There have been several updates made recently regarding COVID protocols in schools. The following list of documents below has been created for quick reference. 

Information/ Link		Last Updated On
Current IDPH Exclusion Tree  (For evaluating symptomatic Individuals from Pre-K, K-12 Schools and Day Care Programs)		08/22/2022
Current Full ISBE Guidance Document		08/19/2022
IDPH Return to School Guidance		2017

 

The information on this page was most recently updated on August 4, 2022 and will continue to be updated as new guidance is received.

Are students required to wear masks?

Masks will continue to be optional for all students, staff and visitors. 

What should I do if my student has symptoms of COVID?

We strongly encourage all people who have symptoms of COVID to get tested.  

In general, as always, when a student is sick, people should seek the guidance of a medical professional if they have additional questions.  In all situations, the student’s symptoms must have been resolved (i.e. fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications, vomiting and diarrhea have been gone for 24 hours, cough is gone, sore throat improved, etc.).  There is no requirement to test negative or to have a negative COVID test in order to return to school.

As a continued service to our community, we offer COVID testing onsite at our Bridges Transition Center by appointment through the school nurse (Click here to locate other testing locations near you).  The consent form and additional testing information is available by clicking here.  This form can be printed and should be returned to the school office.

What are the procedures for students who have tested positive for COVID and what are the steps for returning to school?

Students who have tested positive for COVID-19 should stay home for a minimum of five calendar days (day zero is the day of symptom onset or test date if asymptomatic). Students may return when the following criteria have been met:

• Fever free for at least 24 hours without the use of medications

• Symptoms are improving

• Diarrhea and vomiting have ceased for 24 hours

• At least five calendar days have passed since symptom onset (or date of test if the student was asymptomatic).

CDC and IDPH continue to advise that students and staff who are returning to school, during days 6-10, should wear a face covering at all times.  

What happens if another person in the household tests positive for COVID?  

If another family member inside a home tests positive for COVID, all people should monitor for symptoms and get tested if any symptoms develop.  Please do not send students to school if they have symptoms.

What does instruction look like for students who test positive for COVID? 

Beginning in December 2022, our virtual teaching for students in grades K-5 was discontinued due to low use.  When students are out with COVID, they will be given information about instruction by their classroom teacher.  Most of the learning during this time will be asynchronous (pre-made, individual, and indirect instruction).

Students in grades 6-12 will engage in class through daily asynchronous activities posted to Google Classroom. For grades 6-12, learning will be supported with asynchronous (pre-made, individual, and indirect instruction) activities through Google Classroom and various instructional technology resources.

Regardless of grade level, teachers will remain responsive to student learning by providing regular communication with students and feedback on assignments using District-approved digital communication platforms.

To learn more, please visit the following guidance documents: Early Childhood Family Guidance, Kindergarten to 5th Grade Family Guidance, and 6th to 12th Grade Family Guidance.

Will we be notified if a student or staff member tests positive for COVID? 

The DuPage County Health Department is no longer working with schools to conduct contact tracing.  Exceptions might be made in situations where there is an outbreak in a classroom, building, or student cohort.

What is an outbreak?

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) updated their definition of an outbreak to include the following information:

(A) “multiple cases comprising at least 10% of students, teachers, or staff within a specified core group” (e.g., extracurricular activity, cohort group, classroom, etc.) OR

(B) “at least three cases within a specified core group meeting (e.g. classroom or team) criteria for a probable or confirmed school-associated COVID-19 case (laboratory-positive by PCR or antigen testing) with symptom onset or positive test within 14 calendar days of each other; who were not identified as close contacts of each other in another setting outside of the school setting (i.e., household); and that are epidemiologically linked in the school setting or a school-sanctioned activity.

We track several metrics related to COVID-19. Please click here for current COVID-19 metrics.