How Each State Is Managing Schools Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

Alabama
> Measures taken: Several counties are delaying the start of in-person instruction by a week after the second semester starts. Calhoun County Schools will be online full-time.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily temperature checks
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 8,408 per 100,000 people — 15th highest (total: 410,995)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 7.4% — 24th smallest increase (from 379,593 to 407,848)
> Population: 4.9 million

Alaska
> Measures taken: Anchorage School District delayed plans for in-person instruction until Jan 19. Some teachers ask for delays until they get vaccinated.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily temperature and symptom screening for all
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 6,891 per 100,000 people — 20th lowest (total: 50,816)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 3.8% — 6th smallest increase (from 48,560 to 50,394)
> Population: 737,000

Arizona
> Measures taken: The largest public school district in Arizona moved to remote learning at the beginning of the spring semester. Teachers in Peoria Unified School District staged a sickout protesting in-person learning as COVID-19 cases in the state continue to rise.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily symptom screening and temperature checks
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 8,948 per 100,000 people — 8th highest (total: 641,729)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 12.1% — 3rd largest increase (from 567,474 to 636,100)
> Population: 7.2 million

Arkansas
> Measures taken: More than 100 schools are in communities with high COVID-19 spread. Dozens have moved to remote learning. At least one school in Earle School District went remote indefinitely
> Health screening recommendations: To have screening stations and screening signs
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 8,612 per 100,000 people — 12th highest (total: 259,553)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 8.7% — 17th largest increase (from 238,888 to 259,553)
> Population: 3.0 million

California
> Measures taken: Almost all K-12 students are in the purple “widespread” tier and can’t begin offering in-person instruction. Schools are required to close when 5% of staff and students test positive for COVID-19 within a 14-day period.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily symptom screening and temperature checks, hand-washing required before entering school
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 7,030 per 100,000 people — 24th lowest (total: 2,781,039)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 12.0% — 4th largest increase (from 2,452,334 to 2,747,288)
> Population: 39.6 million

Colorado
> Measures taken: Many of the biggest school districts in Colorado are fully remote. Public schools in Denver started the spring semester remotely, planning to phase kids back into classrooms by Feb 1.
> Health screening recommendations: At-home or on-site symptom screening and temperature checks
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 6,397 per 100,000 people — 16th lowest (total: 364,336)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 5.6% — 14th smallest increase (from 343,435 to 362,825)
> Population: 5.7 million

Connecticut
> Measures taken: Schools are advised to close if they are in an area with an average of 25+ new cases per 100K residents in a week.
> Health screening recommendations: to maximize social distancing and for students to bring their own water
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 6,075 per 100,000 people — 13th lowest (total: 217,047)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 10.2% — 10th largest increase (from 196,968 to 217,047)
> Population: 3.6 million

Delaware
> Measures taken: Most schools paused in-person learning until Jan. 8. Hybrid learning returned on Jan. 11. Sports competitions have been canceled.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily symptom screening and temperature checks at home. The state will provide testing for staff and students
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 6,945 per 100,000 people — 21st lowest (total: 67,173)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 8.7% — 16th largest increase (from 61,100 to 66,446)
> Population: 967,000

Florida
> Measures taken: A new executive order has been issued extending remote and hybrid learning options.
> Health screening recommendations: To set up secondary clinic for kids showing symptoms
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 7,125 per 100,000 people — 25th highest (total: 1,517,472)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 8.0% — 22nd largest increase (from 1,392,123 to 1,503,482)
> Population: 21.3 million

Georgia
> Measures taken: Scattered school closures have happened all over the state. Windsor Forest High School in Chatham County shut down until Jan. 11.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily temperature checks for all
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 6,220 per 100,000 people — 15th lowest (total: 654,356)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 8.6% — 18th largest increase (from 597,208 to 648,694)
> Population: 10.5 million

Hawaii
> Measures taken: Some schools are extending the first phase of reopening for in-person instruction, which consists of half-day classes for vulnerable students.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily symptom screenings
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 1,671 per 100,000 people — 2nd lowest (total: 23,733)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 6.6% — 16th smallest increase (from 22,168 to 23,627)
> Population: 1.4 million

Idaho
> Measures taken: All schools in Boise School District went fully remote until mid-January. The Emmett School District now requires all students and staff to wear masks.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily symptom screening and temperature checks for all
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 8,564 per 100,000 people — 14th highest (total: 150,239)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 3.7% — 5th smallest increase (from 144,843 to 150,239)
> Population: 1.8 million

Illinois
> Measures taken: Chicago Public Schools returned to in-person learning on Jan 11, but high school students continue remote. Catholic schools now have the option to transition to remote learning.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily symptom screenings and temperature checks for all
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 8,210 per 100,000 people — 19th highest (total: 1,046,030)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 4.9% — 11th smallest increase (from 991,719 to 1,040,168)
> Population: 12.7 million

Indiana
> Measures taken: All schools in Marion County went fully remote until mid-January. About half of school districts in Indiana have moved to full-time virtual learning for various periods of time.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily temperature checks
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 8,579 per 100,000 people — 13th highest (total: 574,119)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 7.0% — 20th smallest increase (from 533,083 to 570,477)
> Population: 6.7 million

Iowa
> Measures taken: Dozens of counties have a 14-day rolling average positivity rate at or above 15%, which is the threshold that must be met before school districts can request to go to online-only learning.
> Health screening recommendations: Each school to come up with its own safety measures
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 9,514 per 100,000 people — 6th highest (total: 300,280)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 3.6% — 4th smallest increase (from 286,679 to 296,866)
> Population: 3.2 million

Kansas
> Measures taken: Schools in small and big towns have moved classes online full-time. Wichita school district staff accounts for more than half of COVID-19 cases in the district since the start of the school year.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily temperature checks for staff
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 8,657 per 100,000 people — 11th highest (total: 252,041)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 7.0% — 18th smallest increase (from 231,317 to 247,502)
> Population: 2.9 million

Kentucky
> Measures taken: Middle schools and high schools remained in remote learning until Jan. 4. Perry County moved to online learning, adding makeup days at the end of the academic year.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily temperature checks
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 7,011 per 100,000 people — 23rd lowest (total: 313,282)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 9.9% — 11th largest increase (from 280,836 to 308,729)
> Population: 4.5 million

Louisiana
> Measures taken: High school students across the state do in-person testing. New Orleans public schools returned to in-person learning on Jan 4.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily symptom screening and temperature checks
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 7,636 per 100,000 people — 22nd highest (total: 355,835)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 8.0% — 20th largest increase (from 326,648 to 352,939)
> Population: 4.7 million

Maine
> Measures taken: Some schools are forced to go fully remote due to staffing shortages. A fourth of all counties are in the “yellow” category of transmission, and are advised to suspend extracurricular activities
> Health screening recommendations: Daily self-checks for students and staff
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 2,327 per 100,000 people — 3rd lowest (total: 31,150)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 14.2% — 2nd largest increase (from 26,565 to 30,326)
> Population: 1.3 million

Maryland
> Measures taken: Many schools districts are canceling plans to move to in-person instruction any time soon. Somerset County Public Schools delayed in-person learning a week, until Jan 25.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily temperature checks for staff
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 5,211 per 100,000 people — 8th lowest (total: 314,867)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 7.8% — 25th largest increase (from 289,758 to 312,351)
> Population: 6.0 million

Massachusetts
> Measures taken: In-person instruction in Boston will resume when there are 2 full weeks of falling infection rates. The state started a free rapid COVID-19 testing program.
> Health screening recommendations: Monitoring for symptoms, but temperature checks are not recommended
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 6,497 per 100,000 people — 17th lowest (total: 448,447)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 11.4% — 5th largest increase (from 397,202 to 442,529)
> Population: 6.9 million

Michigan
> Measures taken: Many schools in the most populous counties stayed closed until after the winter break. High schools were allowed to resume in-person learning on Jan 4.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily temperature checks
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 5,735 per 100,000 people — 9th lowest (total: 573,278)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 4.3% — 9th smallest increase (from 546,642 to 570,150)
> Population: 10.0 million

Minnesota
> Measures taken: Most of the state’s largest school districts are in distance learning for middle and high school students. Elementary schools can reopen Jan. 18.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily symptom screening and temperature checks
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 7,848 per 100,000 people — 21st highest (total: 440,354)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 3.2% — 3rd smallest increase (from 425,261 to 438,867)
> Population: 5.6 million

Mississippi
> Measures taken: Of the 688 schools in 69 counties across the state reporting COVID-19 cases, there have been a total of 350 outbreaks since the start of the school year, 7 in the week of Jan 4 -8.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily symptom screening and temperature checks
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 8,167 per 100,000 people — 20th highest (total: 243,899)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 7.3% — 22nd smallest increase (from 225,444 to 241,957)
> Population: 3.0 million

Missouri
> Measures taken: New mandates say that if people wear masks correctly and show no symptoms, they don’t have to be quarantined for 14 days if exposed.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily symptom screening
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 7,005 per 100,000 people — 22nd lowest (total: 429,177)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 5.3% — 12th smallest increase (from 405,589 to 427,117)
> Population: 6.1 million

Montana
> Measures taken: More parents pull out their children from schools and sign them up for homeschooling. The official homeschool headcount in Oct 2020 was more than double what it was in Oct 2019.
> Health screening recommendations: Temperature checks for visitors
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 8,251 per 100,000 people — 18th highest (total: 87,653)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 4.4% — 10th smallest increase (from 83,378 to 87,077)
> Population: 1.1 million

Nebraska
> Measures taken: Teachers unions want more restrictions amid a new surge of cases. Omaha teachers may be able to receive the COVID vaccine in January.
> Health screening recommendations: For visitors to wash hands before entering the school as well as students self-screen for symptoms
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 9,209 per 100,000 people — 7th highest (total: 177,670)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 4.2% — 8th smallest increase (from 169,585 to 176,670)
> Population: 1.9 million

Nevada
> Measures taken: Schools started testing symptomatic students and staff with an antigen test. Some districts have been allowed to bypass regulations to hire substitute teachers.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily symptom screening and temperature checks as well as post signs about proper hand-washing and other ways to stop the virus
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 8,370 per 100,000 people — 16th highest (total: 253,985)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 7.4% — 23rd smallest increase (from 235,455 to 252,842)
> Population: 3.0 million

New Hampshire
> Measures taken: Most of the state’s 15 school districts went fully remote at some point in December. Some schools are forced to move online due to staffing shortages as teachers and staff have to quarantine.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily symptom screenings for staff and students
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 3,990 per 100,000 people — 6th lowest (total: 54,125)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 10.7% — 8th largest increase (from 47,992 to 53,148)
> Population: 1.4 million

New Jersey
> Measures taken: Schools in Paterson extended online learning until Jan 19. Clifton’s schools went fully remote until January. 100+ outbreaks reported among students and staff since the start of the school year.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily symptom screening
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 6,764 per 100,000 people — 18th lowest (total: 602,566)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 7.8% — 24th largest increase (from 551,419 to 594,686)
> Population: 8.9 million

New Mexico
> Measures taken: Rio Rancho Public Schools moved to full-time online instruction until Jan 18. As of Jan 8, 5 schools are in a COVID-19 Watchlist and may soon be required to close.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily temperature checks
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 7,539 per 100,000 people — 23rd highest (total: 157,974)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 6.4% — 15th smallest increase (from 148,499 to 157,974)
> Population: 2.1 million

New York
> Measures taken: Elementary schools in NYC can open for students whose parents agree to weekly tests. Hundreds of schools are fully or partially closed. Closures were cut to 10 days, instead of 14, as per CDC guidelines.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily temperature checks for all
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 5,987 per 100,000 people — 12th lowest (total: 1,169,947)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 11.0% — 6th largest increase (from 1,041,028 to 1,155,370)
> Population: 19.5 million

North Carolina
> Measures taken: Some Cumberland County Schools schools reopened in January 2021. The Johnston County school board voted 5-2 to suspend in-person classes.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily temperature checks
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 6,174 per 100,000 people — 14th lowest (total: 641,073)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 10.5% — 9th largest increase (from 575,396 to 635,975)
> Population: 10.4 million

North Dakota
> Measures taken: The state started free rapid testing for K-12 teachers, staff and administrators.
> Health screening recommendations: Testing for COVID-19 based on risk level
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 12,516 per 100,000 people — the highest (total: 95,135)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 1.6% — the smallest increase (from 93,494 to 94,968)
> Population: 760,000

Ohio
> Measures taken: Ohio students who are exposed to COVID-19 are no longer asked to quarantine, if mask and distancing protocols are followed.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily symptom screening
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 6,841 per 100,000 people — 19th lowest (total: 799,639)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 7.9% — 23rd largest increase (from 735,003 to 792,938)
> Population: 11.7 million

Oklahoma
> Measures taken: Teachers are now eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Use of masks will be enforced. Unless students or staff are showing symptoms, they don’t have to quarantine.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily temperature checks at home
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 8,657 per 100,000 people — 10th highest (total: 341,364)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 9.5% — 14th largest increase (from 308,268 to 337,457)
> Population: 3.9 million

Oregon
> Measures taken: Since Jan 1, individual schools have been making the decision whether to open for in-person instruction. State guidelines will be advisory.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily symptom screening and temperature checks
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 3,081 per 100,000 people — 4th lowest (total: 129,109)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 6.9% — 17th smallest increase (from 118,453 to 126,607)
> Population: 4.2 million

Pennsylvania
> Measures taken: Schools must close if they reach a certain number of COVID-19 cases. Nearly all districts have submitted forms attesting that they are following safety protocols, a requirement to stay open.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily symptom screening
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 5,789 per 100,000 people — 11th lowest (total: 741,389)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 8.8% — 15th largest increase (from 673,915 to 733,429)
> Population: 12.8 million

Rhode Island
> Measures taken: Public school districts reopened on a staggered schedule from Jan 7 – Jan 15. All sports were cancelled until January.
> Health screening recommendations: At-home or on-site symptom screening as well as temperature checks
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 9,693 per 100,000 people — 5th highest (total: 102,485)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 8.0% — 21st largest increase (from 93,852 to 101,393)
> Population: 1.1 million

South Carolina
> Measures taken: Public schools across the state started testing for COVID-19 for free in an attempt to help keep classrooms open.
> Health screening recommendations: Each school to come up with its own safety measures
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 7,187 per 100,000 people — 24th highest (total: 365,378)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 9.5% — 13th largest increase (from 328,073 to 359,357)
> Population: 5.1 million

South Dakota
> Measures taken: South Dakota’s positivity rate is around 42%, suggesting testing is still very limited.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily symptom screening and temperature checks
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 10,607 per 100,000 people — 2nd highest (total: 93,580)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 2.0% — 2nd smallest increase (from 91,455 to 93,276)
> Population: 882,000

Tennessee
> Measures taken: Schools in the state’s largest school districts — Shelby County, Metro Nashville, Knox County, and Hamilton County — are finishing the fall semester fully remote.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily symptom screening and temperature checks
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 9,830 per 100,000 people — 4th highest (total: 665,499)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 7.0% — 19th smallest increase (from 617,649 to 660,874)
> Population: 6.8 million

Texas
> Measures taken: As of Jan 15, new schools won’t be able to opt-in to the K-12 COVID Testing Project to receive rapid tests. Those already in will continue to receive them.
> Health screening recommendations: Symptom self-screening for staff
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 7,047 per 100,000 people — 25th lowest (total: 2,022,635)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 8.3% — 19th largest increase (from 1,843,153 to 1,995,292)
> Population: 28.7 million

Utah
> Measures taken: Teachers are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations. Salt Lake City won’t reopen junior high and high schools for in-person instruction until teachers can get vaccinated.
> Health screening recommendations: for students and school staff to self-monitor for symptoms
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 9,959 per 100,000 people — 3rd highest (total: 314,817)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 7.2% — 21st smallest increase (from 288,951 to 309,629)
> Population: 3.2 million

Vermont
> Measures taken: Asymptomatic teachers and staff members at all public schools in Vermont can take an on-site COVID-19 test.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily symptom screening at home
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 1,496 per 100,000 people — the lowest (total: 9,368)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 15.0% — the largest increase (from 8,038 to 9,247)
> Population: 626,000

Virginia
> Measures taken: Henrico County Schools delayed in-person reopening. Fairfax County Public Schools is moving some students to full-time remote learning. Richmond Public Schools cancelled winter sports.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily symptom screenings
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 4,843 per 100,000 people — 7th lowest (total: 412,545)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 9.7% — 12th largest increase (from 371,913 to 407,947)
> Population: 8.5 million

Washington
> Measures taken: Health officials recommended holding off on expanding in-person learning due to resurgence of COVID-19 cases. Public school in Seattle won’t open for in-person instruction until Jan 28.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily symptom screening and temperature checks
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 3,696 per 100,000 people — 5th lowest (total: 278,544)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 7.6% — 25th smallest increase (from 258,767 to 278,544)
> Population: 7.5 million

West Virginia
> Measures taken: Elementary, middle, and many high schools will reopen for in-person instruction starting Jan 19.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily symptom screening and temperature checks
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 5,781 per 100,000 people — 10th lowest (total: 104,392)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 10.8% — 7th largest increase (from 93,162 to 103,203)
> Population: 1.8 million

Wisconsin
> Measures taken: Schools in Racine, Wind Point, and Elmwood Park are closed until Jan 15. Appleton Area School District, the state’s sixth largest, aims to open schools for in-person instruction Jan 19.
> Health screening recommendations: Daily symptom screening and temperature checks recommended
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 8,829 per 100,000 people — 9th highest (total: 513,270)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 4.0% — 7th smallest increase (from 491,341 to 511,136)
> Population: 5.8 million

Wyoming
> Measures taken: Students don’t have to quarantine if, when exposed, both the infected student and close contacts were wearing face coverings.
> Health screening recommendations: Each school district to come up with its own safety measures
> COVID-19 cases as of Jan 13: 8,321 per 100,000 people — 17th highest (total: 48,072)
> Change avg. daily cases, Jan 5 – Jan 12: 5.5% — 13th smallest increase (from 45,569 to 48,072)
> Population: 578,000