School Closure Plan Tracker

This tracker summarizes how different districts are responding to school closures, focusing on five critical areas: 1) continuity of learning; 2) health; 3) food security; 4) supervision; and 5) housing/safety. Data is currently included for all Maryland public school districts as well as a sampling of other districts for California, Florida, Michigan, New York, and Washington DC. This tracker provides a snapshot for how different districts are responding to school closures. Data comes from publicly available sources, most commonly district websites. It is updated biweekly, and only contains information about actions the district is currently taking, not any previous policies.

(Last update: June 5, 2020)

Action Type Explanations

Continuity of Learning

Access to Technology: Content is this category is related to how the district is assessing and meeting the technological needs of students and families.

Pick-up Work Packets: This category describes where and when physical copies of instructional packets are available for students to pick-up.

Distribute Work Packets: This category describes processes by which instructional packets are provided directly to students, without the need for pick-up. This may include sending students home with materials, delivery packets by school bus, or mailing packets home.

Online Learning Resources: This category relates to learning packets or tools that are available online for families to download or use to support distance learning.

School-provided Supports: These are systems that the school has set up to answer questions, facilitate learning, or otherwise support families with distance learning.

Physical/Health Education: This category describes any activities related to physical education or health education that are provided to students as part of their instructional packet or an online resource.

Resources for Special Needs/ English-Language Learners: These are resources or information about how families can support their special needs student or English-language learner throughout distance learning.

Teacher Resources: This includes information on how teachers are preparing and training for modified instruction as well as any resources the school provides to support teachers.

Other: This category is for any subtopic that does not fit into any of the current categories.

Food

Meal Pick-up (Schools): Information in this category has to do with locations and times when students can pick-up free meals from a school location.

Meal Pick-up (Community): Information in this category has to do with locations and times when students can pick-up free meals from a community location. (recreational center, church, fire station, etc.)

Meal Delivery: This includes options for students to have meals delivered to them at home.

Other: This category is for a subtopic that does not fit in to any of the current categories.

Supervision

School-Provided Childcare: Any services that a school or district directly provides to watch or care for children during school closures.

Community-Provided Childcare: Any services available in the community to watch or care for children during school closures.

Other: This category is for a subtopic that does not fit in to any of the current categories.

Health

Mental Health: This category describes any resources for mental health that are provided for students, staff, or families.

Medication/ Chronic Conditions: These include resources or information for students with chronic conditions or who typically take medication during the school day.

Preventive Health: This includes resources for how students can receive preventive healthcare, such as screenings, physicals, or vaccines.

COVID-19 Resources: This is anything the school has shared relating to COVID-19 information, health guidance, or coping strategies.

Special Needs/ Disability: These are resources or information for students with special needs or disability requirements who traditionally received support from the school.

Other: This category is for a subtopic that does not fit in to any of the current categories.

Housing/Safety

School Resources: These are direct supports from the school for families facing eviction, homelessness, or unstable housing.

Community Resources: These are community organizations or resources for families facing eviction, homelessness, or unstable housing.

Other: This category is for a subtopic that does not fit in to any of the current categories.

Contributors

Lora Bauer
Wilmer Eye Institute

Rujuta Gore, MD
Wilmer Eye Institute

Alice Liu, BA
Consortium for School-Based Health Solutions
Wilmer Eye Institute

Christopher Reid
Berman Institute of Bioethics

Ahmed Shakarchi, MBChB, MPH
Consortium for School-Based Health Solutions
Wilmer Eye Institute

Hursuong Vongsachang, BA
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Madison Wahl, BA
Consortium for School-Based Health Solutions
Wilmer Eye Institute