Frequently Asked Questions from School Systems

Please check the Louisiana Department of Health FAQs and LDOE's Strong Start FAQ’s frequently. Please note that the school related questions on the Louisiana Department of Health FAQs is located half way down the FAQs page. Please are two of hte top questions that have been submitted by school sytems. 

How can my school safely assess students and staff for COVID-19?

According to the LDOE Strong Start Guidance, whenever possible, schools should ensure a school nurse or health care professional is available to support screening and isolation procedures. Consistent with the CDC's recommendation, individuals who have a fever of 100.4°F or above or exhibit other signs of illness must not be admitted to the facility. The LDOE Guidance for Staff and Student Monitoring One Pager provides information on symptom monitoring. For more information on symptom monitoring, you can view LDOE’s list of FAQs or read page 10 and page 15 of the LDOE Strong Start Guidance.Screening steps:

• Ask the student or parent/guardian to confirm the student has not taken fever-reducing medication in the last 24 hours and does not have shortness of breath, sore throat or a cough.
• Make a visual inspection of the child for signs of illness, particularly shortness of breath or cough.
• If a student registers a temperature of 100.4 or higher, their temperature should be taken a second time 5 to 10 minutes later

What are the procedures for isolating sick individuals?

According to the LDOE Strong Start Guidance, it is important to establish a space to isolate students who become sick, and to be prepared with a cleaning and disinfecting process. Schools should create an area that can be used to isolate a sick student and ensure proper adult supervision of an isolated child as needed and based on age. If a sick child has been isolated in the facility, clean and disinfect surfaces in the isolation room or area after the sick child has gone home. School systems can use an assurance statement to ensure parents are aware of their obligation to immediately pick up sick students from campus. In the event that a student, staff member or visitor to the school is or is presumed to be positive for COVID-19, contact regional or local public health officials to determine any additional steps related to communication, quarantining practices, enhanced cleaning or disinfection processes, or school facility closure. State of Louisiana contact tracers will conduct contact tracing activities, including school-based contacts. The LDOE Guidance for Staff and Student Monitoring One Pager provides information on symptom monitoring. For more information on symptom monitoring, you can view LDOE’s list of FAQs or read page 10 and page 15 of the LDOE Strong Start Guidance.

• National Association of School Nurses COVID-19 Resources provides a wealth of resources for state partners, school systems, school nurses and many more. The resources include return to school guidance, talking points for schools, and resources for parents.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) hosted a call on Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) Associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). During this call, clinicians learned about the clinical characteristics of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, how cases have been diagnosed and treated, and how clinicians are responding to recently reported cases associated with COVID-19. The recording and resources from the call are available to review.
• Allergy & Asthma Network COVID-19 Information Center is updated weekly and includes information and news webinars, fact sheets, podcasts and infographics to help related to allergy and asthma. Here is an example of a fact sheet for asthma care at schools.
• Quick Links to resources for children with special health care needs.
  • Autism Speaks:  Resources for families and education/health professionals
  • Muscular Dystrophy Association
  • Spina Bifida Association: What People with Spina Bifida Need to Know
  • Epilepsy Foundation
  • Article from the American Academy of Pediatrics Complex Care Special Interest Group
  • Child Neurology Foundation
• CSHS Family Resource Center in the Louisiana Department of Health, Bureau of Family Health is available to support providers and families of children with special health care needs to access resources. For more information, click here.

• SHAPE America COVID-19 Resources page includes school systems to create a plan for physical education, take home resources, at home fitness, distance learning resources and more!
• For classroom physical activity, visit Go Noodle. This program provide free movement and mindfulness videos created by child development experts. Available for free at school, home, and everywhere kids are. Schools can also purchase GoNoodle Plus for a school wide subscription. It is important to note that Go Noodle does not serve as a replacement for physical education.
• Playworks provides tips for recess in 2020 – 2021 school year. In addition, the Peaceful Playground has developed a suite of free and for purchase resources to support Covid-19 6′ Distancing Playground.

• Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Behavioral Health COVID 19 Behavioral Health Information: This page include information for parents and the general public.
• LDOE Guide for Implementing Student and Staff Well-Being: This a 2-page document with sample scripts, Schedule for Well-Being Support, Parent Consent Forms for Universal Screen and much more! 
• LDOE Guide to Supporting the Well-Being of Student and Staff: This 3-page document provides concrete steps for schools systems and school to implement.
• LDOE Diagnostic and Screener Guidance: This 5 page document provide supports to school systems as they administer a screener or diagnostic assessment to students and communicate each student’s readiness with parents.
• LDH Regional Services for individuals who would like to learn more about the behavioral health services toward suicide prevention in their areas.

• LDOE Child Nutrition Division created a list of Meal Services by Parish During COVID-19 and provides information on each parish meal options.
• Louisiana Fit Kids’ COVID-19 Resources page provides links to USDA guidance, guidance for Child Nutrition programs, and information on waivers.
• Well-Ahead developed the Eat to Win materials to encourage students to each fruits and vegetable, so that they're eating to win at school and in life! These resources can be used during classroom meal service or non-traditional meal service.

COVID-19 Mitigating Strategies

• Objective: Learn strategies for how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 such as assessing and isolating students, faculty and staff.          
• Audience: School system lead for COVID-19

Students with Chronic Health Conditions & Special Healthcare Needs

• Objective: Learn how to plan for the safe return of students with chronic health conditions and special healthcare needs.           
• Audience(s): School nurse supervisors, school system nursing program leads, or school-based health clinics leads

Physical Activity and Physical Education

• Objective: Learn how to incorporate physical education and physical activity in school while implementing social distancing practices and in the event of school closures.    
• Audience(s): School system for physical education and physical activity leads

Social, Mental and Emotional health       

• Objective: Learn how to support the social, emotional, and mental health needs of faculty, staff and students.            
• Audience(s): School system lead for COVID-19, School system social, mental and emotional health leads

Each training course include the following components for particiapte to complete. 

• Reading Material
• Training Videos
• Short Assignment & Quiz

After completing all components of the training course, participates will be able to download a certficate of completion.