Preventing the Spread of Infections in K–12 Schools

At a glance

  • Read CDC's updated guidance on how to prevent infectious disease from spreading in kindergarten through 12th grade (K–12) schools.
  • Mention of a product or company name is for identification purposes only and does not mean endorsement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Overview

Schools provide safe and supportive environments, routines, and important services that support student health and well-being. Schools should have plans in place that can help reduce illness and illness-related absences by preventing the spread of common infections. This guidance is designed to maximize school attendance and its benefits for all students, while also preventing the spread of infectious diseases.

  • Schools can help prevent infections from common childhood respiratory or stomach viruses by using and encouraging everyday actions.
  • If more people are getting sick in the community, schools can take additional actions to prevent infections from spreading.
  • Schools can prepare for outbreaks or a pandemic by having an emergency operations plan with an infectious disease section. The plan should outline necessary actions to lower the impact of the outbreak.

Did you know?‎

Parents and caregivers play an important role in helping to prevent the spread of infections in schools. Learn more about what you can do to help your child's school stay healthy.

What's new

This updated guidance:

  • Combines and simplifies previous recommendations for K–12 school settings.
  • Replaces previous guidance that focused on COVID-19 and influenza in schools.
  • Aligns with CDC's respiratory virus guidance.
  • Is based on scientific studies.
  • Has evidence-based strategies that show what works best to prevent the spread of many common respiratory and stomach infections.

Using these strategies can also reduce the spread of many other infectious diseases in schools.

Keep Reading: Science Brief: Prevention and Control of Respiratory and Gastrointestinal Infections in K-12 Schools

Other illnesses

CDC has additional guidance for several other illnesses that schools can use to prevent specific infections.

Communication strategies

This guidance highlights the importance of using clear, consistent, and accessible communication. Providing school administrators, parents and caregivers, and staff with clear and accessible communication is essential for successful prevention strategies. Communication strategies should also consider the needs of people who speak limited English, people who need language services, and individuals with disabilities who need accessible formats.

What schools can do

Schools can:

  • Work closely with local public health partners and engage parents, caregivers and other community partners.
  • Create an emergency operations plan that includes a section on infectious diseases.
  • Promote learning and health for all students and staff.
  • Use prevention strategies to keep students, staff, families, and school communities healthy.
  • Provide supportive environments for in-person learning.

Reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities

Federal civil rights laws may require that schools provide reasonable modifications or accommodations in various circumstances. When schools see an increase in infectious illness, they must ensure equal access to in-person learning for students with disabilities. This guidance does not take away from or go above those laws.

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Content Source:
Office of Readiness and Response