school closed for 2 weeks until Sept. 11 after 5 students and one staff member tested positive
> Daily routine changes: Reinforce proper hand-washing techniques required, hand-washing every 2-3 hours, limit use of classroom materials
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for some
> Health screening precautions: Daily temperature checks recommended
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 1,250 per 100,000 people — 14th lowest (total: 124,969)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 5.0% — 23rd largest increase (from 118,403 to 124,287)
> Population: 10.0 million

Minnesota
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Early-to-mid September
> Reopening plan: Up to each district
> Re-closing schools: One school district delayed the start of the new academic year after a staff member tested positive. One county switched to hybrid model after a spike of COVID-19 cases in the area
> Daily routine changes: Schedule hygiene routines, floor/seating markings in common areas, arrival and dismissal monitored
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for students, staff, and others in schools, offices, and transportation
> Health screening precautions: Daily symptom screening and temperature checks
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 1,521 per 100,000 people — 17th lowest (total: 85,351)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 4.6% — 24th smallest increase (from 81,225 to 84,949)
> Population: 5.6 million

Mississippi
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Early August
> Reopening plan: Up to each district, start delayed in some schools
> Re-closing schools: In mid-August more than 2,000 students and nearly 500 teachers were quarantined after 245 teachers and 199 students tested positive
> Daily routine changes: Stagger cafeteria use
> Mask or face covering rules: Required if social distancing is difficult
> Health screening precautions: Daily symptom screening and temperature checks
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 3,031 per 100,000 people — 3rd highest (total: 90,523)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 3.3% — 14th smallest increase (from 87,130 to 90,018)
> Population: 3.0 million

Missouri
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Late August
> Reopening plan: Up to each district
> Re-closing schools: At least one school district closed temporarily until Sept. 4 after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19. Classes were moved online
> Daily routine changes: Assigned seating, lunch in classrooms
> Mask or face covering rules: Recommended if social distancing is difficult
> Health screening precautions: Daily symptom screening.
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 1,720 per 100,000 people — 23rd lowest (total: 105,359)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 10.3% — 3rd largest increase (from 94,304 to 104,041)
> Population: 6.1 million

Montana
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Late August
> Reopening plan: Hybrid model, half days
> Re-closing schools: At the end of August, middle schools and high schools in Hardin paused all fall sports for 2 weeks after several students tested positive. Great Falls High School was closed Sept. 14-15 after new cases of COVID-19 were reported.
> Daily routine changes: Lunch in classrooms, staggered arrival times
> Mask or face covering rules: Recommended for all students and staff
> Health screening precautions: Visitor temperature checks
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 870 per 100,000 people — 8th lowest (total: 9,244)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 9.5% — 6th largest increase (from 8,316 to 9,107)
> Population: 1.1 million

Nebraska
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Mid-August
> Reopening plan: Up to each district, based on community spread, start postponed until Sept. 16, academic year cut to 170 days
> Re-closing schools: At least one district closed schools for grades 6-12 for 2 weeks until Aug. 24 after 3 staff members tested positive. Lincoln Elementary School in Beatrice moved in late-August to tier four remote learning for several weeks after several new COVID-19 cases
> Daily routine changes: Frequent hand-washing, limit use of school materials, keep personal items separate
> Mask or face covering rules: Up to each school
> Health screening precautions: Visitors wash hands before entering the school, symptom self-screen
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 2,020 per 100,000 people — 19th highest (total: 38,970)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 6.8% — 13th largest increase (from 35,886 to 38,335)
> Population: 1.9 million

Nevada
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Mid-August
> Reopening plan: Up to each district
> Re-closing schools: At least one elementary school was temporarily closed after one suspected positive case that may have exposed 8 people
> Daily routine changes: Limit use of common areas like playgrounds, teachers rotate, not students, restroom rotation
> Mask or face covering rules: Recommended for staff and students
> Health screening precautions: Daily symptom screening and temperature checks recommended, post signs about proper hand-washing and other ways to stop the virus
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 2,440 per 100,000 people — 9th highest (total: 74,040)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 2.6% — 5th smallest increase (from 71,967 to 73,814)
> Population: 3.0 million

New Hampshire
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Late August
> Reopening plan: Up to each district
> Re-closing schools: One high school moved classes online for 3 days and suspended sports indefinitely after several students tested positive
> Daily routine changes: Stagger dismissal, stagger meal times, serve lunch in classroom, monitor hallways to direct movement, assigned seating
> Mask or face covering rules: Recommended
> Health screening precautions: Daily symptom screenings for staff, students
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 571 per 100,000 people — 3rd lowest (total: 7,748)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 3.2% — 12th smallest increase (from 7,476 to 7,714)
> Population: 1.4 million

New Jersey
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Early September
> Reopening plan: Up to each district, most return with a hybrid model
> Re-closing schools: At least 6 school districts announced in mid-September schedule changes just days into the academic year in response to coronavirus cases among students and staff.
> Daily routine changes: Staggering meal times, recess held in staggered shifts, gym classes in marked areas
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for school staff and visitors
> Health screening precautions: Daily symptom screening and history of exposure
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 2,216 per 100,000 people — 14th highest (total: 197,404)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 1.3% — 2nd smallest increase (from 194,390 to 196,968)
> Population: 8.9 million

New Mexico
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Early September
> Reopening plan: School year will start remotely the first few weeks
> Re-closing schools: N/A
> Daily routine changes: Longer meal periods, no large gatherings, limit mixing between groups,staggered class changed
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for students and staff
> Health screening precautions: Daily temperature checks
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 1,285 per 100,000 people — 15th lowest (total: 26,923)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 2.7% — 6th smallest increase (from 26,144 to 26,842)
> Population: 2.1 million

New York
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Late September
> Reopening plan: Based on community spread, NYC allowing outdoor learning
> Re-closing schools: N/A
> Daily routine changes: Lunch in classroom, restrict use of hallways, frequent hand-washing, limit gatherings in small spaces
> Mask or face covering rules: Required if social distancing is difficult
> Health screening precautions: Daily temperature checks for all
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 2,281 per 100,000 people — 13th highest (total: 445,714)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 1.1% — the smallest increase (from 440,021 to 444,948)
> Population: 19.5 million

North Carolina
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Late August
> Reopening plan: Up to each district, most start year remote
> Re-closing schools: At least 3 schools temporarily closed and moved classes online after several students and teachers tested positive
> Daily routine changes: Frequent hand-washing, lunch in classrooms
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for teachers and students K-12
> Health screening precautions: Daily temperature checks
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 1,800 per 100,000 people — 25th lowest (total: 186,887)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 4.4% — 23rd smallest increase (from 177,919 to 185,781)
> Population: 10.4 million

North Dakota
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Late August
> Reopening plan: Up to school district
> Re-closing schools: At least one school, which has about 40 students, closed down in the end of August until Sept. 11 after 2 students tested positive
> Daily routine changes: Students in same groups, group sizes should be no more than 15 people
> Mask or face covering rules: Recommended, especially if social distancing is difficult
> Health screening precautions: Testing for COVID-19 based on risk level
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 2,113 per 100,000 people — 16th highest (total: 16,064)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 14.7% — the largest increase (from 13,801 to 15,831)
> Population: 760,000

Ohio
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Mid-to-late August
> Reopening plan: Up to each district, most return for in-person instruction full-time
> Re-closing schools: The Mentor Public School District in Lake County shifted to online learning only after a teacher tested positive for COVID-19
> Daily routine changes: Frequent hand-washing, practice social distancing, scheduling half-days
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for staff
> Health screening precautions: Daily symptom screening
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 1,193 per 100,000 people — 13th lowest (total: 139,485)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 5.4% — 21st largest increase (from 131,336 to 138,484)
> Population: 11.7 million

Oklahoma
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Mid-August
> Reopening plan: Up to each district
> Re-closing schools: Dozens of schools in Oklahoma reported that students and staff members tested positive for COVID-19. Some of the schools closed temporarily. On Sept. 14, Talihina Public Schools announced that following a positive test, the district’s high school and middle school students would transition to distance learning for 2 weeks.
> Daily routine changes: Lunch in classrooms, stagger recess times, keep students in groups in playgrounds, scheduled rotation of students
> Mask or face covering rules: Encouraged for staff and students
> Health screening precautions: Daily temperature checks at home recommended
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 1,809 per 100,000 people — 25th highest (total: 71,314)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 9.3% — 7th largest increase (from 64,220 to 70,223)
> Population: 3.9 million

Oregon
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Late August
> Reopening plan: Up to each district, based on community spread
> Re-closing schools: N/A
> Daily routine changes: Lunch in classroom, assigned restrooms, reduce mixing of students, teacher rotate, not students
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for staff and students
> Health screening precautions: Daily symptom screening and temperature checks
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 708 per 100,000 people — 4th lowest (total: 29,662)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 4.6% — 25th smallest increase (from 28,190 to 29,484)
> Population: 4.2 million

Pennsylvania
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Late August
> Reopening plan: Based on community spread
> Re-closing schools: At the beginning of August, 4 school districts in Mercer County cancelled school activities for 2 weeks after one student tested positive. Conestoga Valley High School in East Lampeter Township closed on Sept. 12 until Sept. 21 due to 3 confirmed cases and one probable case
> Daily routine changes: Lunch in classrooms, restricted interactions between groups
> Mask or face covering rules: Required if social distancing is difficult
> Health screening precautions: Daily symptom screening
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 1,142 per 100,000 people — 12th lowest (total: 146,214)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 3.7% — 17th smallest increase (from 139,863 to 145,063)
> Population: 12.8 million

Rhode Island
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Late August
> Reopening plan: Up to school district
> Re-closing schools: Rhode Island delayed opening until Sept. 14 to give teachers more time to prepare for in-person learning
> Daily routine changes: Lunch in classrooms, assign bathroom times
> Mask or face covering rules: Required if social distancing is difficult
> Health screening precautions: At-home or on-site symptom screening, temperature checks
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 2,199 per 100,000 people — 15th highest (total: 23,250)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 4.0% — 19th smallest increase (from 22,243 to 23,130)
> Population: 1.1 million

South Carolina
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Late August
> Reopening plan: Up to each school, only 22% start in-person full time
> Re-closing schools: At least 2 elementary schools temporarily closed in mid-August after a few staff members tested positive
> Daily routine changes: Routinely clean frequently touched surfaces
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for students and staff who ride the state’s pupil transportation system
> Health screening precautions: Up to each school
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 2,625 per 100,000 people — 7th highest (total: 133,470)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 5.6% — 18th largest increase (from 125,607 to 132,680)
> Population: 5.1 million

South Dakota
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Mid-August
> Reopening plan: Up to each district, plan for full time distance learning if students test positive
> Re-closing schools: The Lemmon School District announced on Aug. 24 that school was canceled for grades K-5 from Aug. 24 – Sept. 7 because of COVID-19
> Daily routine changes: Lunch in classrooms, schedule breaks for hand-washing
> Mask or face covering rules: Strongly recommended
> Health screening precautions: Daily symptom screening and temperature checks
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 1,926 per 100,000 people — 22nd highest (total: 16,994)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 9.8% — 5th largest increase (from 15,300 to 16,801)
> Population: 882,000

Tennessee
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Early-to-mid August
> Reopening plan: Up to each district
> Re-closing schools: Several Tennessee schools closed to in-person learning in August after students and staff members tested positive for COVID-19. Harpeth High School closed for 2 weeks on Sept. 14 to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
> Daily routine changes: Frequent hand-washing, lunch in classrooms
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for all staff, students in middle and high school
> Health screening precautions: Daily symptom screening and temperature checks
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 2,574 per 100,000 people — 8th highest (total: 174,274)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 5.6% — 19th largest increase (from 165,109 to 174,274)
> Population: 6.8 million

Texas
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Mid-August
> Reopening plan: In-person instruction in public schools, offer online option as transition period
> Re-closing schools: The Navarro school district suspended its football program for 10 days on Aug. 14 after an outbreak of COVID-19. Krum Middle School and Krum High School switched to remote learning Sept. 14 until further notice after several positive coronavirus tests.
> Daily routine changes: Shorter schools days if there is a need for fewer people in buildings
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for adults and old enough students
> Health screening precautions: Symptom self-screening for staff
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 2,312 per 100,000 people — 12th highest (total: 663,445)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 6 – Sep 13: 3.3% — 13th smallest increase (from 638,310 to 659,434)
> Population: 28.7 million

Utah
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Mid-August
> Reopening plan: Up to each district
> Re-closing schools: 2 charter schools in Utah closed on Sept. 1 after students and faculty tested positive
> Daily routine changes: Frequent hand-washing, physical distancing, reduce large gatherings, stagger lunch and recess times
> Mask or face covering rules: Recommended
> Health screening precautions: Self-monitoring symptoms
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 1,866 per 100,000 people — 24th highest (total: 59,000)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 6.2% — 16th largest increase (from 55,033 to 58,438)
> Population: 3.2 million

Vermont
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Early September
> Reopening plan: Staggered student schedules
> Re-closing schools: Crossett Brook Middle School in Duxbury closed to in-person instruction the week of Sept. 13 after two students tested positive
> Daily routine changes: Assigned section of the school yard, schedule restroom breaks
> Mask or face covering rules: Recommended for all staff
> Health screening precautions: Daily symptom screening at home
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 272 per 100,000 people — the lowest (total: 1,702)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 2.7% — 8th smallest increase (from 1,651 to 1,696)
> Population: 626,000

Virginia
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Late August / Early September (depends on district)
> Reopening plan: Reopen in phases
> Re-closing schools: At least 4 schools temporarily closed in early September after several staff members tested positive
> Daily routine changes: Up to each school
> Mask or face covering rules: Required if social distancing is difficult
> Health screening precautions: Daily symptom screenings
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 1,591 per 100,000 people — 20th lowest (total: 135,514)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 5.5% — 20th largest increase (from 127,571 to 134,571)
> Population: 8.5 million

Washington
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Early September
> Reopening plan: Many districts starting the school year with a hybrid model
> Re-closing schools: N/A
> Daily routine changes: Frequent hand-washing, social distancing
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for staff, recommended for students
> Health screening precautions: Daily symptom screening and temperature checks
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 1,068 per 100,000 people — 10th lowest (total: 80,465)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 3.3% — 16th smallest increase (from 77,545 to 80,138)
> Population: 7.5 million

West Virginia
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Early September
> Reopening plan: Expected to open for in-person instruction
> Re-closing schools: N/A
> Daily routine changes: Lunch in classroom, space meal serving lines and space seating, one-way hallways, designated exits and entries
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for staff and students grades 3 and above
> Health screening precautions: Daily symptom screening and temperature checks
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 719 per 100,000 people — 5th lowest (total: 12,976)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 10.8% — 2nd largest increase (from 11,575 to 12,820)
> Population: 1.8 million

Wisconsin
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Early September (depends on district)
> Reopening plan: Up to each district, many will start in-person classes
> Re-closing schools: N/A
> Daily routine changes: More lunch periods, practice physical distancing when possible, frequent hand-washing
> Mask or face covering rules: Required for teacher when close to other people, required for students in high-traffic periods
> Health screening precautions: Daily symptom screening and temperature checks recommended
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 1,547 per 100,000 people — 19th lowest (total: 89,956)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 10.0% — 4th largest increase (from 81,760 to 89,956)
> Population: 5.8 million

Wyoming
> Start of 2020-2021 academic year: Late August
> Reopening plan: Reopen in phases, based on community spread
> Re-closing schools: An elementary school in Worland had its reopening delayed after 2 staff members tested positive and 10 others were placed in quarantine
> Daily routine changes: Specific groups use specific school entrances, lunch in classrooms, snacks not allowed
> Mask or face covering rules: Required if social distancing is difficult
> Health screening precautions: Up to each district
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Sep 15: 768 per 100,000 people — 7th lowest (total: 4,438)
> Change in trailing 7-day avg. daily cases, Sep 7 – Sep 14: 8.9% — 8th largest increase (from 4,032 to 4,392)
> Population: 578,000