New York State recognizes that opening pre-kindergarten through grade 12 schools for inperson instruction is critical to student health, well-being, academic success, and social functioning. In alignment with international and national experts, the State is committed to prioritizing in-person learning while adhering to multiple mitigation strategies that include vaccination, the appropriate use of face masks, physical distancing and screening testing to monitor transmission and inform local public health actions. Combining these mitigation strategies increases community confidence in in-person instruction and prevents transmission of COVID-19. This reduces exposures and quarantines and increases schools’ ability to remain open despite fluctuating background COVID-19 rates in the community. Please note that the following guidance applies to P-12 elementary and secondary, public, charter, private, and state-operated schools, including residential schools and programs serving students with disabilities, as regulated by the NYS Education Department. It does not apply to institutions of higher education

this memorandum provides revised LEA allocations of ESSER 2 (CRRSA) and ARP ESSER funds to reflect updated information on participating LEAs

COVID-19 disrupted both in-person learning and routine well-child visits for many children over the last year. As a result, too many children have fallen behind on receiving recommended vaccines1 . We all want our kids to be back in school safely, and that means getting caught up on vaccines that were missed over the last year. CDC’s public sector vaccine ordering data show a 14% drop in 2020-2021 compared to 2019, and measles vaccine is down by more than 20%. Kids need to get caught up now so that they are protected as they go back to inperson learning. Catch-up vaccination will require efforts from healthcare systems, health care providers, schools, state and local governments, and families.

On June 7, 2021, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed Chapter 112 of the Laws of 2021, which was subsequently amended on June 11, 2021 by Chapter 147 of the Laws of 2021. As amended, Chapter 112 provides, in part, that for the 2020-21 school year, no school districts or BOCES shall be required to complete an annual teacher or principal evaluation for any classroom teacher or building principal due to concerns related to the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In effect, the bill excuses school districts and BOCES from the requirement to complete a teacher’s or principal’s evaluation under Education Law §3012-d and Regents Rules 30-3 for the 2020-21 school year. The bill also eliminates any state aid penalties for school districts that fail to implement any component of their approved APPR plans....