Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information and Resources
Welcome to the Illinois Education Association’s COVID-19 information page. Here you will find links to some of the major information clearinghouse sites where you will find the most helpful and frequently updated information regarding the pandemic.
IEA leaders are involved in daily conversations with education stakeholders as plans continuously evolve regarding the rest of the academic year in Illinois. Please know that in these conversations, IEA will be looking to make sure several things happen:
- Everyone – students, members and your families – can stay safe and healthy;
- Members remain whole as a contributing member to our economy, which will take a huge blow as a result of the pandemic;
- Students see as much success as possible under these unconventional circumstances;
- And, that there is flexibility granted to schedules, work locations, assignments and conditions. This is all new, but work must still be done and we are all going to have to join together to find ways to accomplish it.
We’re hearing wonderful stories from all over the state about educators doing wonderful things – from unique remote learning techniques to providing food or internet to underserved communities. We’re not surprised. And, we’re so very proud. Thank you! Thank you for always coming through for Illinois’ students.
But, we know that it can be an anxious and frightening time, too. For information on what is happening in your local area, please reach out to your local association leaders. If you don’t know who those people are, feel free to contact IEA Connect through the chat button at the bottom of this page, by email or by phone at 844-IEA-1800.
Latest Update
Feb. 25, 2022
This evening the Illinois Supreme Court issued an order regarding the state appeal of the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) decided in the Sangamon County Covid school litigation. The order denied the state’s appeal to be heard by the Court but vacated the TRO as moot. The Court also remanded the matter back to Sangamon County for further litigation.
Gov. JB Pritzker announced this evening that the state’s mask guidance for schools will change as of Monday. It will be up to each individual district to follow the advice of the Centers for Disease Control. That advice said masks can be optional unless you live in an area of high transmission. This is a new announcement as of today. To find out if your area is in an area of high transmission, you can check the Illinois Department of Public Health’s website.
Dr. Carmen Ayala, the state’s school superintendent, released a statement tonight, as well, touting the fact that school districts should follow the advice of the Centers for Disease Control’s advice that came out today.
Crucial Information and Links
IEA Information:
- COVID-19 Sick Leave Initiative – News Release
- COVID-19 Sick Leave Initiative – FAQ
- COVID-19 Testing Chart
- NEA – Federal Emergency Aid for Public Education – A Checklist of Fund Uses under ESSER
- High-Stakes Standardized Tests During the Pandemic and Opt-Outs
- NEA Analysis of Revised CDC Guidance on Reopening School Buildings
- Health Metrics for Moving Between Different Learning Models
- FAQ – Livestreaming and Video Recording during COVID-19
- Illinois Virtual Instructional Coach and Building Mentor Program
- Joint Statement Teacher Evaluations – Unions and Management Organizations Release Guidance for Teacher Evaluations
- IEA – Guidance – Return to In-Person Instruction in Schools
- IEA – Frequently Asked Questions: Returning for the 2020-2021 School Year
- HB 2455 – Illinois Work Jobs Program Act
- SB 1569 – Education Omnibus Bill
Illinois Work Jobs Program Act
The state legislature met for an abbreviated session at the end of May and passed, among other things, this measure meant to help Illinois residents whose employment was affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Below are several resources meant to help IEA members navigate the Act.
Federal CARES Act
To help members understand the federal CARES Act, National Education Association staff have worked to create one pagers to explain different elements of the law. Hopefully, these will help unpack some of the new provisions until there is further guidance from the administration.
- HEERF Guidance from U.S. Department of Education
- Higher Ed Federal Relief Fund Allocation for Illinois
- CARES Act 2.0 district funding allocation list
- Side-by-side comparison of CARES Act 1.0 and CARES Act 2.0
- CARES Act Payments
- CARES Act Unemployment Benefits
- Education Stabilization Fund
- Student Loans
- Unemployment Insurance
- ESSA Waivers
Illinois Information
- Revised Public Health Guidance for Schools
- Updated FAQ document to accompany the guidance
- Interim Guidance on Testing for COVID-19 and the test to stay flowchart
- Decision Tree for Excluding Symptomatic Individuals from school and daycare
- Northwestern University COVID-19 Tracking Page
- Revised Public Health Guidance for Schools: Supporting the Full Return to In-Person Learning for All Students
- Revised Public Health Guidance for Schools – FAQs
- Public Health Interim Guidance for Local Health Departments and Pre-K-12 Schools COVID-19 Exclusion Protocols
- Interim Guidance on Testing for COVID-19 in Community Settings and Schools
- Test to Stay Protocol Flowchart
- Executive Order 2022-03
- ARP ESSER Plans
- How to talk to friends and family about the vaccine
- Ways schools can make this a teachable moment and support the COVID-19 vaccine
- FAQ on young people and the vaccine
- Supporting Child and Student Social, Emotional, Behavioral and Mental Health Needs
- Extending flexibility for the evaluation process through the 2021-22 school year
- Public Health Interim Guidance
- Interim Guidance on Testing for COVID-19
- Public Health COVID-19 School Guidance
- FAQ for Schools
- HEERF Guidance from U.S. Department of Education
- Higher Ed Federal Relief Fund Allocation for Illinois
- CDC Study
- IDPH One-Page Fact Sheet
- School Recognition Status Change Summary
- ISBE Notice of Emergency Rule
- Executive Order 2021-22
- ISBE Resolution Supporting In-Person Learning
- Hosting a Vaccination Event
- Mobile IDPH testing sites
- ISBE’s chart and FAQ on remote learning for quarantined students
- CDC Guidance on School Reopening
- Emergency Broadband Benefit
- Broadband FAQ
- Broadband toolkit with resources in English and Spanish
- ESSER III Special Education Cooperatives
- ESSER III State Set Aside
- Frequently Asked Questions Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Programs Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Programs
- COVID-19 Vaccination for Young People – FAQ
- Letter to Parents (English) (Spanish)
- Strategies to Build Vaccine Confidence
- How to Talk About the COVID-19 Vaccine
- Testing in Schools: FAQ
- Return to In-Person: What we learned from the pandemic
- Learning Renewal Resource Guide
- Federal Emergency Aid for Public Education Funding
- American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
- U.S. Dept. of Ed. Fact Sheet
- U.S. Dept. of Ed. Letter to State School Chiefs
- U.S. Dept of Ed. State Allocations
- State of Illinois – COVID-19 Update (3/18/21)
- State of Illinois – Phase 4 to 5 Framework Release (3/18/21)
- State of Illinois – A Bridge to Phase 5
- Revised Public Health Guidance for Schools Part IV – Transition Guidance
- FAQ on Revised Public Health Guidance for Schools Part IV – Transition Guidance
- Interim Post-Vaccination Considerations for School Employees
- CDC – COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit for School Settings and Childcare Programs
- CDC – COVID-19 Vaccines for Teachers, School Staff, and Childcare Workers
- Tier 3 resurgence mitigation in Spanish
- FAQ about the state’s plan
- U.S. EPA guidance on disinfectants and ventilation
- Tier 3 mitigation FAQ
- IDPH Sports Safety Guidance
- School and daycare best practices regarding COVID-19
- Emergency Amendment to Part 1
- Interim COVID-19 Music Guidance (IDPH)
- ISBE licensure inquiry page
- Priority Learning Standards
- Guidance for school bus operators
- Track how school districts are reopening
- Guidance for Evaluating a Child’s Medical Tolerance for Use of Face Coverings
- Understanding Special Education in Illinois – The Parent Guide
- Guidelines for schools on case/contact response
- Illinois Board of Higher Education Guidance on opening in the fall
- Emergency rules on licensure requirements
- Guidance from the Illinois Board of Higher Education
- ISBE Educator Licensure Changes
Additional Resources
- COVID-19 and Pregnancy
- NEA COVID Resource Center
- Coronavirus.Illinois.gov
- Illinois Department of Public Health
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention
- Illinois State Board of Education
- Illinois Board of Higher Education
- Illinois Community College Board
- Teacher’s Retirement System
- State Universities Retirement System
- Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund
- National Education Association
- Online learning resources
- USDA – SFSP COVID-19 Guidance
- Financial help available
- Mindfulness in the Classroom & Beyond
- COVID-19 and Worker Health Protection Resources
- NEA Guidance on Federal COVID-19 Policies
- Additional educator resources