Safe and Healthy Schools

 Guidance from ADHS

• Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) Guidance for K-12 Schools & Childcare

• K-12 COVID-19 Pooled Testing - FAQS

Guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention

• Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools

• CDC Overview of COVID-19 Isolation for K-12 Schools

• CDC Overview of Quarantine for K-12 Schools

• CDC - What You Should Know About COVID-19 Testing in K-12 Schools

• Operational Guidance for K-12 Schools and Early Care and Education Programs to Support Safe In-Person Learning

Honoring Tribal Sovereignty

Public school districts and charters on or adjacent to tribal lands and those with staff and students affiliated with Arizona’s federally recognized tribal nations are encouraged to honor tribal public health orders. 

Leveraging Federal Recovery Dollars for Paid Sick Leave

The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) encourages schools to remain flexible with sick leave and absence policies. To keep everyone in our school communities safe, individuals who test positive for COVID-19 should stay home and be quarantined following CDC guidelines. 

ADE encourages schools to consider leveraging funds from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Act (ESSER) funds to pay for sick leave for staff who have tested positive or were exposed to COVID-19.

Promoting Vaccinations

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “achieving high levels of COVID-19 vaccination among eligible students as well as teachers, staff, and household members is one of the most critical strategies to help schools safely resume full operations.” Public schools are encouraged to promote vaccinations in your community to regularly educate your community about the benefits of vaccination. Public schools can use federal recovery dollars like Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds to provide and incentivize COVID-19 vaccinations for teachers, staff, and eligible students.

Learn more:

• American Rescue Plan and COVID-19 Vaccination Incentives FAQ

• ESSER/GEER and COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing FAQ

• Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) school immunization resources  

• ADHS Arizona Immunization Program 

In addition to the COVID-19 vaccines, schools play an important role in promoting regular childhood vaccines. Find free informational materials that schools can post around campus and share with families. Parents and caregivers can learn more about ADHS immunization requirements for children to attend school and child care.