Communities across the globe continue to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic. This page provides resources for school administrators, staff, families, and community members to provide safe learning opportunities for San Mateo County students.
Current COVID-19 Guidance
TK-12 Schools and Districts
The San Mateo County Pandemic Recovery Framework provides school leaders with the health, education, and legal guidance needed to develop local plans for providing safe on-campus instruction and learning. It combines guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and San Mateo County Health to support TK-12 schools in implementing public health guidance.
- San Mateo County Pandemic Recovery Framework (updated January 12, 2021)
- COVID-19 Testing for Schools and Students
- Superintendent's COVID-19 School and Vaccination Update (English) (Spanish) (sent January 13, 2022)
- Masks and COVID-19 Flyer (English) (Spanish)
- Recommendations for COVID-Safe Winter Holiday Activities (English) (Spanish) (updated December 8, 2021)
- Stay Home When Sick and Get Tested flyer (English) (Spanish) (updated December 3, 2021)
- Vaccination Options for Children 5-11 (includes English and Spanish, updated November 15, 2021)
- Ventilation FAQs: Smoke Days and COVID-19 (updated September 28, 2021)
- CDPH K-12 School Guidance (released July 12, 2021)
- CDPH School Testing Framework (released July 12, 2021)
- COVID-19 Testing Options
- COVID-19 Safety Plan Template (created by the San Mateo County Office of Education)
- Private Charter Leaders Update and Office Hours (PowerPoint, uploaded August 6, 2021)
- Contact Tracing for Schools and Districts (posted August 27, 2021)
Learn more on California's Safe Schools for All Hub website.
Early Learning and Child Care
- California Department of Public Health Guidance (released June 29, 2021)
- California Department of Education COVID-19 Guidance and Resources
- Community Care Licensing Stay informed on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHS) Early Learning and Care Playbook
Learn more about local early learning resources on the 4C's San Mateo County and First 5 San Mateo County websites.
COVID-19 Safe Schools and Vaccinations for Youth
A discussion about public health strategies in schools, community COVID-19 transmission rates, and vaccinations for youth. Speakers include Dr. Anand Chabra, Medical Director, Family Health Services, San Mateo County Health; Dr. Curtis Chan, Deputy Health Officer, Public Health, Policy and Planning, San Mateo County Health; and Nancy Magee, San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools.
Helpful Links
Residents with non-emergency or non-medical questions about the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) can call 2-1-1, which is available 24/7 in multiple languages. Call your physician with medical questions. For current, up-to-date information regarding the novel coronavirus, see:
- Testing in San Mateo County: Learn about who should get tested for COVID-19 and where you can go in San Mateo County. The page also includes frequently asked questions about testing.
- San Mateo County Health: San Mateo County Health provides information on Health Officer updates, resources for schools, local health data and updates, frequently asked questions, and other resources.
- Safe Schools for All Hub: California's one-stop shop for information about safe in-person instruction and how to minimize in-school transmission.
- California Department of Public Health: Find guidance documents, state data, and other COVID-19 Resources from the California Department of Public Health.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): The CDC provides a wide range of information about COVID-19, including symptoms, how to protect yourself, and what to do if you are sick.
COVID-19 Vaccines in San Mateo County
COVID-19 vaccination is one of the most important tools we have to end the COVID-19 pandemic and safely return all students to in-person learning. Not only that, it will help keep you, your family, your community, and your country healthy and safe. They have been shown to be safe and effective in reducing the likelihood of experiencing life-threatening side effects from COVID-19.
On August 11, 2021, California released a public health order requiring all school workers, including paid and unpaid adults serving in a school setting, to provide verification of their vaccination status, and if unvaccinated, to undergo weekly COVID-19 testing. The order applies to public and private schools and covers all staff and volunteers who are on-site at a school campus. The new policy for school staff will take effect on August 12, 2021, and schools must be in full compliance by October 15, 2021. Read a summary of the order.
Vaccines are now available for everyone aged 12 and older. The San Mateo County Office of Education is working with its health partners and school districts to arrange vaccination events on campuses throughout the county.
School COVID-19 Safety Plans and Dashboards
Guidance from the California Department of Public Health for the 2021-22 school year recommends that all local educational agencies (LEAs) post a safety plan on their website to communicate the safety measures in place for 2021-22 and disseminate to families in advance of the start of the school year.
Find links to San Mateo County schools' COVID-19 safety plans and data dashboards.
Additional Information
Resources
COVID-19 Information
Email: info@smcoe.org
Phone: (650) 802-5515