COVID-19 State Guidance and Information on Early Childhood

New state guidance and information is rolling out daily from Governor Cooper’s office, the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), the NC Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), and the NC General Assembly. We will keep this page updated with what is relevant for early childhood. New updates will show at the top of the page. 

NCECF Posts on COVID-19

• Is Having a Child in America Becoming an Unattainable Privilege?
• COVID-19 Exacerbates Inequities in Early Childhood Education
• Muffy Grant Discusses the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Affordable Child Care in NC
• American Rescue Plan Will Provide Critical Supports to Young Children and Their Families
• New President. New Plans. What Biden’s Rescue and Recovery Plans Mean for Early Childhood

View More News on COVID-19

March Updates

Accelerated Timeline Announced for Moving to Groups 4 & 5 for COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility

New Executive Order Lifts Some COVID-19 Restrictions

1. the number of people going to the Emergency Department with COVID-like symptoms
2. the number of cases
3. the percent of tests that are positive, and
4. the number of people hospitalized. All are showing positive trends.

• Examples of lower risk settings that can now open up to full capacity include retail shopping businesses, camps, outdoor playgrounds, personal care businesses, and museums.
• Examples of medium risk settings that are now open up to full capacity outdoor and up to 75% indoor include restaurants, breweries, wineries, gyms, pools, and amusement parks.
• Examples of higher risk settings that can open up to 50% capacity include stadiums, arenas, conference spaces, reception spaces, movie theaters, and bars..

Updates to StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit

Today Governor Cooper and Secretary Cohen announced further easing of restrictions across the state, as our COVID-19 metrics continue to improve.  Additionally, NCDHHS has updated the StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit (K-12) as our state’s key metrics continue to improve, and the CDC continues to release updated guidance that further clarifies best practices for operating our public schools during the pandemic.

The following key updates have been made to NC’s K-12 public health guidance:

• All grade levels should operate in Plan A
• Recommendations added to the Physical (Social) Distancing and Minimizing Exposure in alignment with updated CDC guidance around three feet of social distancing for elementary school students, cohorting and three feet for middle and high school students, and continuing six feet of distance between adults and between adults and children.
• Symptom screenings at school entry are no longer required, but are recommended – this includes temperature checks. However, close contact disclosure and positive test disclosure are still required.
• Recommendations are added and clarified around incorporating screening testing and diagnostic testing in K-12 settings.
• Playground structures no longer require regular disinfection
• Recommendation added that individuals who are fully vaccinated and asymptomatic do not need to quarantine if they are identified as close contacts.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership as we keep our schools open for in-person instruction, and we stay up-to-date with our best practices as informed by new research and evidence over time.

You’ll also find more information and resources about our state COVID-19 response below the K-12 updates. Please share the resources below and direct questions about state K-12 public health guidance to StrongSchoolsNC@dhhs.nc.gov.

Key Changes – 3/23/2021

NOTE: The updated files linked below will go live on 3/23. You may need to hit “refresh” on your browser for updated versions of files to appear.

New Resources: 

• Visit https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/guidance#schools  to see recently updated Spanish guidance documents and check back regularly for new updates

StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit (K-12)  

• All grade levels should operate on Plan A
• Daily symptom screenings no longer required
• Incorporated CDC recommendations on at least 3 feet of physical distance between children and 6 feet between adults
• Changed wording from “social” to “physical” distancing
• Disinfecting playground equipment no longer required
• Physical barriers no longer recommended
• Recommendation added that individuals who are fully vaccinated and asymptomatic do not need to quarantine if they are identified as close contacts.
• Recommendations are added and clarified around incorporating screening testing and diagnostic testing in K-12 settings.

Reference Guide for Suspected, Presumptive, or Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 (K-12) 

• All daily screening protocols upon arrival at school entry have been removed, as daily symptom screenings are no longer required
• Optional symptom screening resources found at the back of the document
• Recommendation added that individuals who are fully vaccinated and asymptomatic do not need to quarantine if they are identified as close contacts.

StrongSchoolsNC Infection Control and PPE Guidance (K-12) 

• Updated to reflect optional symptom screening

Requirements and Recommendations for Recess, Specials, and General Activities

• Revised guidance to reflect CDC recommendations on physical distance

What Are We Learning About COVID-19 and Children?

• Incorporated CDC recommendations on at least 3 feet of physical distance between children and 6 feet between adults
• Consolidated reference links to instead link to the CDC’s regularly updated Science Brief with over 70 studies

StrongSchoolsNC FAQ 

• Revised questions to align with remote learning only being an option for high risk families and/or families who opt-out of in-person instruction
• Revised questions about symptom screenings to reflect that daily screenings are now optional
• Condensed answers to refer directly to regularly updated, linked documents

Update on the Next Round of Operational Grants for Child Care Providers

Select Members of Group 4 Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccine Beginning March 17

• health care workers
• long-term care staff and residents
• people 65 and older and
• child care and school staff.

Vaccine Updates

As of March 3^rd, COVID-19 vaccinations are open to Groups 1 – 3 (all frontline essential workers) in North Carolina. The state expects to move to Group 4  beginning on March 24, first prioritizing those with high-risk medical conditions.

• Not sure what group you’re in? Click here and make sure you get text updates from NCDHHS!
• Click here to register to volunteer to support vaccine distribution
• Click here to help share information about vaccines using our easy social media toolkit.
• Help spread the word about group 3 eligibility and post this text and use the attached image to your social media – right now!
  • All frontline essential workers are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, including first responders and emergency personnel such as police and fire fighters, people who work in manufacturing, food and agriculture, grocery stores, government workers, and clergy, among others. Remember, that some vaccine providers may not be ready to open to all frontline essential workers — you may have to wait to make an appointment, but you have a spot to take your shot. Find out more: https://bit.ly/3sK4uw #YourSpotYourShot

Yesterday, the State Board of Education approved of a resolution endorsing NCDHHS updated guidance that instructs schools to offer in-person instruction. Recognizing the growing harms to children who are out of school and relying solely on remote instruction – including negative impacts on academics, mental health and food insecurity – the department’s updated guidance instructs schools to offer in-person learning to the fullest extent possible while following all public health protocols. Schools should only use remote learning options for higher-risk students and for families opting for remote learning for their children.

This week NCDHHS also launched statewide access to K-12 COVID-19 rapid testing in public schools, following a months-long successful pilot in over 220 schools across the state.

Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Information

• Additional Frontline Essential Workers will be eligible for vaccine beginning on Wednesday, March 3, 2021. With the authorization of the Johnson & Johnson one-shot vaccine, North Carolina now has another tested, safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine to protect-against virus-related hospitalization and death. With three vaccines, North Carolina can get more people vaccinated sooner.
• Please be sure to share the video with Frontline Essential Workers talking about why they plan to take their shot (English/Spanish) and our video with Agricultural Workers (Spanish)
• North Carolina will plan to move to Group 4, beginning with people who have a medical condition that puts them at higher risk and live in additional congregate settings, on March 24, 2021. This population includes anyone with conditions that have been identified by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as increasing risk for severe COVID-19 illness and anyone who is living in congregate or close group living settings who is not already vaccinated including people experiencing homelessness or living in a homeless shelter and people in a correctional facility, such as jail or prison. Learn more at Deeper Dive Group 4: Adults at Higher Risk of Exposure and Increased Risk of Severe Illness (Higher-Risk Conditions and Additional Congregate Settings).
• Definitions in Group 4 have been clarified. High-risk medical conditions include intellectual and developmental disabilities, including Down Syndrome, and neurologic conditions, such as dementia and schizophrenia. Learn more at Deeper Dive Group 4: Adults at High Risk for Exposure and Increased Risk of Severe Illness (Essential Workers Not Yet Vaccinated and Other Group Living Settings)
• The definition of long-term care in Group 1 has been updated for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Long-term care includes people receiving long-term home care for more than 30 days including home and community based services for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, private duty nursing, personal care services, and home health and hospice. Learn more at  Deeper Dive Group 1: Health Care Workers and Long-Term Care Staff and Residents.

• Video Library
• Social Media Graphics
• Flyers
• Website and Newsletter Graphics
• Postcards
• Presentation

February Updates

Reinstatement of Child Care Rule Requirements

Apply for PPP Before March 10th: Help for Family- and Center-Based Child Care Businesses With Fewer Than 20 Employees

• Two national webinar videos to help you understand and access PPP
  • one video for FCC educators and 
  • one video for ECE programs
• Several resources for small businesses to help FCC educators and ECE programs learn more about PPP and navigate the challenges created by the pandemic.

How Child Care Programs Can Help Get Child Care Staff Vaccinated

Additional Operational Grants for NC Child Care Providers

On December 27, 2020, the COVID-19 Economic Relief Bill was signed into law, allocating $10 billion for Child Care and Development Block Grants to provide immediate assistance to childcare providers. North Carolina has been given 60 days to develop a plan for spending the $335,912,393 it received. The Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) will be seeking input from child care providers, stakeholders, and partners on the best ways to continue supporting child care and early education in the state. Please stay tuned for more information on how to provide input into this spending plan.

In the interim, DCDEE recognizes that child care providers have not received any monetary support since December 2020. For this reason and based on feedback received during conversations with the child care field, DCDEE will be offering operational grants to private, licensed child care facilities that are open to serve children and families. The operational grants will be awarded in March and April 2021. Child care providers eligible for the operational grants can expect to see the money deposited into their accounts beginning the week of March 15, 2021, and April 12, 2021.

Additionally, DCDEE will also be covering the cost of the parent co-payment during the months of March and April 2021.

Child Care, K-12 Teachers Eligible for COVID Vaccines Starting February 24

Today, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced plans for how the state will move to Group 3 for COVID-19 vaccines. Because supply is still very limited and the population of frontline essential workers is so large, we will begin with anyone working in child care or in PreK – 12 schools starting on February 24, 2021.

DHHS is working with its partners on how to support child care and school staff in accessing vaccines and will be sharing more information in the coming week. More detail on who will be eligible beginning February 24, 2021, is available on Deeper Dive: Group 3 – Frontline Essential Workers (School and Childcare), which is available in English and Spanish.

Currently eligible groups–health care workers, long-term care staff and residents, and people 65 and older–will continue to be prioritized. DHHS plans to move to additional frontline essential workers on March 10th.

As always, DHHS relies on you as a trusted messenger to help people make informed decisions. DHHS has developed a suite resources to support your outreach efforts. Please visit YourSpotYourShot.nc.gov and vacunate.nc.gov as new materials are added regularly.

Flyers and Fact Sheets: Print and share flyers in your community. 

• Bilingual – Your Best Shot Against COVID-19 
• 65 years and older  –  English /  Spanish 
• Simpler Flyer – English / Spanish 
• Postcard Size Handout – English / Spanish 

• North Carolina’s Vaccine Groups – English /  Spanish 

•  English Video Library / Spanish Video Library 

• Social Media Library 

• FAQ – English / Spanish 

• Vaccine 101 Deck – English /  Spanish 

• Tip Sheet to Record Your Vaccine Selfie – English / Spanish 

• YourSpotYourShot.nc.gov
• vacunate.nc.gov

Webinar on Effective Cleaning & Disinfecting Techniques in Child Care Facilities

The North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) is pleased to announce a webinar entitled “Safe Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfection to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 in Child Care Facilities” will be held Wednesday, February 24, 2021, from 1-2pm.

You can reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19 by cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting your child care facility regularly. During this webinar, the North Carolina Division of Public Health (DPH) staff will share information on effective cleaning and disinfecting along with important safety information that can be used to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19, as well as general daily operation.

Please join the webinar using this link: https://ncgov.webex.com/ncgov/onstage/g.php?MTID=ec04dc15bc5dd89d05232bd8214ff0a96. There is also a dial-in option, which is (415) 655-0003, followed by the access code 185 924 7617. The webinar will be recorded and posted on the DCDEE website for future viewing as well.

Additionally, the DPH staff have developed a fact sheet that contains information about safe and effective cleaning, sanitation, and disinfection to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in child cares. This fact sheet is being shared as part of ongoing education and guidance to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in NC. Questions regarding the fact sheet can be sent to nchace@dhhs.nc.gov.

Licensed Child Care Centers: Enroll in the Clean Water for Carolina Kids Program to Complete Required Lead Testing

FROM DCDEE: If you have not enrolled in the Clean Water for Carolina Kids program yet, you should have received an email recently to sign up for a pre-enrollment webinar. This email is legitimate and North Carolina partnered with RTI International to support free testing for all licensed child care centers in the state. Participation in this testing is required by April 1, 2021, to comply with the new lead testing rule (15A NCAC 18A .2816).

Please view the initial message from the Clean Water for Carolina Kids program or register for one of the required webinars at https://rtiorg.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dUo_XtuqQOOvBoiONHs_7g. They are offered twice a week. Choose only one webinar to attend. During the 30 minute session, the webinar will overview:

• How to enroll
• How to sample, and
• How to ship your samples.

Staff will also be available to answer any lingering questions or comments live after the training presentation. Once you complete the webinar, the access code will be shared to enroll at www.cleanwaterforcarolinakids.org. You need this code to enroll.

COVID Vaccine Webinars for Child Care Providers

January Updates

DCDEE Encourages Child Care Providers to Complete Child Care Status Review (COVID Impact) Survey

The intent of the NC Child Care Status Review (COVID Impact Survey) is to document how your child care program has operated since March 2020 and is continuing to operate now. This survey provides an opportunity for you to share feedback with the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) and other state policymakers so they may fully understand the challenges your program is facing, or how DCDEE and our partner agencies can support your program moving forward.

You can complete the Child Care Status Review online with your login ID and password at: https://survey.ncsu.edu/childcare/ 

If you HAVE already completed your Review, THANK YOU for your assistance! If you have not already completed your facility’s Review, North Carolina State University (NCSU) is attempting to reach you to complete it.

NCSU’s interviewers are calling from a (919) 515-xxxx number. This is a legitimate call on behalf of DCDEE seeking your assistance. DCDEE asks that you accept this call or return the contact’s message if at all possible. The call is being made to you to complete your Child Care Status Review (COVID Impact) survey over the phone, or to provide your program’s login information so you may complete the review yourself online.

In early January, you should have also received a USPS mailed letter from DCDEE with information regarding the study. That letter included a login ID and password specific for your facility. (Program login ID and password information do NOT work for more than 1 facility ID, so please do not share those.) If you do not have this letter and would like your login ID and password to be re-sent to you, or if you wish to schedule a time to complete your Review over the phone, please email Ryan Hancock at ryan_hancock@ncsu.edu or call (919) 515-3211.

Again, you may complete the Child Care Status Review online with your login ID and password at: https://survey.ncsu.edu/childcare/.

A printable version of the Review is available at https://survey.ncsu.edu/childcare/final.pdf. If you choose to print and complete your program’s information, please return that by fax to (919) 515-3642.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to provide this valuable feedback.

Vaccine Prioritization Plan Updates

Child Care Centers: Keep Drinking Water Safe during Pandemic

Important! New public service announcements – 

Child Care Centers and Schools – Keep your drinking water safe during closures

State officials have been finding high levels of lead in the water at some child care centers after they have been closed for a while during the pandemic. Lead is very hazardous for young children. Luckily there are simple steps you can take to cut the risk of exposure. 

Please share these short public service announcements. They were developed by NC Child, with help from RTI International and the NC Division of Public Health.

Child Care Centers and Schools – Keep your drinking water safe during closures

English – Watch on YouTube/ Download from Drive

Spanish – Watch on YouTube/Download from Drive

December Updates

Reminders for a safe holiday season

• The “Celebrate the Holidays Safely” flyer (also available in Spanish) includes     recommendations on how to stay safe during the winter holidays. Please share by:
  • Posting flyers around your child care facility, particularly in waiting areas
  • Sending flyers home with children and families
  • Sharing flyers through employee newsletter or listserv

• Social media graphics and sample posts to share on social media channels to further spread the word about celebrating the holidays safely.
  • Celebrate the winter holidays safely.
    • Avoid travel️.
    • Avoid gatherings with those with whom you don’t live️.
    • If you choose to travel or gather: get a test, keep it small and outdoors, and always wear a mask.
    • #StayStrongNC

• • Gatherings with those outside your immediate family should be avoided this holiday season. But if you do plan to get-together, NCDHHS has more detailed winter holiday guidance to keep you and others safe from COVID-19. 
    • More information is available on how to how to celebrate the holidays safely.

1. • NCDHHS has released COVID-19 guidelines everyone should follow this winter and during the holidays.
     • NCDHHS knows this is a particularly hard time of year to stay home and to be separated from family and friends, but it is the best way North Carolina can do its part to show care for one another as the fight of this pandemic continues.
     • Take these steps. 

• Information about the COVID-19 vaccine

1. • Tested, safe, and effective COVID-19 vaccines will be available soon to help North Carolinians defeat this virus, get back in control of our lives, and back to the people and places we love.  Although the vaccines were developed quickly, they were built upon years of work in developing vaccines for similar viruses. Development time was shortened without cutting corners.
   • A safe and effective vaccine will be available to all who want it, but supplies will be limited at first. Independent state and federal public health advisory groups have determined that the best way to fight COVID is to start first with vaccinations for those most at risk, then reaching more people as the vaccine supply increases throughout 2021.

Note on December Attendance for Teacher/Staff Bonus Payments

Should you have any questions about the bonus payment information, please contact the Subsidy Services Section of DCDEE at 919.814.6380.  

Current COVID-19 Restrictions, including new stay-at-home order

The table below provides a general summary of restrictions imposed under recent executive orders as well as frequently asked questions and relevant guidance from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. Additional guidance is also available.

• Under Executive Order 180, North Carolina remains under restrictions, as outlined in the table below, until 5 p.m. Dec. 11.
• Executive Order 181 extends current restrictions, effective Dec. 11 until at least 5 p.m. Jan. 8.

PPE for Child Care Facilities

New Requirements for Face Coverings for Young Children

• In an age appropriate way, explain that germs are special to their body. Some germs are harmful, and some are not. The harmful ones can make us sick. Since we cannot always tell which are harmful or not, the face coverings help make sure you keep bad germs away from your body.
• If a child is afraid of wearing a face covering, try putting one on a favorite stuffed animal or doll, decorate it with drawings, practice wearing it at home, and show the child pictures of other children wearing them.
• Refer to online resources such as:
  • COVID-19 Activity Book
  • PBS Kids Arthur video
  • Tips for talking to toddlers about face coverings

Update from Dr Mandy Cohen on Vaccine Safety and Timeline

Here’s a transcript of Dr Mandy Cohen’s remarks this week on the safety of the coming vaccines and the timeline:

As far as today’s numbers. As of this morning:   

• There were 5,637 new cases reported today  
• 2,101 people are currently hospitalized     
• Sadly, there have been 5,410 deaths    

Today we hit another devastating milestone going well beyond 5,000 new cases reported in just 24 hours. This number is alarming. Yesterday, we saw our highest rate yet of the percent of tests that were positive hitting 11.4 percent. Our hospitalization numbers are also setting records with over 2,100 now in the hospital with COVID-19. I am very worried.  I know this is a particularly hard time of year to stay home and away from family and friends, yet it is the best way we can take personal responsibility and show our care for them as we fight a global pandemic. 

Earlier this week, I shared that in just 11 months COVID has killed more than triple the number of North Carolinians as the flu did in the past decade. We must keep working together to protect our loved ones, to make sure our hospitals are there for those who need them, and to save lives. If you are with someone you don’t live with, wear a mask and keep your distance. Better yet, limit your social actions as much as possible. We need to stay strong together. And if you attended a Thanksgiving gathering, please get tested. Social gatherings can quickly become virus spreading events putting those who attended and the larger community at risk. 

We are so close to having the means to control this virus with a safe and effective vaccine. The Food and Drug Administration and their external advisory committee will review two vaccines this month. I am going to take some time today to provide more details about the vaccines, how we got here, and what will likely happen in the coming weeks. 

Although the vaccines were developed quickly, corners were not cut.  The vaccines were built upon years of work in developing vaccines for similar viruses, such as SARS. In addition, billions of dollars were invested to allow clinical trials to proceed without delay and ensure the manufacturing of millions of doses of vaccine happened at the same time.  All of this allowed for the scientific community to shorten the time getting us a safe and effective vaccine.  

For the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, more than 70,000 people combined participated in clinical trials to see if the vaccines are safe and if they can effectively prevent someone from getting COVID-19. Both companies worked to recruit people from historically marginalized populations to participate in their trials. For the Pfizer trial, 41 percent were non-White, including 26 percent who were Hispanic/Latinx and 10 percent who were Black. For Moderna, 37 percent of participants were non -white, including 29 percent who were Hispanic/Latinx and 10 percent were Black. 

The people who make the decision about whether or not to authorize the use of these new vaccines at the FDA are career scientists, not political appointees.  The data is also reviewed by another independent body – the Vaccine and Related Product Advisory Committee (VARPAC). This committee works with FDA to determine safety and efficacy. The process is independent and transparent.  

Looking at the vaccines themselves, there is no COVID-19 virus in these vaccines. The vaccine imitates the infection, so that our bodies think a germ like the virus is attacking. This creates the antibody defenses we need to fight off COVID if and when the real germ attacks.  

 Once a vaccine is authorized for use, supplies will be very limited at first. Independent federal and state groups of experts determined that the best way to fight COVID is to start first with vaccinations for those most at risk. 

Therefore, the initial supply of vaccines will go to a limited number of hospitals to vaccinate health care workers at high risk of exposure to COVID-19 – those who are caring for or cleaning areas used by patients with COVID-19.  Because of the limited initial vaccine supply, not all hospitals will receive vaccine initially.  As more vaccine becomes available, it will be distributed to more of the state’s hospitals and to our local health departments to focus on vaccinating high risk health care workers.  

Long-term care staff and residents will also be in the first group to receive the vaccine. Vaccinations at skilled nursing facilities and adult care homes are being managed by the federal government through a partnership with CVS and Walgreens. Vaccines used in long-term care will come from the state’s allotment.  

The federal government will determine the number of COVID-19 vaccines each state will receive. The amount of vaccine sent to states will be based on the size of the state’s population. The state will then tell the CDC where to send vaccine. The CDC works with the manufacturer or distributor to place the order. Then, the manufacturer or distributor ships the vaccine directly to the provider.   

We have been told that if the Pfizer vaccine is authorized this month, we will likely receive a first shipment of about 85,000 doses possibly as early as mid-December. We expect that more vaccines will be shipped weekly. 

We hope by early 2021 that health departments and community health centers will start vaccinating other adults who are high risk for complications, meaning they have two or more chronic conditions identified by the CDC and who are at higher risk for exposure.  

While clinical trials are showing safety and effectiveness for adults, children will not initially receive vaccines as clinical trials with children are needed to ensure safety and effectiveness. 

I know that was a lot of information. To recap: 

• COVID-19 vaccines must go through and pass clinical trials like other drugs and vaccines. 
• Pfizer and Moderna recruited people from historically marginalized populations to participate in their clinical trials.
• The vaccine authorization process is independent and transparent. 
• There is no COVID-19 virus in these vaccines 
• Supplies will be very limited at first. 
• The initial supply will go to long-term care staff and residents and a limited number of hospitals to vaccinate health care workers at high risk of exposure to COVID-19 – those who are caring for or cleaning areas used by patients with COVID-19 

We’ve been hard at work preparing for this moment. We know there will be bumps in the road administering a vaccination program of this scale. States will need federal support and federal dollars as they undertake such an unprecedented effort.  

As I said earlier this week, having a safe vaccine within reach is an extraordinary achievement, but it is not a quick fix. It will take several months to have enough supplies that anyone can readily get a vaccine. Until most people are vaccinated, the 3 Ws remain our best tool to protect our loved ones, to make sure our hospitals are there for those who need them, and to save lives. Wear a mask, wait six feet apart and wash your hand. Wear. Wait. Wash. 

Apply for COVID Testing Pilot in NC Public Schools

NCDHHS has opened the application process for its pilot program to deploy rapid COVID-19 testing in K-12 public schools to quickly identify students and staff who may have COVID-19 to help slow the spread of the virus. 

To participate in the pilot, a school or school partner organization that wishes to perform testing must be able to meet certain requirements, including: the ability to obtain parental/guardian consent prior to testing, maintain adequate supplies of personal protective equipment, have trained personnel to administer tests, and report test results to state and local public health agencies. Local education agencies can identify individual schools in their jurisdictions that are interested and able to meet these requirements.  

A local education agency must work with their local health department to complete a readiness checklist and submit a pilot application to NCDHHS. 

Pilot applications are due December 8, 2020. NCDHHS will deliver the rapid tests to pilot sites at no cost to the sites as soon as December 14, 2020. 

Ready to apply? For more information about the K-12 COVID-19 testing pilot, including step-by-step application instructions and frequently asked questions, please review the application packet, available online here: https://files.nc.gov/covid/documents/guidance/education/NCDHHS-K-12-Testing-Pilot-Application-Packet.pdf. 

Questions? Applicants should direct questions about the K-12 COVID-19 antigen testing pilot application process to StrongSchoolsNC@dhhs.nc.gov with the subject line “COVID Testing Pilot Question.” 

Details on Bonuses for Child Care Teachers and Staff

New Resource for Non-Public Schools

Today NCDHHS released Requirements and Recommendations for NC Non-Public Schools. As noted in the August 2020 letter from State Health Director Dr. Betsey Tilson, non-public schools have been encouraged to utilize all  guidance and resources available on the NCDHHS webpagehttps://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/guidance#schools. When Governor Cooper issued Executive Order No. 180 on November 23, 2020, the order outlined that non-public schools must require face coverings to be worn by all workers, teachers, guests, other adults and children age five (5) or older. Today’s guidance release brings together the best guidance available for NC’s schools by building out recommendations based on public school requirements, and outlining specifically what is required of non-public schools

• Families and Students should use this guidance to understand what health practices should be in place at school. All non-public schools will be required to follow certain health practices in the guidance noted as “required.” Many schools may also choose to implement some or all of the recommended practices.
• Local Education Leaders should use this guidance to understand what health practices they must meet, and to develop detailed school plans for how to implement the required and recommended health practices described in this toolkit.
• Faith Based Schools should consider utilizing this guidance in conjunction with the resources available from NCDHHS created for faith-based organizations to protect their community. See the resources linked here available through the NCDHHS Faith Toolkit.

• Local Health Departments should utilize this toolkit as a common entry point in your ongoing communication efforts with nonpublic schools in your area of service.

Register for Next Week’s Town Hall for Non-Public Schools

Thursday, December 12^th, 11:00AM – 12:30PM

You’re invited! Join education leaders to learn more about the latest evidence on COVID-19 prevention in non-public schools, hear from your peers on their best practices, and get your questions answered in real time by NCDHHS senior leadership.

Register Below:

Event Number: 178 638 0729

Event Password: This event requires registration. After your registration has been approved, you will receive instructions for joining the event.

——————————————————-

To join this online event

——————————————————-

1. Go to https://ncgov.webex.com/ncgov/j.php?MTID=e9b581c3d8ef851caccd3b5d880a93e28
2. Enter the event password: This event requires registration. After your registration has been approved, you will receive instructions for joining the event.
3. Click “Join Now”.
4. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen to join the teleconference.

November Updates

Bonus Payments for Licensed Child Care Teachers and Staff

Disaggregated COVID Data on Young Children

NCDHHS has updated the COVID-19 data dashboard with case counts disaggregated by age of young children. As of November 8th, there have been 14,234 cases among NC children nine years old and younger, representing four percent of total COVID-19 cases in NC:

November K-12 Guidance Updates from DHHS

• To keep track of changes to guidance and resources, bookmark this page.
• To view all school-related NCDHHS public health guidance and resources, visit:https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/guidance#schools.

StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit (K-12)   

• Streamlined the daily symptom screening checklists (Pages 15 – 18) 
• Revised alternate diagnosis language to allow someone excluded from school to return (Pages 9 and 21) 
• Clarified language regarding PCR testing; now reads “PCR/molecular test” (throughout) 
• Gloves are not required for people conducting symptom screenings (Page 8) 
• Aligned high-risk status categories to current CDC recommendations (Page 6) 
• Added consideration for protective layering if sustaining contact with unmasked persons (Page 6) 

Reference Guide for Suspected, Presumptive, or Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 (K-12)  

• Created new “Return from Exclusion Summary Tool” (Page 8) 
• Added daily symptom screening checklists for reference (Pages 4 -7) 
• Clarified language regarding PCR testing; now reads “PCR/molecular” (throughout) 

StrongSchoolsNC Infection Control and PPE Guidance (K-12)  

• Added broader recommendations for how to use common infection control items (Pages 1 – 3) 
• Revised Starter Pack and Booster Pack descriptions to reflect past-tense (Pages 3 – 5) 

Considerations For COVID-19 Testing of Adults and Children Who Work at or Attend a K-12 School  

• Linked to new antigen testing flow chart (Page 1) 

What Are We Learning About COVID-19 and Children? 

• Updated links 

StrongSchoolsNC FAQ  

• Added new questions relating to immunizations and mask exceptions 
• Updated links 

DHHS COVID-19 Update to NC State Board of Education

NCDHHS provides a monthly COVID-19 update to the NC State Board of Education.

• To view this month’s November 5^th update presentation, click here.
• To listen to the audio stream of the meeting through the NC Department of Public Instruction’s Public Meetings YouTube Channel, click here.

Emergency School-Age Family Support Program No Longer Taking Applications

New COVID Cluster Data on NCDHHS Dashboard

NC DHHS added a new COVID-19 Clusters in North Carolina Report to the COVID-19 NC Dashboard on the Outbreaks and Clusters page. This report will be updated on Mondays at 4PM.

Users will now be able to view clusters being identified in workplaces, educational settings, and many other community locations. The COVID-19 Clusters in North Carolina report includes total cumulative reported clusters, cases and deaths broken down by type of cluster since May 22, 2020 and graphs per type of cluster showing trends over time.

The cluster data provided in the report is limited to clusters that have been voluntarily reported or identified through case investigation and contact tracing efforts. While congregate living settings, schools, and childcare are required to report clusters or outbreaks to their local health department, other settings are not.

October Updates

Emergency School-Age Family Support Program (Child Care)

1. The COVID-19 Parent Application for Financial Assistance for Emergency School-Age Family Support Program for October and November is available in English and Spanish.  

• • Child care programs and community-based organizations should print copies of this form and have them available at their facility for parents to complete.
  • Parents will also be able to access this form online, fill it out on their computer, and print a hard copy to complete and bring to their child care program or community-based organization.

Find My Testing Place – which sites will test children?

Now you can search for a COVID-19 testing site that provides COVID-19 testing for children – know before you go. See the example. Note: if you are looking for a COVID-19 testing site for a child and your nearest site does not have an age restriction listed, it is best to call the provider ahead of time to learn more.

Uninsured Payment Portal for COVID-19 Related Services

DHHS developed a program to reimburse primary care providers (PCP) with federal funds for providing care for COVID-19 related services (e.g. follow-up care) to uninsured North Carolina residents.

An NCTracks Portal to submit claims is scheduled to go live late October and claims will be retroactively reimbursed to Sept. 1, 2020. A payment of $150 per eligible encounter enables providers to recoup costs for COVID-19 related services provided for uninsured patients. $7.8M is available to support this program through Dec. 30, 2020, or until the funds are depleted, whichever occurs first. Reimbursement will be made on a first-come first-served basis. For more information, review the fact sheet or see SPECIAL BULLETIN COVID-19 #137: REIMBURSEMENT FOR COVID-19 RELATED PRIMARY CARE SERVICES FOR UNINSURED NC RESIDENTS – Steps to Prepare.

Stay tuned to the Medicaid Bulletin for updates as available.

Operational Grants for Child Care Centers

• August, the provider will receive 75% of the amount received in previous months.
  • Awarded in mid-October
• September, the provider will receive 50% of the amount received in previous months.
  • Awarded in mid-November
• October, the provider will receive 25% of the amount received in previous months. 
  • Awarded in mid-December 

• Private child care programs open for all or part of the grant award month
• Programs that have completed reopening documents
  • Reopening Application
  • COVID-19 Child Care Provider Survey

• The same formula as previous months will be used to determine grant amount
• Final awards will be based on:
  • Days open (prorated for programs reopening)
  • Total number of children served in February 2020
  • Star rating
  • Infant and toddler enrollment
  • Serving subsidy children*
  • Subsidy density*

Updates to Public Health Guidance for Schools

Updated public health guidance and new resources were launched by NCDHHS and adopted by the NC State Board of Education in order to better support our public schools across the state, and to respond to ongoing feedback for what is needed from the field. Our educators, school staff and administrators, will have more tools they need to support our students and their families as more schools open up for in-person instruction under Plan A (for K – 5^th only, at this time) and Plan B.

The most recent updates and resources to the K -12 guidance, including the StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit (K-12), and supplemental resources, have been outlined in order to provide clarity and specificity for requirements and recommendations as our education partners and Local Health Departments work to implement them every day. Our team considers ongoing feedback and new information from the CDC and other evidence to regularly update all K-12 public health guidance on approximately a monthly basis.

• Please see the detailed summary below this message summarizing key changes in the past month to the NCDHHS K-12 public health guidance.
• To keep track of key changes to K-12 COVID-19 guidance and resources, bookmark this page.
• To view all school-related NCDHHS public health guidance and resources, including social media tools and videos, visit: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/guidance#schools.

Key Changes – 10/8/2020

New Resources: 

• K-12 COVID-19 Testing Considerations
• When to Quarantine(Spanish) 

StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit (K-12) 

• Clarified what is required for schools to report to Local Health Departments: suspected or confirmed cases.  
• Added language about excluding siblings/household members if one individual is symptomatic or exposed, which reflects the screening form 
• Added links to quarantine example calendars 
• Clarified language regarding Plan B bus restrictions following request from NC State Board of Education and Department of Public Instruction 
• Added links to quarantine example calendars 
• Clarified screening flow chart language regarding antigen vs. PCR testing 

Screening Reference Guide 

• Language and protocol clarifications throughout document  
• Clarified what is required for schools to report to Local Health Departments: suspected or confirmed cases.  
• Added language about excluding siblings/household members if one individual is symptomatic or exposed, which reflects the screening form 
• Added links to quarantine example calendars 
• Clarified screening flow chart language regarding antigen vs. PCR testing 

PPE and Infection Control Guidance 

• Link added to CDC do-not-use list of hand sanitizer products contaminated with methanol  

StrongSchoolsNC FAQ 

• New FAQs added: 
  • Exposure guidance for those doing COVID-19 screenings 
  • Confidentiality 
  • Social distancing protocols under Plan A 
  • Parental consent and COVID-19 testing 
• Updates 
  • Wording and question order clarity throughout document 

Child Care Subsidy Parent Fees, Emergency School-Age Child Care

DCDEE will pay subsidized child care providers using the payment process within NC FAST that was used prior to the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

• Payment for subsidized child care will be calculated based on attendance entered in the NC FAST Provider Portal.
• Deposits for these payments will begin October 15, 2020, and can take up to 5 business days to clear an individual’s bank account.

Parent fees for children birth to age 5 (not in kindergarten) will return to pre-COVID-19 structure.

School-age care for full-time remote learning will continue to be paid at 100%.

• Parents of school-age children will pay the parent fee at the 83% rate.
• For September, DCDEE will pay the differential in the parent fee between the 83% rate and the 100% rate for those attending for full-time remote learning. This will be a separate payment.

September Updates:

Food Benefits for School-Age Children

NCDHHS has announced that it will provide additional benefits through the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program, to help families purchase food for children whose access to free and reduced-priced meals at school has been impacted by remote learning this fall due to COVID-19. The program provides a benefit on an EBT card that can be used to buy food at authorized retailers, including most major grocery stores.

In the P-EBT program this fall, children are eligible if they had access to free or reduced-priced meals at school last year, their school district or charter school is eligible to provide free or reduce-priced meals at school this year, and their school district or charter school utilized remote learning for all students for at least five consecutive school days between August 17^th and September 30^th.

This is different than the eligibility criteria for P-EBT benefits in the spring, which was available to all children who normally access free or reduced-priced meals, regardless of school circumstance. The new eligibility criteria are based on requirements from the US Department of Agriculture. To find out whether a school district or charter school is receiving fall P-EBT benefits, view the list HERE.

Families do not need to apply for P-EBT. Eligible families already receiving Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) benefits will receive an additional benefit on their existing EBT card. Families who received P-EBT in the spring and are eligible under the new criteria will receive additional benefit on their original P-EBT card. Eligible families who do not have an FNS or P-EBT card will be mailed a card. Families being mailed a new card will receive the card within the next two to three weeks.

More information about the P-EBT program can be found at www.ncdhhs.gov/PEBT.

Child Care Portal to Shut Down 9/25

• If you provided emergency child care during the service months of April and May 2020 and have not yet entered attendance for children or staff members, you MUST enter the attendance before 9:00pm on Friday, September 25, 2020, in order to be paid for the services provided.
• If you have already submitted your attendance for children and staff and have received accurate payment, no action is needed at this time.
• If you have submitted your attendance for children and staff and there were errors in your payment due to any children or staff not added to the rosters for April and May, 2020, please contact the Subsidy Services Section at 919-814-6380 to receive assistance with rectifying your payment.

New App to Slow COVID Spread

NCDHHS announced the launch of a COVID-19 Exposure Notification app called SlowCOVIDNC. The app will help North Carolinians slow the spread of the virus by alerting them when they may have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. It is anonymous and does not collect, store or share personal information or location data. The more people that use the app, the better it works.

SlowCOVIDNC leverages Google and Apple’s Exposure Notification System (ENS) to alert users who have the app if they have been in close contact with an individual who later tests positive for COVID-19. It is voluntary to download and use and designed to enhance the state’s existing contact tracing efforts. The app completed Beta testing earlier this month and can now be downloaded for free through the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. The app is available in English and Spanish.

To learn more about SlowCOVIDNC and to download the app, visithttps://www.covid19.ncdhhs.gov/slowcovidnc, which also includes an FAQ.

Elementary-School Students Can Return to In-Person Learning Oct 5th

From DHHS:

Today, Governor Cooper announced that schools can open under a Plan A option of in-person instruction for all kindergarten – 5th grade students, effective October 5^th, 2020. This decision was made based on several weeks of stable COVID-19 trends, continued low virus spread in school settings, and current scientific evidence about the virus and younger children. This decision recognizes the importance of in-person learning for our youngest students, supports working families, and provides children with the opportunity to access other critical services provided in schools, including meals, regular physical activity, and social interaction.

In addition to the requirements outlined the StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit, schools that consider reopening under Plan A for their younger students are strongly encouraged to implement recommended strategies for social distancing and minimizing exposure, such as cohorting teacher and students. 

Additionally, if schools operate under Plan A for their K – 5^th students, it is strongly recommended that they operate school transportation under Plan B health and safety requirements to ensure density reduction in a more confined space like a school bus.

In order to support families, school leaders, and local health leaders stay up-to-date on public health guidance for schools as they evolve, we have also updated our frequently asked questions document.

Information about the Plan A option for elementary schools has been added to the StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit. The toolkit and FAQ document will be available in Spanish by the week of September 21^st, 2020. In the interim, key points below in Spanish and in English include:

• Beginning October 5^th, elementary schools (K – 5^th grade) can operate under Plan A. A partir del 5 de octubre, las escuelas primarias (K – 5^o grado) pueden operar bajo el Plan A.
• School transportation should continue to operate with limited density and take social distancing measures. El transporte escolar debe continuar operando con densidad limitada y tomar medidas de distanciamiento social.
• At this time, middle and high schools (6^th – 12^th grade) may operate under Plan B or Plan C, only. En este momento, las escuelas medias y secundarias (6 – 12 ^o grado) solo pueden operar bajo el Plan B o el Plan C.

Plan A may not be the right plan for all districts. Those districts choosing to move their elementary schools to Plan A will need time to prepare so that they can meet the strong health and safety guidelines required. And families will need to consider their own family’s health risk when making a decision about in-person vs remote learning. Regardless of the plan a district chooses, every family should have the option for full-time remote learning. 

Key Resources

• Click here to see the updated StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit (K-12)
• Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions document for additional support.
• Click here to view all public health guidance documents for K – 12 schools, and check back often for updates. 
• Download the social media toolkit (English | Spanish) including images for social media posts. Help share this important information with students and their families across North Carolina!

Child Care Monitoring Visits Restarting This Month

From Child Care Services Association

The Child Care Commission approved emergency rules in August to allow public schools to contract with entities such as the YMCA or YWCA, Parks and Recreation Departments, Boys & Girls Clubs and other nonprofits to serve as remote learning facilities (…) To help public schools and community-based organizations with contracting for child care pursuant to the Child Care Commission’s emergency rules, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has publicly posted sample contracts, FAQs, and guidance for sanitation standards. A child care hotline (1-888-600-1685) is operating statewide to help families find child care.

August Updates:

Collecting Data on Availability of Slots for School-Aged Children

Child Care Subsidy Payments to be Based on Attendance as of September; Parent Fees No Longer Covered by DCDEE

Read to Achieve Guidance for School Re-Opening

Read to Achieve Guidance for 2020-21 School Year, from DPI Deputy Superintendent of Innovation, Dr. David Stegall, and Director of K-3 Literacy, Dr. Tara Galloway. 

• MEMO RTA Guidance for 2020-21 School Year.pdf

Mental Health Support for Educators

NCDHHS is expanding the Hope4Healers Helpline (919-226-2002) to serve NC’s teachers, school personnel and their families. With schools opening in-person and remotely across the state under new health and safety procedures, NCDHHS and the NC Psychological Foundation can provide these personnel with mental health and resilience supports through Hope4Healers. Hope4Healers is available 24 hours per day, seven days a week. When teachers, school personnel or family members call the helpline, they will speak to someone who is trained to listen and offer support. They then will be contacted within about a day by a licensed mental health professional for a free, confidential, short-term follow-up by phone or video chat. NCDHHS launched the Hope4Healers Helpline earlier this year, building off the longstanding Hope4NC Helpline (1-855-587-3463) that provides mental health and resilience supports for all North Carolinians. Hope4Healers expansion for educators press release.

K-12 School and Child Care Updates

For K-12 Schools:

• NEW family-friendly resource on what to expect when our schools reopen in English and Spanish.
• NEW Schools Guidance – NCDHHS Instructions on How to Adjust Cloth Face Coverings Distributed to K-12 Students, Teachers and Staff  (English, Spanish)
• Updated Infection Control and PPE Guidance for K-12

For Early Care and Education:

• NEW in Child Care guidance – Flyer to Promote Child Care Hotline for School-Age Children(Spanish)
• Updated Child Care Guidance

Summary of Recent Child Care Updates

• Goals for the 2020-21 NC Pre-K Program Year
• Mode of Classroom Instruction
• Health & Safety Guidance
• Remote Learning Requirements
• Payment Policies
• Reporting Requirements

Extensions for Health Assessments and Immunizations

NC Pre-K Reopening Guidance

From NCDHHS:

Thank you for your patience and your support as we finalized the Interim COVID-19 Reopening Policies for NC Pre-K Programs. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that NC Pre-K children throughout the state continue to benefit from enriched learning opportunities as we begin the 2020-2021 program year. We understand this has been a very challenging time for everyone, and we continue to be encouraged by how schools, child care programs, and teachers are responding to the needs of children, families and their communities.

The guidance, Interim COVID-19 Reopening Policies for NC Pre-K Programs, applies to all NC Pre-K Providers – regardless of whether they are located in in public schools or nonpublic/private sites. NC Pre-K Contracting Agencies must provide this guidance to all NC Pre-K sites and NC Pre-K teaching staff no later than August 7, 2020.

We know that our children learn best when they have the opportunity to be together with their classmates and teachers. COVID-19 has presented many challenges to the way we work, live, learn and socialize with each other. Our goals for NC Pre-K seek to provide as much stability and proven in-person instruction as possible as we navigate through the pandemic.

• All NC Pre-K students receive the benefit of fully in-person instruction to the fullest extent possible.
• All parents/guardians are offered the option of in-person instruction for the full program year.
• Recognizing the unique challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, remote learning will be available for all NC Pre-K students as an option of last resort and used as sparingly as possible (such as during time-limited school entry periods where schools are in remote learning only, during necessary quarantine periods.)
• All remote learning offered will meet standard quality measures that support children’s healthy development and engage families in their children’s learning.

The NC Pre-K Re-Opening Guidance was developed using information collected via surveys from previous months; as well as feedback from various stakeholders, and continued collaboration with other state agencies regarding their plans for the 2020-21 school year. In particular, DCDEE partnered with Duke University to study the experiences of NC Pre-K lead teachers, teacher assistants, administrators, and contracting agencies during the unprecedented experience of remote learning across NC Pre-K classrooms. In July 2020, the Duke Center for Child and Family Policy published a report analyzing the survey responses of over 3,000 NC Pre-K teachers, which was a response rate of approximately 90%. The report highlights the efforts NC Pre-K teachers undertook to suddenly transition to remote learning. This report also identifies areas where NC Pre-K teachers may need more support as they prepare for offering any remote learning in 2020-2021 school year, including:

• Providing formal guidance and training regarding the adaptation of classroom curriculum for remote learning;
• Supporting the effective use of video-based communication platforms; and
• Establishing guidelines and supports for teachers to provide remote learning services regularly throughout the week.

The findings from the July 2020 report are integrated into the guidance that follows here.

This guidance will provide you with information on the following:

(Please be advised that this guidance may be amended by the NC Pre-K state office as needed in accordance with changes in trends related to COVID-19)

• Goals for the 2020-21 NC Pre-K Program Year
• Program Year
• Mode of Classroom Instruction
• Health & Safety Guidance
• Remote Learning Requirements
• Payment Policy
• Reporting Requirements

Please read the Interim COVID-19 Reopening Policies for NC Pre-K Programs guidance thoroughly as it includes pertinent information regarding expectations for NC Pre-K programs and contracting agencies as well as critical reporting deadlines. 

NC Pre-K contracting agencies should direct their questions and concerns regarding this guidance to their assigned NC Pre-K Program Policy Consultant.

NC Pre-K site administrators and teachers should direct their questions and concerns regarding this guidance to their local NC Pre-K Contracting Agency.

DHHS Updates on Testing Locations, Schools, Face Covering Requirements:

30 NEW additions to the community testing events page 

UPDATED guidance:

• NEW in Schools Guidance – NCDHHS Memorandum on Cloth Face Covering Distribution for K-12 Students, Teachers and Staff – Private Schools
• NCDHHS FAQs on Cloth Coverings (Spanish) and Requirements for the Use of Face Coverings and Masks (Spanish)  
• COVID-19 Support Services Program fact sheet was added to the assistance page and the individuals and families page.

July Updates:

NC Pre-K Reopening Guidance

DCDEE strongly recommends that in-person NC PreK instruction be provided to any enrolled child if the family chooses that option. However, through September 7, a remote learning only option may be provided. Schools that are opening for in-person instruction for any age child must include their Pre-K classes in their in-person offering. Further guidance regarding remote learning requirements and plans beyond September 7 are forthcoming.

Virtual COVID-19 Town Halls – Spanish and Sign Language Translation Included

NCPTA, in partnership with NCDHHS, will host Virtual Town Halls on Wednesday, July 22nd from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (Spanish and Sign Language Interpreters will be provided) and Thursday, July 23​rd​ (Sign Language Interpreter will be provided) from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

The purpose of these Virtual Town Halls is to provide a forum for North Carolina families to hear important updates and information about pertinent information related to COVID-19 numbers in our state, safety precautions needed to support successful school reopenings, and more, from health care professionals. There will also be a Q&A session.

FEATURED PANELISTS Wednesday, July 22nd (Spanish and Sign Language Interpreters will be provided)

• Dr. Viviana Martinez-Bianchi, Duke University Medical Center
• Susan Gale Perry, Chief Deputy Secretary
• Dr. Betsey Tilson, NCDHHS State Health Director
• Rebecca Planchard, NCDHHS Senior Policy Advisor
• Rogelio Valencia, NCDHHS Latino Ombudsman

Thursday, July 23rd (Sign Language Interpreter will be provided) 

• Dr. Kenya McNeal-Trice, UNC Health
• Susan Gale Perry, Chief Deputy Secretary
• Dr. Betsey Tilson, NCDHHS State Health Director
• Rebecca Planchard, NCDHHS Senior Policy Advisor

HOW TO REGISTER TO VIRTUALLY ATTEND: If you would like to virtually attend the Virtual Town Halls, you can register via the Eventbrite links listed below.  Prior to the event, registrants will receive the link to access the virtual platforms to view the Town Halls.

• Wednesday’s Eventbrite Registration   ​https://ayuntamientovirtual22dejuliode2020.eventbrite.com
• Thursday’s Eventbrite Registration https://ncptavirtualtownhalljuly232020.eventbrite.com

GOT QUESTIONS? If you have questions regarding COVID-19 and NC school reopening, NCPTA and NCDHHS would like to hear from you. Your submissions will be used to guide the conversations during the town halls and future community engagement events, and to create a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). You can submit questions at ​https://bit.ly/NCPTAJuly2020TownHallQuestions

Child Care: Parent Fees and Delivery of PPE

Updates from DHHS

NEW & UPDATED GUIDANCE: The following resources are now available on the DHHS dashboard.

• Updated Antigen Memo for Providers, under Healthcare Guidance, Providers section
• Updated school FAQs in English and Spanish
• Updated NCDHHS Interim Guidance for the Safe Application of Disinfectants under Business guidance
• Updated Business Reopening Checklist in business guidance

UPDATED REPORTS: the following reports have been updated and are now available on the dashboard

• COVID-19 Patients Presumed to be Recovered
• Ongoing Outbreaks in Congregate Living and in Schools
• CLI Surveillance report

NEW TESTING SITES: about 45 new CHAMP sites were added to the community testing events page

UPDATED OPERATION HOURS for Vidant testing sites: hours have changed due to the high temperatures.  They are now 11 am – 1 pm and 4 pm – 6 pm. 

• New sites and the updated hours have been added to the Community Testing Events page.

NOW AVAILABLE IN SPANISH:

• The latest executive orders in Spanish will be added here .
• Spanish translation of NCDHHS Positive Confirmed Case General Guidelines is now available under Business guidance and Health Care guidance
• Updated Spanish translation of the Contact Tracing flowchart and FAQs are now available
• New Check My Symptoms button in Spanish is on the Symptoms page, Testing page and also on the Resources in Spanish page

NEW: Video PSAs added here and will be available on the Prevent & Protect toolkit

• New Vimeo videos are now available for download – the videos with Dr. Tilson and Rogelio on how to properly wear a face covering are here, and also on the Prevent and Protect toolkit

New COVID-19 Resources in Spanish

Hoy, el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte (NCDHHS) lanzó nuevas herramientas en línea para ayudar a los habitants hispanohablantes de Carolina del Norte a determinar si deberían considerar hacerse la prueba de COVID-19 y ayudar a las personas a controlar sus síntomas si dieron positivo o no, o han estado expuesto a COVID-19.

Las nuevas herramientas en línea están destinadas a ayudar a las personas a saber si pueden necesitar una prueba, cómo hacerse una prueba, y cómo controlar sus propios síntomas si se les aconseja que lo hagan. Estas herramientas incluyen:

• Verificar mis síntomas (Verificar Mis Síntomas) (https://ncdhhs-covid19-dtra.powerappsportals.us/es-ES//), un sitio web público que permite a las personas ingresar sus síntomas para determinar si deberían considerar hacerse la prueba de COVID -19. Si se recomienda una prueba, recibirán un enlace a una lista de sitios de prueba cercanos por correo electrónico o mensaje de texto.
• Buscador de sitio de prueba COVID-19 (www.ncdhhs.gov/TestingPlace), un sitio web público que permite a las personas ingresar su condado o código postal y acceder a una lista de ubicaciones de sitios de pruebas cercanas en línea. Para ver en español, los usuarios pueden seleccionar español en el cuadro amarillo.
• Herramienta de Equipo Comunitario COVID-19, un software en línea protegido por contraseña que ayuda a las personas a rastrear sus propios síntomas si el Equipo Comunitario COVID-19 les ha aconsejado que lo hagan.

Puede encontrar materiales promocionales para ayudar a correr la voz en covid19.ncdhhs.gov/preventandprotect. Desplácese hacia abajo para Verificar sus síntomas. Recursos adicionales también están disponibles.

____

Today, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) launched new online tools to help Spanish-speaking North Carolinians to determine if they should consider being tested for COVID-19 and help individuals monitor their symptoms if they have tested positive for or been exposed to COVID-19.

The new online tools are intended to help people know if they may need a test, how to get a test and how to monitor their own symptoms if advised to do so. These tools include:   

• Check My Symptoms (Comprobar Mis Síntomas) (https://ncdhhs-covid19-dtra.powerappsportals.us/es-ES/), a public website that allows people to enter their symptoms to determine if they should consider getting tested for COVID-19. If a test is recommended, they will receive a link to a list of nearby testing sites via email or text.
• Find My Testing Place (www.ncdhhs.gov/TestingPlace), a public website that allows people to enter their county or ZIP code and access a list of nearby testing site locations online. To view in Spanish, users can select Spanish in the yellow box. 
• COVID-19 Community Team Outreach (CCTO) Tool, a password-protected online software that helps people track their own symptoms if they have been advised to do so by the COVID-19 Community Team.

Promotional materials to help spread the word are available at covid19.ncdhhs.gov/preventandprotect – scroll down to Check Your Symptoms. Additional resources are also available.

Poisonous Hand Sanitizer Warning for Child Care, Schools

New DHHS Reopening Guidance for NC Pre-K Programs

FROM NC DHHS: As updated K – 12 public health guidance was announced today that K-12 school buildings can reopen under a Plan B model, we wanted to proactively reach out to NC Pre-K programs.

Key updates to the StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit (K-12):

• Plan B social distancing and density requirements now offer more flexibility for districts to limit the number of people inside school buildings to the extent needed to meet 6 feet social distancing requirements
• Cloth face coverings are required for all students from Kindergarten through 12^th Grade in school and on buses, and for all teachers, school staff, and adult visitors
• How teachers and staff should interact with each other in the safest ways possible
• Recommendations provided for physical education, music, and band
• Remote learning options must be provided for students who are at high-risk for severe disease due to COVID-19, or whose family members are at high-risk

Other important updates:

• Along with the toolkit, NCDHHS is releasing updated screening guide with detailed and easy-to-follow protocols for the next steps schools should take if a student, teacher, staff member, or adult visitor presents with COVID-19 symptoms, or who discloses exposure to COVID-19, or who shares they tested positive.
• In addition to the two-month supply of PPE materials already sent out to every public school across the state and detailed in the updated Infection Control and PPE guidance, Governor Cooper announced the shipment of five cloth face coverings for every elementary, middle, and high school student across NC, and for every teacher and school staff member.

The memorandum linked here was issued on June 8th, 2020 jointly between the NC Department of Health and Human Services and the NC Department of Public Instruction. It states that preschool programs located in public schools, including NC Pre-K, EC, Title 1, and Head Start, should follow the Interim Guidance for Child Care Settings, ChildCareStrong, updated frequently. While similar to the K – 12 public health guidance, the child care guidance is better suited for early learning.

However, the memo notes that preschool programs located in public schools may be asked to take additional precautions on their campus, such as social distancing in the cafeteria. Outside of a public school setting, we would not ask very young children to keep 6 feet apart from each other – however, if possible, preschool programs should follow campus-wide health protocols if asked to do so, especially in shared settings like hallways and the cafeteria. Students, families, and staff should consult local restrictions as they plan for the new school year.

New Health and Safety Resources from DHHS

20+ NEW TESTING SITES can be found on the Pop-up Testing Sites page

UPDATED School Clusters report and Ongoing Outbreaks report are now available on the dashboard

UPDATED Risk Factors for Severe Illness report is now available on the dashboard

UPDATED contact tracing numbers are now available on the dashboard

UPDATED FAQs for Schools is now available, in English and Spanish

NEW door signs for child care centers now available in English and Spanish

NEW resources available under Health Care Guidance

• Persons Under Investigation: Steps for People to Take After COVID-19 Testing (Spanish)
• Providers:
  • ACOG Practice Advisory General Information Regarding Pregnant Individuals and COVID-19
  • Temporary Order of the North Carolina State Health Director: COVID-19 Diagnostic Test Results
  • Statewide Standing Order for COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing
  • State Health Director Temporary Order to Report COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests SL 2020-4, Sec. 4.10(a)(1)

Early Learning Reopening Webinar Opportunities

The NC DPI Office of Early Learning is offering a series of reopening webinars to share and discuss considerations, suggestions, and potential strategies for a variety of Pre-K through 2nd Grade topics.

NCDPI-OEL – Supporting Smooth Transitions to Kindergarten in the 2020-2021 School Year  

This webinar will review considerations, suggestions, and potential strategies for planning smooth transitions into kindergarten for children and families as schools reopen for the 2020-2021 school year.

Thursday, July 16 from 9:00-10:00 click here  

Tuesday, July 21 from 2:00-3:00  click here

Supporting Local Coordination and Collaboration for ReOpening Preschool Programs

This session will provide an opportunity to share strategies and resources with other communities and learn what programs are planning to implement as we work together to develop reopening plans.

Wednesday, July 22 @ 12:00 click here

Wednesday, July 22 @ 4:00 click here

Thursday, July 23 @ 12:00 click here

Thursday, July 23 @ 4:00 click here

1st & 2nd Grade Remote Learning Strategies

This webinar will offer resources to support teachers in planning for and providing remote instruction in First and Second Grade settings. Topics covered will include Social Emotional Support, Content Area support, Scheduling Support, and General Considerations.

Friday, July 24 from 9:00-10:00 click here

Monday, July 27th from 1:00-2:00 click here

PK & K Remote Learning Strategies 

This webinar will offer resources to support teachers in planning for and providing remote instruction in PK and Kindergarten settings. Topics covered will include Social Emotional Support, Content Area support, Scheduling Support, and General Considerations.

Tuesday, July 28 from 1:00-2:00 click here

Friday, July 31 from 9:00-10:00 click here

Foundations in the PreK Classroom: Unpacking of Language Development and Communication

This session will provide teachers, coaches, and administrators strategies for supporting child development and implementation of North Carolina Foundations for Early Learning and Development: Language Development and Communications. An “In the Classroom” Guide will be shared with all participants.

Thursday, July 30 from 9:00-10:00 click here

Monday, August 3 from 1:00-2:00 click here 

Best Practices in Kindergarten with COVID Protocols

This session will address strategies Kindergarten teachers can use with Re-opening Plans A or B. Topics will cover how teachers can follow COVID protocols while continuing to use play based learning and developmentally appropriate instruction. Information will also be shared for teacher support resources including planning ideas, scheduling, and structures for success.

Tuesday, August 4 from 1:00-2:00 click here

Friday, August 7 from 9:00-10:00 click here

June Updates:

June 29

K-12 Education

NCDHHS’ guidance for schools reopening is now available in Spanish: https://files.nc.gov/covid/documents/guidance/education/Strong-Schools-NC-Public-Health-Toolkit-SPANISH.pdf

COVID-19 Testing

NEW dates have been added to pop-up testing sites. Access the information here: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/about-covid-19/testing/find-my-testing-place/pop-testing-sites

COVID-19 Data Dashboard

NCDHHS’s COVID-19 dashboard has been updated with new resources:

• New Clusters in Child Care and School Settings Report
• Updated Ongoing Outbreaks in Congregate Living Settings 
• Updated Risk Factors for Severe Illness Report
• New Outbreaks and Clusters page 
• Updated Weekly Outbreaks in Congregate Settings 
• Updated Weekly COVID-19 Patients Presumed to be Recovered report 

The clusters in child care and school settings report will be updated every Tuesday and Friday by 4 pm.

June 26

Mask Requirement Takes Effect

Beginning at 5 p.m. today, people in NC must wear cloth face coverings in public settings – both indoors and outdoors – where staying 6 feet apart from those who are not part of their household is impossible.

June 25

Child Care Reopening

June 23

Food and Nutrition, Medicaid

NCDHHS released improved online applications for Medicaid and Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) to help NC families and county Departments of Social Services (DSS) during the COVID-19 pandemic. North Carolina’s online application portal for Medicaid and FNS is called ePASS. New and updated features in ePASS include: 

• More efficient processing for Medicaid applications
• Improved look and feel making navigation easier on multiple device types
• Fewer questions and enabling applicants to only answer questions applicable to them
• Personalized dashboards with important account information and notifications
• Guidance placed throughout the site based on frequently asked questions
• Ability to attach documents easily
• Links to relevant program information
• Links to paper applications and voter registration

These improvements will remain in place beyond the COVID-19 pandemic and do not impact previously submitted applications. Questions about an existing application should still be directed to county Departments of Social Services. 

June 22

Accessing Healthcare and Other Needs

NCDHHS announced that NCCARE360 is now available in all 100 counties. NCCARE360 is a technology platform to coordinate whole-person care, uniting traditional healthcare settings and organizations that address non-medical drivers of health, such as food, housing, transportation, employment and interpersonal safety. 

Now, anyone in North Carolina can request services and be connected to an accountable organization to support their immediate and long-term needs. North Carolinians who need assistance can search NCCARE360’s repository of more than 10,000 local services at nccare360.org/resources, access resources by calling 2-1-1, or complete an online form at nccare360.org/request-assistance. 

Child Care

• Total number of children served prior to COVID-19:  Programs serving more children will receive larger grants.
• Star rating:  Programs with a higher star rating will receive larger grants because of the higher cost to meet higher standards.
• Infant toddler enrollment:  Programs serving infants and toddlers will receive larger grants to account for higher staffing and fixed costs associated with caring for infants and toddlers.
• Serving subsidy children:  Programs that have served subsidy children in the past 12 months will receive smaller grants than programs that do not serve families and children receiving child care subsidy. Federal Child Care Development Funds are intended to increase access to quality care for families and children with low incomes. However, because of the unique challenges programs are facing as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, all programs will receive some level of grant support.
• Subsidy density (the percentage of children enrolled who receive child care subsidy):  Because DCDEE is continuing to stabilize child care subsidy monthly payments to child care providers based on February enrollment, programs that have higher percentages of children on subsidy are getting more of their typical monthly revenue covered than programs that have lower percentages of children on subsidy and rely more heavily on private fees from parents. Therefore, programs with lower percentages of children on subsidy will receive larger grants.

• If the child care facility is in Alamance through Johnston Counties, contact Arlette Lambert at 919.703.5262.
• If the child care facility is in Jones through Yancey Counties, contact Laura Hewitt at 919.703.7916. 
• If the child care facility would like to receive the grant amount via email, please send that request to dcdee.communications@dhhs.nc.gov.

June 11

Testing

NCDHHS released updated guidance for doctors and clinicians on who should be tested for COVID-19. The state is focused on rapidly increasing testing of people who may not currently have symptoms, but may have been exposed to COVID-19, especially people from historically marginalized populations who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. To support testing in populations being hit hardest by COVID-19, NCDHHS also has a new resource available, COVID-19 Community Testing in Historically Marginalized Populations: Best Practices.

Early Childhood Note:  Frontline and essential workers now explicitly includes child care workers

June 9

Preschool Reopening

The memorandum linked here, issued jointly between NCDHHS and NCDPI, states that preschool programs located in public schools, including NC Pre-K, EC, Title 1, and Head Start, should follow the Interim Guidance for Child Care Settings as they reopen rather than the new K-12 Public Health Guidance. While similar to the K-12 public health guidance, the child care guidance is better suited for early learning.

However, the memo notes that preschool programs located in public schools may be asked to take additional precautions on their campus, such as social distancing in the cafeteria. Normally we would not ask young children to keep 6 feet apart from each other – however, if possible, preschool programs should follow campus-wide health protocols if asked to do so, especially in shared settings like hallways and the cafeteria.

June 8

K-12 Education

NCDHHS released health and safety guidance for reopening schools in the fall, including the requirement for schools to have in place three plans:

Read more here.

Child Care

June 4

Child Care

May Updates:

May 26

Children’s Health

First Case of MIS-C Reported in North Carolina

While children generally experience mild symptoms with COVID-19, recently a possible link has been found between COVID-19 and a serious inflammatory disease in some children and teenagers who have current or recent infections. The first reports of this syndrome came from the United Kingdom in late April. Cases in the United States were first reported in New York City in early May. The first case was reported in NC in recent weeks. NCDHHS has requested reporting of suspected cases of MIS-C from all health care providers. MIS-C is a very rare condition, but as COVID-19 cases increase, additional reports of MIS-C could follow. Because children with this syndrome may become seriously ill, it is important that parents and caregivers know the signs and symptoms their children may have so they can get help right away.

Read More

Family Economic Security

NCDHHS Provides One-Time Payment to Families with Children in Work First Cash Assistance Program

NCDHHS began last week distributing a one-time supplemental payment to families enrolled in the Work First Cash Assistance program with one or more children. These payments are intended to help vulnerable families during the economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Read More

May 22

General Guidance

Phase 2: Safer At Home goes into effect today at 5 pm. Here are some resources from NC DHHS and the Governor’s Office:

• Executive Order 141
• FAQs
• Data Presentation from Press Briefing
• What Phase 2 Means for North Carolina

Also check out the updated COVID-19 Dashboard, which provides an overview on the metrics and capacities that the state is following to inform decisions to responsibly ease measures that slow the spread of the virus.

May 21

Childcare in Phase 2

• Follow all NCDHHS guidelines, including updated health and safety guidelines and policy and regulatory requirements
• Follow the core signage, screening, and sanitation requirements
  • Post the Emergency Maximum Occupancy in a noticeable place.
  • Post signage reminding employees about social distancing.
  • Post the updated door signs at your facility (English | Spanish).
  • Conduct a daily health screening on all individuals who are entering the building
  • Immediately isolate all sick workers and children from the rest of the facility and send them home.
  • Have a plan to work with local health departments to identify close contacts of confirmed cases in child care settings.
  • Before reopening, submit a Child Care Reopening Application at least 48 hours before reopening (if no Emergency Child Care Provider Application was previously submitted).

• Step by step instructions are available explaining how to submit the Child Care Reopening Application.
• After submitting a Child Care Reopening Application, your child care consultant will contact you to discuss your plan to meet the health and safety guidelines and will provide you with a health and safety certificate that can be posted in your facility.
• Providers who are reopening after extended closure should read the health and safety guidelines closely to take appropriate steps.
• The PowerPoint and the recording for the webinars from last week are available to explain the Child Care Reopening Application, operational grants, and updated health guidance.
• Open providers should submit the COVID-19 Child Care Provider Survey daily.
• If you have any questions about reopening, contact your child care consultant.
• If you have health and safety questions, contact your child care health consultant .

Financial Support for Open Providers 

Operational grants: The North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) is offering financial support to all licensed child care programs that are open or plan to reopen in May or June. Providers will receive operational grants for April, May, and June for the months they are open to help cover operational and fixed costs for these months during the COVID-19 crisis.

• Operational grants will range from $500 to $30,000 per month for child care centers and range from $359 to $2,500 per month for family child care homes.
• Programs that were open in April should receive their operational grants this week.
• Programs that reopen in May or June will receive their operational grants in mid-June or mid-July, respectively.

Emergency Child Care Subsidy Payments: DCDEE will continue to pay emergency child care subsidy payments for May for children who were enrolled as of May 8.

• Providers should submit May attendance in the Provider Portal by June 5, 2020.
• Providers who served children of essential workers should make sure to upload each child’s parent application into the Provider Portal OR mail the forms to DCDEE by May 25, 2020, in order to receive emergency subsidy payments for May. The mailing address for DCDEE is NC Division of Child Development and Early Education, Subsidy Services Section, 2201 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27699-2200.

Bonus Payments for Employees: DCDEE will continue to pay bonus payments for employees who are working on-site for all or part of May. Providers should submit May attendance in the Provider Portal by June 5, 2020.

Subsidy Payments and Parent Co-Payments: DCDEE will continue to pay subsidy payments and cover parent co-payments for all providers, regardless of whether they are open or closed for April and May. In June, DCDEE will pay subsidy payments and cover parent co-payments only for open providers.

May 19

Preschool Eligibility Guidance

NC DPI (Title I Preschool and the Head Start State Collaboration Office) and DCDEE (NC Pre-K) are working together to provide guidance related to preschool programs, as a result of COVID-19. The first guidance is in reference to questions received related to preschool eligibility determination and enrollment for the 2020-21 school year. Recommendations include:

Continue supporting currently enrolled children and families using a whole child/family perspective. Resources to support families may include:

• Local meal access through No Kid Hungry NC.
• Information about unemployment.
• Appropriate educational resources (birth – grade 2) for families to support engagement and learning at home. Resources or activities provided to families should focus on the importance of relationships and interactions using everyday life as learning opportunities, routine and not regimen, reading and, of course, play!
• Social/emotional supports for children and families.
• Local options for child care for essential workers (along with financial assistance for care for families in need).
• Factual information about COVID-19 provided by the NC Department of Health and Human Services.

Click here for the full guidance, including links.

May 18

NC Pre-K

DCDEE has provided end-of-year guidance that builds on the initial NC Pre-K remote learning guidance. It was designed in response to data and perspectives collected by DCDEE in April and early May, including:

• Issuing initial guidance to NC Pre-K programs on remote learning and family engagement. Click here to review the remote learning guidance issued on April 22^nd which included expectations on documenting family engagement and ongoing professional development through a weekly work plan.
• Distributing a survey to all NC Pre-K contract administrators and site administrators on remote learning practices and areas of need. Click here to view the full interim survey report for more details on the April NC Pre-K survey results.
• Holding webinars the first week of May to provide resources and to field questions from NC Pre-K teachers, administrators, and contractors. In total, over 2,050 participants joined the discussion. In response to these webinars, a frequently asked questions document will be sent out and further information is outlined in the guidance attached to provide additional support.

This end of year guidance is intended to respond to feedback and input, and to provide expectations to all NC Pre-K programs on how to close out the remainder of the year strong to best prepare children and families for kindergarten.

Additionally, all NC Pre-K lead teachers and teacher assistants should complete an end of year survey that will be sent directly to them via email in the final weeks of May. NC Pre-K teachers’ input is essential for DCDEE to better understand educators’ experience in providing ongoing learning, whether remote or in person, during the COVID-19 crisis, and supporting NC Pre-K families.

May 15

COVID-19 Testing

May 14

Childcare

• Total number of children served prior to COVID-19:  Programs serving more children will receive larger grants.
• Star rating:  Programs with a higher star rating will receive larger grants because of the higher cost to meet higher standards.
• Infant toddler enrollment:  Programs serving infants and toddlers will receive larger grants to account for higher staffing and fixed costs associated with caring for infants and toddlers.
• Serving subsidy children:  Programs that have served subsidy children in the past 12 months will receive larger grants than programs that do not serve families and children receiving child care subsidy. Federal Child Care Development Funds are intended to increase access to quality care for families and children with low incomes. However, because of the unique challenges programs are facing as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, all programs will receive some level of grant support.
• Subsidy density (the percentage of children enrolled who receive child care subsidy):  Because DCDEE is continuing to stabilize child care subsidy monthly payments to child care providers based on February enrollment, programs that have higher percentages of children on subsidy are getting more of their typical monthly revenue covered than programs that have lower percentages of children on subsidy and rely more heavily on private fees from parents. Therefore, programs with lower percentages of children on subsidy will receive larger grants.

• If the child care facility was open in April, the operational grants will be awarded next week. It will be a combined payment for April and May (two months’ worth of grants).
• If the child care facility reopens in May, the operational grants will be awarded in mid-June. It will be a combined payment for May and June (two months’ worth of grants).

May 13

Childcare

• Phases of reopening and what it means that North Carolina is in Phase 1
• Operational grants and other payment updates
• Updated health and safety guidance

Thursday, May 14th from 1-2pm

• LINK
  • https://acecloud.webex.com/acecloud/onstage/g.php?MTID=e9c2432dbbfaf896940cc9782782a8835
  • Event Password: DHHS-COVID19 
• PHONE
  • Call-in toll-free number (US/Canada): 1-866-432-9903
  • Access code: 207 806 535

Friday, May 15th from 11am to 12pm

• LINK
  • https://acecloud.webex.com/acecloud/onstage/g.php?MTID=ec1b448ad37f1f271a7651b7d2e13c7ce
  • Event Password: DHHS-COVID19 
• PHONE
  • Call-in toll-free number (US/Canada): 1-866-432-9903
  • Access code: 208 699 830

Friday, May 15th from 2-3pm

• LINK
  • https://acecloud.webex.com/acecloud/onstage/g.php?MTID=e36ecd1f9663c51edb756569a60ff9cd4
  • Event Password: DHHS-COVID19 
• PHONE
  • Call-in toll-free number (US/Canada): 1-866-432-9903
  • Access code: 200 418 200

May 11

Health Care

New Portal Opens to File Claims for COVID-19 Testing and Treatment of Uninsured Patients

Health care providers and hospitals can use a new portal to request reimbursement for claims associated with COVID-19 testing and treatment of uninsured patients retroactive to Feb. 4. The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) COVID-19 Uninsured Program Portal was launched by the federal DHHS to support health care providers in delivering COVID-19 diagnostic testing and treatment at no cost to patients. 

Nutrition

Food and Nutrition Services Participants Can Now Use Benefits at Authorized Online EBT Retailers

North Carolina Food and Nutrition Services participants can purchase groceries online using their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards at authorized online EBT retailers. The new flexibility allows participants to buy food while also promoting social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and helping families with transportation and mobility barriers.

K-3 Remote Learning Access

School buses are bringing internet access to communities without it to help more North Carolina students connect to school online. Governor Cooper announced the plan to equip more school buses with hotspots following the announcement that K-12 public schools would continue remote learning through the end of this school year. Read more.

Early Care and Education

• Updated symptoms list for daily health screening
• Updates on social distancing strategies, including language on cloth face coverings
• Updates on sanitation and hygiene practices
• New guidance for facilities that are reopening after extended closure

May 7:

Day Camps:

Under the modified stay-at-home order, day camps may open if they meet new requirements to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. New guidance is available from DHHS to help camps make informed decisions about COVID-19 and minimize the risk of exposure to both the staff and the children in their care:

Interim Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Guidance for Day Camp Settings includes information on:

• Communicating with parents, staff and campers
• Drop-off and arrival procedure
• People who may be at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19
• Preventing the spread of the virus
• Sanitation and hygiene practices
• When someone develops symptoms during the day
• Advise those who have been excluded
• Reopening after extended closure
• Daily health screening of staff and children for COVID-19

May 6:

Childcare 

• Payments for providers who submitted their April attendance by May 5 are scheduled to be issued on Friday, May 15. 
• Providers who submit April attendance for children and staff after May 5 will receive payment during the next payment cycle, which begins June 12. 

K-3 Education

May 5:

General

Governor Cooper issued North Carolina’s Stay At Home Executive Order 138, which transitions the state to Phase 1 of slowly easing COVID-19 restrictions. Executive Order 138 goes into effect on Friday, May 8 at 5:00PM. Phase 1 changes are outlined in this infographic from the Governor’s Office:

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) created several materials to help businesses navigate Phase 1, including:

• NCDHHS Checklist for Business Owners
• Interim Guidance for Owners, Staff, and Patrons of Businesses
• Symptom Screening Checklist
• Templates to Meet Required Signage

DHHS also previewed a new campaign, Know Your Ws! While North Carolinians should still stay home, if they go out, they should know their Ws: Wear. Wait. Wash.

• Wear a face covering.
• Wait 6 feet apart from other people.
• Wash your hands often.

A Know Your Ws flyer is available in English and Spanish. 

May 1

Mental Health Support for Frontline Workers

April Updates:

April 29

Legislative Update

The House and Senate Appropriations Committees met together to debate their bills, which include both policy changes due to COVID-19 and allocations of federal funding for relief. NCECF put together this chart to share the early childhood provisions across the Governor, House and Senate budget proposals. Read more here.

April 28

Childcare – Bonus Pay

DCDEE announced that it will be increasing bonus payments to child care teachers and staff for April and May, as well as covering the employer portion of payroll taxes and other administrative costs. Detailed information about the new bonus amounts, administrative funds, and schedule of payments is now available here. DCDEE is grateful that many child care teachers, staff and programs have stayed open to provide emergency child care to essential personnel – often with risk and at a financial disadvantage to themselves.

Additional federal funding has been allocated through the Child Care and Development Block Grant to support families, child care programs, and child care staff during this economically challenging and stressful time. These increased bonuses, the Emergency Child Care Program for Essential Workers, and child care subsidy stabilization have all been designed to support the state’s child care industry and workforce during this time. DCDEE is planning for additional supports as the state moves through phases of recovery.

Access to High Quality Preschool – Summer Learning 

The Head Start State Collaboration Office, Title I Preschool, and Exceptional Children Preschool programs in the Department of Public Instruction Office of Early Learning have shared guidance for Head Start grantees to access CARES Act funding to operate summer programming. This funding provides a new opportunity for continued collaboration and coordination at the local level and aligns with NC’s ongoing ESSA Early Learning Initiative.  

Priority for funding will go to programs that serve currently enrolled rising kindergarteners and children with IEPs and offer:

• Social and emotionally supportive learning environments
• Consistent daily routines
• Support for families to bring their children up to date on needed medical, dental, and other follow-up services
• Transition support for children and families to receiving schools.
• If funding is available, Head Start programs may also be able to serve other vulnerable populations that would greatly benefit from a summer program in addition to currently enrolled rising kindergarteners and children with IEPs.

This opportunity is voluntary and Head Start programs are not required to apply. This partnership opportunity can be leveraged locally to coordinate strategies in support of transition to Kindergarten and services to children with IEPs. Various programs may be able to offer summer programming, so a planned, coordinated effort among preschool programs would be most beneficial to young children and their families.

Access the instructions for how to apply here.

Please direct questions to:

Carla Garrett
Title I Preschool Consultant
Office of Early Learning (Pre-K – Grade 3)
NC Department of Public Instruction
336.504.2037

Karen McKnight
NC Head Start State Collaboration Office Director
Office of Early Learning (Pre-K – Grade 3)
NC Department of Public Instruction
919.866.9325

Dawn Mendonca Meskil
Interim Preschool Exceptional Children (619) Coordinator
NC Preschool Exceptional Children Consultant
Office of Early Learning (Pre-K – Grade 3)
NC Department of Public Instruction
828.649.5290

April 27

General

Governor Cooper released a proposal for how to invest part of NC’s COVID-19 federal relief funds. Read more here.

Childcare

• Providers may begin entering attendance for the month of April on Thursday, April 30 and must finish entering all attendance by 9:00pm on Tuesday, May 5. A job aid with detailed instructions on how to enter children and employees, and how to record and submit attendance for children and employees is available. This portal is only to record children who are enrolled in the Emergency Child Care Subsidy Program and for employees receiving bonuses. Record attendance for children enrolled in regular subsidy as you normally do.
• Providers can also begin uploading completed COVID-19 Parent Applications for Emergency Child Care on Thursday, April 30.  Please ensure that all Parent Applications are submitted either through the Emergency Subsidy Provider Portal or by mail by no later than May 25 in order to receive payment for May services. Instructions for how to upload parent applications are included within the portal. If you are unable to upload the applications, please mail them to DCDEE, Subsidy Services Section, 2201 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-2200.

April 24:

Education

Governor Cooper, Chair of the State Board of Education Eric Davis and Superintendent of Public Schools Mark Johnson announced today that schools will remain closed for the rest of the school year, with remote learning continuing until the scheduled end of the school year, per each district’s calendar. Chair Davis shared some of the details of DPI’s current work, including focusing on:

• Health and safety of students and teachers
• Ensuring continued delivery of meals and nutrition for students
• Maintaining teacher-child relationships that support children’s social-emotional health
• Keeping children engaged through remote learning

Click here for more information about NCDPI’s budget requests to the state and the department’s plans for the next few months, including an early grades Jump Start summer program for students who are below grade-level in reading.

April 23:

General

Governor Cooper and Secretary Cohen shared today information about what metrics NC is tracking to determine when the state will start a three-phase reopening strategy. The message of the day was: NC is flattening the curve, but we’re not quite there yet. The Governor said he would make an announcement tomorrow about schools.

The administration is looking to see declines in:

• People seeking care for COVID-like symptoms
• New confirmed cases
• Positivity rate (percent of positive tests out of total tests run)
• Rate of hospitalizations

The administration also wants to see NC build greater capacity for testing, tracing contacts of confirmed cases, and for personal protective equipment (gowns and masks). 

Once those metrics are met, the state will be able to start undertaking a three-phase reopening process, including:

• Phase 1: More commercial activity allowed, parks reopen, but stay at home order still in place
• Phase 2 (2-3 weeks after Phase 1, if metrics still look good): Stay at Home order lifted, limited opening of restaurants, other businesses but with reduced capacity, allow gatherings like houses of worship but with reduced capacity, playground opened
• Phase 3 (4-6 weeks after Phase 2): Increased capacity at restaurants, etc, larger gatherings permitted

Childcare 

DCDEE shared the following updates for childcare providers:

• Emergency Child Care Subsidy Provider Portal will be down this weekend, starting Friday at 9 pm.
• Starting Monday, providers can enter attendance information in the portal for children in the emergency child care subsidy program and for child care employees who are working on-site in April. This information will be used by DCDEE to issue emergency child care subsidy payments and bonus payments to staff.
• Release of the UPDATED COVID-19 Child Care Payment Policy, with some clarifications about how the payments will work.

April 20:

Food Security

NCDHHS announced that NC has just received federal approval for the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) program to help more families purchase food during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• NCDHHS is working to operationalize the program.
• P-EBT recipients will receive this benefit in coming weeks.
• Families will not need to apply for the P-EBT program. P-EBT eligible families already receiving Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) benefits will receive an additional benefit on their existing EBT card.
• P-EBT eligible families not already enrolled in FNS will be mailed a new EBT card in the next few weeks. Families who receive a new EBT card will receive a letter from NCDHHS in the mail explaining how to activate and use their card.
• Families can also continue to text FOODNC to 877-877 to find local meal sites. The service is also available in Spanish by texting COMIDA to 877-877. 

The P-EBT program provides a benefit on an EBT card to North Carolina families whose children have access to free and reduced lunch at school. More than 800,000 children are expected to receive help buying food through the P-EBT program.

April 17:

General:

Governor Cooper and NCDHHS shared a presentation showing that social distancing is working to flatten the curve in NC. The accompanying press release stresses that the next steps of broader testing, tracing new cases, and watching trends will determine when the state can start a gradual re-opening process. The public can access recent press briefings by the Governor, and Secretary Cohen here.

Access to Healthcare:

Telehealth 

All insurance companies in the state, including Medicaid and Medicare, are now covering healthcare visits through telehealth services. North Carolinians can receive services while avoiding the risk of exposure to COVID-19. Doctors and other clinicians across the state are using telehealth to deliver primary care and prenatal care; help patients manage asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure and other chronic conditions; and provide behavioral health counseling, physical therapy and more. DHHS and NC Medicaid have developed a video and a flyer to help alleviate concerns and encourage people to talk with their doctors about using telehealth.

Behavioral Health, and Intellectual and Developmental Services

A new resource outlines actions that communities can take to maintain and sustain services for individuals with behavioral health needs and intellectual and developmental disabilities and to reduce the burden on emergency departments and hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The strategies are directed at local government agencies, community organizations, local management entity/managed care organizations (LME/MCOs), behavioral health providers, hospitals in communities across the state and other partners. Press release.

April 15:

General:

Governor Cooper will hold an update and resource information briefing at 3:30 pm today for NC Communities of Color on COVID-19. Tune in live to the virtual session here hosted by the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

April 14:

General:

New State COVID-19 Website

A new website coordinating COVID-19 information, updates and resources across all of NC state government has been created as is accessible at: https://www.nc.gov/covid19. 

Videos Available in English and Spanish

NCDHHS has videos on a range of topics, including how to slow the spread, reducing risk, support and resources and more. 

2-1-1 Has New Online Tool

NC 211 has launched a new online search tool allowing for easier search of resources. NC 211 has handled over 19,718 calls since activation on 18 March and more than 67,000 people have registered to receive COVID-19 text updates.

Social-Emotional Health:

New Mental Health Supports Available

• The Hope4NC Helpline is a mental health resource to support North Carolinians during COVID-19. Call 1-855-587-3463 for support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• The Hope4Healers Helpline (919-226-2002) is also available for health care professionals, emergency medical specialists, and first responders who are experiencing stress. Hope4Healers is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

April 13:

General:

Governor Cooper shared at a press conference that epidemiological models are showing that the social distancing measures in place are beginning to flatten the curve and that we must stay the course for now. His Executive Order on social distancing in retail takes effect at 5 pm today.

Governor Cooper also noted that more than half a million North Carolinians have now applied for unemployment insurance due to COVID-19. The Division of Employment Security is continuing to build capacity to take new claims and process checks as fast as possible.

Reminder of Resources and Support Available for Families

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) have worked together to ensure that children and families are able to get essential resources and support needed during the COVID-19 pandemic. By partnering with public and private entities across the state, the following resources are available to help children:  

• a hotline connecting essential workers to local child care options (along with financial assistance for care for families in need);
• a texting service to help families in need find meal sites; and
• a list of educational resources (birth – grade 2) for parents who are trying to keep their young children engaged and learning while schools and care facilities are closed.  

Recap of Guidance for Child Care Providers During COVID-19

DCDEE provided the following recap of guidance shared in the last week or so for child care providers. Here it is all in one place:

• Follow the Interim Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Health Guidance for Child Care Settings and the meet the requirements in the COVID-19 Emergency Child Care Provider Application Form to minimize the risk of exposure to both the staff and the children in their care.
• Post this sign (available in English and Spanish) with screening criteria at the entrance of your facility.
• Review the webinars about health and safety that DCDEE hosted on April 2 and 3, 2020. The webinar is available for listening, as is the presentation.

• Log into the Provider Portal. (The Provider Portal for COVID-19 Emergency Child Care Subsidy Program Job Aid provides instructions on how to log into the system.)
• Add children’s information (name and date of birth) into the Provider Portal as you receive completed COVID-19 Parent Application for Financial Assistance for Emergency Child Care forms (The Provider Portal for COVID-19 Emergency Child Care Subsidy Program Job Aid  has instructions for how to do this.)
• Please keep paper copies of the Parent Applications that you receive from enrolling parents.
• Manually track attendance for children and employees until this is available in the Provider Portal. DCDEE will provide guidance later this month when the Portal is ready for attendance to be entered.

• Subsidized Child Care program payments
• NC Pre-K Program payments
• Emergency Child Care Subsidy program payments
• Bonus payments to child care teachers and staff providing services during the COVID-19 outbreak.

• Please check What’s New – Coronavirus Information for Child Care on the DCDEE website and the DHHS COVID-19 Child Care guidance on a regular basis for new resources and guidance.
• DCDEE has developed CHILD CARE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS) FOR PROVIDERS. This will be updated regularly.  
• Recordings of and materials from the child care provider calls from March 30 and 31, 2020, are now available.  On  these dates, NCDHHS held a series of calls for child care providers, during which NCDHHS Deputy Secretary Susan Gale Perry and DCDEE Interim Director Kristi Snuggs explained available guidance and resources, and answered participant questions. For those who were unable to attend, a recording of these calls is available on the website along with the PowerPoint slides and transcript.

• For general questions and application questions, contact your DCDEE child care consultant.
• For questions about health guidance and needs, contact your child care health consultant.
• For questions about the Provider Portal for Emergency Child Care Subsidy Program, contact the NC FAST Provider Help Desk at 919-813-5460.
• For questions about the Subsidized Child Care Program or the Emergency Child Care Subsidy Program, contact DCDEE at 1-800-859-0829 or 919-814-6380.
• For questions about NC Pre-K, contact DCDEE Early Education Branch at 919-814-6345.
• For help or resources, such as food or diapers, or troubleshooting other problems, contact your local Smart Start partnership.

April 9:

Social Distancing in Retail

Governor Cooper released an Executive Order that sets requirements for essential businesses in order to safeguard the health of customers and employees. Some of the directives include:

• Setting limits of how many people can be in a store at one time: 5 people per 1,000 square feet of retail space or 20% of fire marshal posted occupancy limits
• Marking 6 feet of distance for areas where people gather like checkout lines
• Requiring specific cleaning measures for retail stores

The Order encourages:

• Implementing hygiene recommendations for employees and customers, like hand sanitizer at the doors and face coverings for workers
• Establishing designated shopping times designated for high-risk groups
• Creating barriers between customers and employees at checkout to lower the risk of required interactions

The Order goes into effect Monday, April 13 at 5 pm and states these requirements will last for thirty days unless extended by further executive action.

April 8:

How Can I Help?

Governor Cooper and Director of Emergency Management Mike Sprayberry shared a few ways that North Carolinians can help during the crisis:

• Stay home as much as you can to limit the spread of the virus. There is a Stay at Home order in place through the month of April. Data is showing that this measure is working, and if we keep it up, we will slow the spread of the virus. Governor Cooper will be consulting with public health experts, looking at the data and experiences from other state and countries, and considering modeling to determine whether the Stay at Home order will be extended beyond the end of April. An executive order is expected tomorrow to address crowding in retail stores.
• Give blood. Stores are low and are always needed in a time of crisis like this.
• Donate money, food or time to a food bank near you.
  • Donate money online, by text, or by mail.
  • Drop off non-perishable food donations at food banks.
  • Food banks are also seeking volunteers to help keep shelves stocked and have put measures in place to reduce risk for volunteers and staff. Volunteers are currently limited to those aged 18-60 to limit exposure to those most at risk from COVID-19. Please do not volunteer if you are feeling ill.

Early Care and Education

• Full announcement is posted on the DCDEE website.
• Contact the NC FAST Provider Help Desk at 919-813-5460 with technical problems

April 7:

Financial Security for Families

We have updated our recent post to include new information on unemployment insurance benefits. Learn who is eligible, for how much, for how long, how to apply and when to expect your first payment.

Early Care and Education and the Early Grades (K-2)

New Office of Early Learning Resources

The Office of Early Learning at the Department of Public Instruction shared several updates to the Remote Learning pages on the OEL Google Site. 

• Week 4, NC standards-aligned, Remote Learning activities for children birth through 2nd grade are now available. These activities do not require the use of technology. Weeks 1-3 are also available, with Week 5 to be posted on Thursday, April 9.

• On the Digital Remote Learning page, there are additional links under the “Resources for Families” section. These include more remote learning activities that can be done at home without the use of technology.

• On the Digital Remote Learning page, there are also new digital resources for children.

Child Care Health Consultants

The NC Child Care Resource Center, the Department of Health and Human Services and the NC Partnership for Children, with local Partnerships for Children, have increased coverage of Child Care Health Consultants to make a health professional with education and experience in child and community health and child care and specialized training in child care health consultation available in every county in North Carolina. CCHCs are available to answer health and safety issues related to COVID-19 for early educators as well as Child Care Consultants and other consultants who are assisting facilities. Click here to find a CCHC in your county.

Healthcare

April 3:

Early Care and Education

April 2:

Financial Security for Families

This NCECF post shares guidance for accessing COVID-19-related financial supports for families that have been authorized in recent state and federal policy changes. 

Early Care and Education

• Review the updated health, screening, and safety guidelines for child care providers that remain open to provide needed child care for essential workers. 
• Discuss screening and exclusion criteria and enhanced health and safety practices in child care during the COVID-19 Outbreak.

Panelists will include:

• Kristi Snuggs, EdD, Interim Director of the Division of Child Development and Early Education
• Jacquie Simmons, MScPH, Project Director, NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center/UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health
• Amy Petersen, RN, Child Care Health Nurse Consultant, NC Division of Public Health.
• Regional Health Consultants Lisa Shifflett, RN and Theresa Stenersen, RN will be present to answer questions.

• Thursday, April 2, 2020 at 11:00am to 12:30pm. Attendee link. Password:  covid19
• Friday, April 3, 2020 1:00pm to 2:30pm. Attendee link. Password:  covid19

April 1:

Access to Early Care and Education

• Be defined as an “essential worker,” such as emergency staff, first responders, public safety officers, hospital staff, front-line healthcare providers, nursing and adult group home staff, child care program staff, food services staff, and others deemed essential workers by the Governor’s Executive Order 121.
• Have household gross income below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) ($65,160 for a family of three; $78,600 for a family of four)
• Have no other child care option.

Child care providers who choose to stay open or re-open in the coming weeks are asked to print copies of the form and guidance and make them available to parents to complete. Parents turn in the forms to their child care providers.

• Parent guidance is available here
• Parent application for assistance is available here

Providers are also asked to print copies of the North Carolina Voter Registration Application (English version, Spanish version) and have them available for parents to complete if they wish to register to vote. Providers are asked to track attendance manually for now, starting today.

March Updates:

March 31:

Healthcare and Food Assistance

NC DHHS is temporarily increasing benefits for March 2020 and April 2020 to current Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) recipients in North Carolina. All families that receive FNS will receive the maximum amount allowed for March 2020 and April 2020 for their household size and will begin receiving the increased benefit on their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card on April 1 and April 22. They will be randomly generated and staggered every other workday until all eligible households have received their temporary increases. Recipients will continue to receive their regular benefits and should be aware they will receive two separate payments for March and two for April.

To check availability of benefits families should: 

• Call 1-888-622-7328.
• Visit www.ebtedge.com. Click on More Information under EBT Cardholders.
• Download the ebtEDGE mobile app. The app is available as a free download on the Apple Store and Google Play.

Additional related measures to limit the spread of COVID-19:

• FNS certification periods will be extended so that beneficiaries don’t have to visit county Social Services offices to qualify for continued services.
• Work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents are being temporarily and partially suspended, since businesses are forced to close.

Families and individuals who do not currently receive benefits can apply online with ePass.

Questions? Call 1-866-719-0141 or more information here.

March 30

General Information

Governor Cooper’s Stay at Home Order takes effect at 5 pm today. Executive Order 121 reduces the size of gatherings to 10 people, provides for essential businesses to continue to operate while prioritizing social distancing measures, and orders North Carolinians to stay at home except for performing essential work activities such as taking care of others, obtaining necessary supplies, and for health and safety purposes. The Order has the force of law and will be enforced in all 100 counties statewide. FAQs answered here.

• Number of Cases Statewide and by County
• Number of Deaths Statewide and by County
• Number of Tests Completed
• Number of People Currently Hospitalized
• Percent of Cases by Age Range
• Percent of Deaths by Age Range
• Percent of Cases by Gender
• Percent of Deaths by Gender
• Number of Intensive Care Unit Beds – Total and Empty
• Number of Inpatient Hospital Beds – Total and Empty

Healthcare and Food Assistance

Early Childhood Care and Education

K-3 Education

• Education funding flexibility. The Governor has provided financial flexibility with education funds to address needs arising from COVID-19.
  • Guidance to DPI and the State Board of Education (March 24) creates a $50 million flexible funding stream at DPI, funded with unused FY 2018-19 carry forward funds, currently unspent FY 2019-20 Summer Reading Camp funds, and funds from the State Emergency Response and Disaster Relief Fund. The guidance also allows for flexibility in many other education funding streams.
  • The additional and newly flexible funds can be expended for school nutrition, school and community-based child care, cleaning and sanitizing schools and buses, protective equipment, and remote learning.
  • The State Board of Education agreed on a formula to disperse the additional funding (March 27): Half will be distributed based on the number of children living in poverty in each district and the other half based on the number of children in each district.
• School staff will be paid. The State Board of Education approved the State of Emergency Leave policy, which allows school districts to continue to pay and provide benefits to eligible staff who cannot work remotely, who have child or elder care needs, or are at high risk of contracting COVID-19.
• End-of-grade tests. NC’s request to waive end-of-grade testing requirements has been approved by the federal Department of Education. 
• Remote learning. While much of the shift to remote learning is happening at the school district level, the State Board of Education and DPI shared guidance defining remote learning for districts and encouraging them to focus on student progress rather than assigning grades right now for K-5 students. More guidance on final grading will be provided if school do not re-open before the end of the year.
• Resources for young learners. The DPI Office of Early Learning has made several online resources available, including:
  • A Remote Learning Page that includes resources for infants and toddlers, PreK, K, 1st and 2nd grades
  • A Digital Remote Learning Page that provides free digital resources appropriate for early learners and their families, like podcasts, virtual libraries, and learning websites and apps
  • A page on discussing the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic with children
  • Tips for parents who are now schooling from home

For additional Guidance (shared prior to March 24), click here