ODE Licensed preschool or school-age child care provider, grantee, or early childhood program administrator:
Ohio Department of Education continues to place resources on its website, including a printable prevention checklist, FAQ, and Guidance for K – 12 schools.
More information is forthcoming and will be posted to the Ohio Department of Education website as it becomes available.
The FAQ linked above specifically includes guidance around the applicability of school closures for preschool classrooms. Here are the highlights: Preschool classrooms licensed by the Ohio Department of Education are mandated to close. School-Age Child Care programs licensed by the Ohio Department of Education can stay open at the discretion of the operating entity.
Ohio schools and community sponsors may operate under a waiver to serve meals in a non-congregate setting and at school sites during school closures related to the coronavirus. Preschool and child care administrators/directors are encouraged to contact your local school district to inquire about emergency meal service and provide this information to the households.
Guidance on special education is being completed and will be shared as soon as it is finalized.
The Centers for Disease Control has new information available on its website specifically for child care and early childhood programs including:
• Interim Guidance for Administrators
• FAQs for Administrators
• Cleaning and Disinfecting Recommendations
• Checklists for Teachers, Parents and Administrators and
• Talking with Children about Coronavirus Disease 2019
For those of you serving younger children, guidance is available from Zero to Three with tips for parents talking about coronavirus with their children.
Be safe and well and email us with specific questions you may have at ELSR@education.ohio.gov
We’ve received many important questions already and we are working to provide the answers.
Thank you for your patience and thank you for everything you do for Ohio’s children.