Minnesota Department of Education Safe Learning Plan

Governor Tim Walz on July 30 issued Emergency Executive Order 20-82, which sets guidance for schools during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Safe Learning Plan for 2020-2021 (updated November 16, 2020). Reopening options will be partly triggered by county virus infection rates.

Minnesota Department of Education: Guidance for Minnesota Public Schools 2020-21 School Year Planning (Updated November 20, 2020)

Minnesota Department of Health: 2020-2021 Planning Guide for Schools (Updated September 23, 2020)

MSBA Fall 2020 School Reopening Guidance

The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose significant challenges for Minnesota’s school districts and charter schools as they serve their students, families, and communities. The Minnesota School Boards Association developed its Fall 2020 School Reopening Guidance to support school boards as they seek to meet these challenges. This guidance supplements the resources that the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and other federal, state, and local agencies and nongovernmental organizations have created. MSBA acknowledges and incorporates the work of these organizations and state school board associations across the nation. Access the Fall 2020 School Reopening Guide. (July 7, 2020)

MSBA Sample Resolution for Adopting a Base Learning Model for 2020-21 School Year

Boards wanting a resolution to adopt a base learning model for the upcoming school year can simply download MSBA's resolution by clicking here.

School Board/District Guidance

MSBA School Year Planning Q&A Webpage (log-in required)

MSBA 2020 Fall School Reopening Guidance

Minnesota Department of Health: Data for K-12 Schools — 14-day COVID-19 Case Rate by County

Minnesota Department of Education: Guidance for Minnesota Public Schools 2020-21 School Year Planning (Updated November 20, 2020)

State of Minnesota: Safe Learning Plan for 2020-2021 (Updated November 16, 2020) | Frequently Asked Questions about the Safe Learning Plan 

Minnesota Department of Education: School-Age Care Guidance and FAQ for 2020-21 School Year (Updated November 5, 2020)

Minnesota Department of Education: Inclement Weather Guidance for 2020-2021 (Updated October 29, 2020)

Minnesota Department of Health: 2020-2021 Planning Guide for Schools (Updated September 23, 2020)

Minnesota Department of Health: COVID-19 Attendance Guide for Parents and Families (September 10, 2020)

MSBA: School Board Meeting Guide (Updated September 9, 2020)

Minnesota Department of Education: Early Education and Care FAQ for the 2020-21 School Year (Updated September 3, 2020)

Minnesota Department of Education: Transportation of Nonpublic and Charter School Students 2020-21 (Updated August 18, 2020)

PELSB: 2020-21 Guidance for School Districts and Charter Schools Regarding Teacher Licensure and Permissions (Updated July 29, 2020)

Minnesota Department of Education: Minnesota Summer Programming Guidance for Schools (Updated July 22, 2020)

Minnesota State Fire Marshal Division: School Occupant Loads for COVID-19 Restrictions (Updated July 8, 2020)

National School Boards Association: Setting a New Course — A Legal Guide to Operating Schools in the Pandemic Era (July 2020)

MSBA: Lessons Learned from a COVID-19 World — Q&A with Board Chairs and Superintendents (June 2020)

Resolutions for Filling a Temporary Vacancy Due to Illness or Prolonged Absence

Sample Resolution: Request for Fund Transfer | Guidance for Transfer of Funds | Request for Fund Transfer Form (April 7, 2020)

MSBA School Board Chair Script for Virtual Meetings (Updated April 7, 2020)

COVID-19 and Student-Centered Leadership: By Katie Klanderud and Paula O'Loughlin, MSBA Board Development Team

Distance Learning

Minnesota Department of Education: Teacher Preparation Time Guidance (November 13, 2020)

Minnesota Department of Education: Distance Learning and Teaching Implementation Guidance (Updated June 30, 2020)

Minnesota Department of Education: Distance Learning Feedback Report Results Brief (Updated June 15, 2020)

Minnesota Department of Education: Excessive Absences Guidance and Application for Individual Student (Updated April 30, 2020)

Minnesota Department of Education: Equity Lens Reflection and Exploration Tool for Learning (April 1, 2020)

Minnesota Department of Education: Distance Learning Resources for Teachers of Young Multilingual Learners (March 31, 2020)

Government Updates

Governor Tim Walz on November 18, 2020, issued Emergency Executive Order 20-99, which implements a four-week dial back on certain activities to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Governor Tim Walz on November 6, 2020, issued Emergency Executive Order 20-95, which amends Executive Order 20-94 to clarifying the effective date of Paragraph 9 of Executive Order 20-94.

Governor Tim Walz on November 5, 2020, issued Emergency Executive Order 20-94, which authorizes the Commissioner of Education to take action to improve the education of Minnesota students during the 2020-2021 school year.

U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights: Questions and Answers for K-12 Public Schools In the Current COVID-19 Environment (September 28, 2020)

U.S. Department of Education Blog: May Schools Disclose Information about Cases of COVID-19? (September 24, 2020)

Governor Tim Walz on July 30, 2020, issued Emergency Executive Order 20-82, which sets guidance for schools during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Safe Learning Plan for 2020-2021 (updated August 18, 2020). Reopening options will be partly triggered by county virus infection rates.

Governor Tim Walz issued Emergency Executive Order 20-81, which requires Minnesotans to wear a face covering in certain settings to prevent the spread of COVID-19. See Pages 10-11 for information about K-12 schools. (July 22, 2020)

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act includes an Education Stabilization Fund, which in turn contains two major sources of funding for schools: the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund and the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund. Visit the Minnesota Department of Education website for information about the status of these programs in Minnesota.

U.S. Department of Education: IDEA Dispute Resolution Procedures | Part B | Part C (June 22, 2020)