image of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)Whitted Takiff staff are working diligently to keep all of our clients updated on the most recent COVID-19 school updates as they are introduced. WT will post updated guidelines and statements here as soon as we receive them from the State of Illinois and the U.S. Department of Education regarding school closures, e-learning and IDEA mandates.

E-Learning Resources

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  • February 25, 2022:

    • The Illinois Supreme Court denies Governor Pritzker’s appeal of Judge Girschow’s decision, overturning the mask mandate in schools. Shortly thereafter, Governor Pritzker announced that he will no longer require schools to have teachers and students masked, and will instead leave the decision up to each local school district and private school.

  • February 17, 2022:

    • The U.S. Department of Education issues updated guidance regarding school district’s obligations to provide appropriate evaluations and compensatory educational services to students with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • February 4, 2022:

    • A Sangamon County Judge, Judge Raylene DeWitte Grischow, rules in Graves et. al. v. Pritzker et. al., that mask and vaccination mandates in schools in Illinois is illegal, and grants a Temporary Restraining Order (“TRO”) against schools from having to implement the emergency rules created by the Illinois State Board of Education (“ISBE”) for the same.

  • September 30, 2021:

    • The U.S. Department of Education publishes a Return to School Roadmap, an updated Q&A document for schools on the development and implementation of IEPs in the LRE under the IDEA during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.

  • September 17, 2021:

    • Governor Pritzker issued an Executive Order updating exclusion mandates for confirmed, probable and close contacts of COVID-19 cases in Illinois schools. ISBE and IDPH have since issued a joint Fact Sheet regarding the new Executive Order.

  • September 3, 2021:

    • Governor Pritzker issued an updated Executive Order regarding masking and vaccines which extends the effective date to September 19, 2021.

  • August 31, 2021:

  • August 26, 2021:

    • Governor Pritzker issued an Executive Order mandating:
      • Mask use for all indoor venues statewide
      • Vaccinations for all health care workers (or mandatory, weekly COVID-testing)
      • Vaccinations for all school personnel (or mandatory, weekly COVID-testing)
      • Vaccinations for all higher education staff and students (or mandatory, weekly COVID testing), and
      • Vaccinations for state employees at all state-owned or operated congregate facilities

  • August 4, 2021:

    • Governor Pritzker issued an Executive Order mandating indoor mask use for all Illinois schools and long-term care facilities, due to the increasing Delta variant COVID infections.

  • July 27, 2021:

    • The Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”) issued updated guidance for fully vaccinated individuals, given the rise of the Delta COVID-19 variant. The new guidance now recommends universal indoor masking for all students and teachers within indoor school environments, regardless of vaccination status. The Illinois Department of Public Health fully adopted the CDC’s new masking recommendations.

  • July 9, 2021:

    • The Illinois Department of Public Health (“IDPH”) adopts the CDC’s most recent guidance for school re-openings.

  • July 9, 2021:

    • The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) issued updated Guidance for K-12 school re-openings for the 2021-2022 school year. Key takeaways from the updated guidelines include:
      • Schools should prioritize a return to in-person instruction for fall 2021;
      • Use of masks indoors should continue for all unvaccinated students and staff, but is optional for fully-vaccinated individuals;
      • Distancing of 3-feet for individuals is recommended. If this spacing is not possible, then all individuals should be masked;
      •  Continued screening, testing, ventilation and quarantining of individuals who are sick is recommended; and
      • Localities should continue to monitor infection rates and adjust safety measures (increased testing, physical distancing, etc.) as needed to contain infection outbreaks.

  • May 27, 2021:

    • The Illinois State Board of Education provides Webinar Guidance and Q&A information, as well as Post-Vaccine Guidance information to school districts and private schools in preparation for the return to in-person education for the 2021-2022 school year.

  • May 19, 2021:

    • The Illinois State Board of Education votes to adopt a Resolution which mandates Illinois school districts to provide in-person learning for the 2021-2022 school year.

  • May 12, 2021:

    • The U.S. Department of Education provided updated Question and Answers guidance regarding civil rights and school re-openings for the 2021-2022 school year.

  • May 4, 2021:

    • The Illinois Department of Public Health has, once again, updated its COVID-19 Exclusion Guidance for symptomatic individuals in schools and day care facilities.

  • February 23, 2021:

    • The U.S. Department of Education has published its guidelines for re-opening schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • February 9, 2021:

    • The Illinois Department of Public Health has updated its Frequently Asked Questions for school district guidance regarding COVID-19.

  • January 11, 2021:

    • The Illinois Department of Public Health has updated its COVID-19 Exclusion Guidance for symptomatic individuals in schools and day care facilities.

  • October 27, 2020:

    • The Illinois Department of Public Health has issued updated its Frequently Asked Questions for school district guidance regarding COVID-19.

  • September 28, 2020:

    • The Office of Special Education Programs (“OSEP”) has provided a Question and Answer document providing guidance for the provision of special education services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • September 10, 2020:

    • The Illinois Department of Public Health (“IDPH”) has created a COVID-19 Exclusion Chart to provide guidance to schools on when to allow students to return after exposure to or exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19.

  • August 17, 2020:

    • The Illinois Department of Public Health (“IDPH”) has issued guidance regarding the exclusion of symptomatic students in schools and daycare facilities.

  • August 14, 2020:

    • The Illinois State Board of Education (“ISBE”) has issued a Frequently Asked Questions document for parents regarding special education services for the 2020-2021 school year.

  • August 12, 2020:

    • The Illinois Department of Public Health (“IDPH”) issues a Frequently Asked Questions document for schools regarding re-opening during COVID-19.

  • July 23, 2020:

  • June 30, 2020:

    • ISBE has published a Frequently Asked Questions document regarding the provision of special education services to students during the transition to in-person instruction for the fall of 2020.
    • The IDPH and ISBE published an update about the appropriate use of face shields in educational environments.

  • June 23, 2020:

    • ISBE and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has released formal guidance for school instruction for the 2020-2021 school year. The guidance delineates that “in person instruction is highly encouraged” as Illinois moves into Phase 4 re-opening, but allows school districts to develop hybrid in-person/remote learning plans in the event schools cannot comply with IDPH guidelines.

  • June 22, 2020:

    • The U.S. Department of Education and the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) publishes guidance on dispute resolution during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • June 18, 2020:

    • Governor Pritzker signed SB 1569 into law, amending the school code to address the continuing impact of COVID-19 on education, and expanding remote learning capabilities and supports for schools for the 2020-2021 school year. ISBE announced the passage of the law and stated that guidance for fall 2020 learning will be issued by the end of June.

  • June 4, 2020:

    • Governor Pritzker issues an updated Executive Order which includes guidance for potential school openings.
    • The Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Health releases Summer Program Guidance for Illinois school districts.

  • March 18, 2020:

    • Illinois State Board of Education Guidance for the Provision of Special Education Instruction by Illinois Schools.