U.S. CDC Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools
- Recent DOE Updates
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- 8.30.21 Updated Staff Vaccination Reporting FAQ
- 8.12.2021 Updated SOP for Fall 2021
- 8.03.21 Webinar with Dr. Shah and Q&A document related to 21-22 school year
- 7.28.21 State of Maine Follows Updated U.S. CDC Recommendations For Face Coverings In Indoor Public Settings
- 7.15.21 Health and Safety Guidance for PreK-12 Schools in Maine
- 6.24.21 ESSER III Application Update and Required Plan for In-Person Instruction.
- 6.11.21 End of Civil Emergency; Requirements to Recommendations for Health and Safety Guidance
- 6.09.21 Summer and Fall Planning for pre-K-12 Schools
- 6.07.21 Subgrants available to SAUs for LMS
- Older Updates...
- Subscribe to the Maine DOE Newsroom here.
- Testing
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- Information for both Pooled Testing and BinaxNOW Testing are available below. Skip to Pooled Testing
- Maine’s PreK-12 Testing Program: Frequently Asked Questions (Updated: 8.23.2021)
- BinaxNOW Testing
- Getting started:
Step 1: Apply for CLIA Waiver: Application | CLIA Waiver Instructions for schools
Step 2: Once number is assigned, apply for BinaxNOW Test kits (40 test cards per kit). Application for BinaxNOW Ag Test Cards. Please note: This does have an auto confirmation of receipt.
Step 3: Set up Reporting in RedCap reporting system using steps below:
- REDcap Online reporting for point of care (POC) testing: RedCap Reporting of BinaxNOW tests conducted in school settings (Contact redcap.dhhs@maine.gov for further questions)
- Reporting Documents
More BinaxNOW Testing Resources:
BinaxNOW School-Based Testing Guidance (8.17.21)
BinaxNOW product expiration extension (5.27.21)
Sample Parent Letter
Sample Permission Form (Updated 4.8.21)
Sample Consent Form: Staff
What to Expect During Testing - Pooled Testing
- Getting started: A Quick Reference for Pooled Testing
If BinaxNOW testing is already in place skip to step three.
Step 1: Apply for CLIA Waiver: Application | CLIA Waiver Instructions for schools
Step 2: Once number is assigned, apply for BinaxNOW Test kits (40 test cards per kit). Application for BinaxNOW Ag Test Cards. Please note: This does have an auto confirmation of receipt.
Step 3: Set up Reporting in RedCap reporting system using steps below:
- REDcap Online reporting for point of care (POC) testing: RedCap Reporting of BinaxNOW tests conducted in school settings (Contact redcap.dhhs@maine.gov for further questions)
- Reporting Documents
Step 4: Complete Pooled Testing Application for schools.
More Pooled Testing Resources:
U.S. CDC Pooled Testing Toolkit (letters, social media, and other resources to help schools communicate with parents & communities)
Pooled Testing Guidance (Updated 8.17.21)
Maine PCR Pooled Testing Enrollment form for Maine K-12 Schools
Pooled Testing Overview
Needs Assessment for SAUs and Schools considering Pool Testing (4.29.21)
Statement of Assurances
Maine Vendor for Pooled Testing (Ginkgo website)
How do I manage consents for Test Takers?
What is the process if I need to use paper consents?
Recorded Webinars about Pooled Testing
- COVID-19 Vaccine Resources:
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Find current information from Maine DOE regarding COVID-19 Vaccines.
- Should I go to Work or School After Vaccine?
- Maine CDC Info about Vaccinations
- Facts about Covid-19 Vaccine: Helping to Educate Maine
- Maine high school students talk about why they got vaccinated against COVID-19 (WMTW)
- The Science Behind the COVID-19 Vaccine: Parent FAQs (American Academy of Pediatrics) As the COVID-19 vaccines become available for younger age groups, many parents will have questions. This article helps parents understand how the vaccines safely and effectively teach the immune system to recognize and fight COVID-19. Also available here in Spanish.
- CDC Vaccine toolkit “National Study of Youth Opinions on Vaccination for COVID-19 in the U.S.,” (Journal of Adolescent Health)
- COVID-19 Vaccine: Helping to Educate Maine, Part 3 Youth 12 and up
- Vaccine Resources for Kids and Teens (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia)
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- Safety Guidance
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7.15.21 Update: Health and Safety Guidance for PreK-12 Schools in Maine
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Confronting COVID-19-Related Harassment in Schools (5/12/21)
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Disinfecting wipes | Updated 11/4/20
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Utilization of alternative sites | Updated 11/4/20
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Use of Tents | Updated 12/29/20
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Use of Hand Sanitizer in Educational Buildings | Updated 11/4/20
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- School Health Resources
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- School Nurse Fit Testing Cadre
- Respiratory Protection Program Information
- Sample Tracking Form for School Absences during COVID (Maine DOE)
- Pre-screening Tool (Translated Versions Now Available!) | Updated: 8.16.21
- COVID-19 Symptom Checker (U.S. CDC)
- Assessing a Symptomatic Child (MAAP Algorithm) | 8.5.21
- 2020/2021 Documents, Information & Resources
- Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Positive Cases
- COVID-19 Community Resources
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- I've had Close Contact with a Person with COVID-19: What do I do? (Translated Versions)
- I Have COVID-19: What Do I Do? (Translated Versions)
- COVID-19 Symptom Checker (U.S. CDC)
- What is Isolation? (Updated 9.29.20) What is Quarantine? (Updated 12.8.2020)
- CDC Stop the Spread of Germs Flyer English | Translated
- COVID-19 Fact Sheets (translations) (COVID-19 Health Literacy Project)
- Community Care Support Information (Maine DHHS) - services for families that need support in isolation or quarantine: English | Arabic | Azerbaijani | Croatian | Dari | Farsi | French | Hindi | Khmer | Kinyarwanda | Kirundi | Lingala | Pashto | Portuguese | Russian | Somali | Spanish | Swahili | Telugu | Vietnamese
- Airborne vs. Droplet (Video | Medmastery)
- COV-Ed: Mythbusters! COVID-19 Edition (The University of British Columbia (UBC) Medicine - Educational Media).
- Coronavirus Explained To Children (Video | Eurac Research)
- COVID-19 Resources for Children with Special Health Care Needs (The Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health)
- COVID-19 Printables (The Health Design Studio | Training & Professional Development Resources available in multiple languages)
- Individuals with Asthma
- More Maine DOE COVID-19 Resources
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- Federal Relief Programs (CRF/ESSER/EANS)Information
- COVID-19 School Nutrition Information
- Special Services COVID-19 Resources
- Maine Safety Center Maine Portal Site for COVID-19
- MAINE 211 - Free, confidential information and referral services related to COVID-19 - Visit Maine 211
- Maine CDC Coronavirus Updates
FrontLine WarmLine - Available 8 AM to 8 PM, 7 days a week for educators and school staff by calling (207) 221-8196 or text the word "frontline" to 898-211 for support managing anxiety and stress.