COVID Guidance for Schools & Colleges
From the union, public health, and education systems

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Guidelines written on a board

Click on the tabs below to find the latest public health guidelines — and earlier reopening guidelines — issued by the CFT, the AFT, and public agencies. Where noted, you may click through to CFT and AFT articles containing more information. The union guidelines support safe learning spaces for all students, educators, and support staff.  

SCHOOLS

June 30, 2022
California Dept. of Public Health
COVID-19 Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools, 2022-23 School Year

April 6, 2022
California Dept. of Public Health
Updated COVID-19 Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools, 2021-22 School Year

August 11, 2021
California Dept. of Public Health
Vaccine Verification for Workers in Schools
READ THE CFT STORY

August 2, 2021
California Dept. of Public Health
COVID-19 Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools, 2021-22 School Year
Released in conjunction
Questions and Answers

July 12, 2021
California Dept. of Public Health
K-12 school-based COVID-19 testing strategies for school year 2021-22

January 14, 2021
California Dept. of Public Health
COVID-19 and Reopening In-Person Instruction Framework & Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools, 2020-21 School Year
Released in conjunction
COVID-19 School Guidance Checklist
READ THE CFT ANALYSIS

August 3, 2020
California Dept. of Public Health
COVID-19 Industry Guidance: Schools and School-Based Programs (first published June 5, 2022)
READ THE CFT STORY

June 8, 2020
California Dept. of Education
Stronger Together: A Guidebook for the Safe Reopening of California’s Public Schools
READ THE CFT STORY

HIGHER EDUCATION

July 13, 2022
California Dept. of Public Health
Guidance for Higher Education

July 23, 2021
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Guidance for Colleges, Universities and Higher Learning
> READ THE CFT STORY

August 7, 2020
California Dept. of Public Health/CalOSHA
COVID-19 Industry Guidance: Institutions of Higher Education 
Note: California has retired its public health guidance for higher ed and there is no update. 
READ THE CFT STORY

June 26, 2020
California Community Colleges
Report of the Safe Campus Reopening Workgroup
READ THE CFT STORY

CFT

February 3, 2021
Classroom Learning and Safe Schools for Employees and Students (CLASSES), A Pathway to Bringing Students Back to Schools
California education unions, including the CFT, craft and release joint school reopening plan.
>READ THE CFT STORY

January 15, 2021
COVID-19 Vaccine: Another Layer of Protection Against the Virus
After the state prioritized vaccines for education workers, CFT and other unions prepared this information to help local unions work with your district and county health officials.
>FIND THE CFT ACTION PLAN

Vaccines info for leaders

July 13, 2020
CFT urges Governor Newsom to delay physically reopening schools
Surging coronavirus cases, testing woes make opening safely all but impossible.
>READ THE CFT STORY

empty school hallways

June 24, 2020
A Checklist for Safely Reopening California Schools and Colleges
The CFT urges unions to tailor this checklist to local conditions to best assist in ensuring a safe working environment for educators and students now and in the near future. The checklist covers three key areas — General Conditions, Infection Prevention, and Labor Relations. 
>READ THE CFT STORY

AFT

February 2021
Leveraging Collective Bargaining, and Educator and School Staff Voice, to Reopen Schools Safely
Case studies on how AFT affiliates have laid the groundwork for reopening schools safely
>READ THE AFT STORY

2021
Reopening School Buildings Safely
The three conditions essential for school buildings to reopen
>READ THE AFT STORY

June 1, 2020
Guide to Bringing Parents, Patients, Students and Community Together to Reopen America’s Schools Safely and Equitably
A step-by-step approach for educators, parents and communities

April 29, 2020
A Plan to Reopen American Schools & Communities
Guidance for imagining a new normal for public education, public health and our economy in the age of COVID-19
>READ THE CFT STORY