Ohio Department of Education issues guidelines for schools in Level 4 counties

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WDTN) – The Ohio Department of Education issued guidelines for schools in purple Level 4 counties.

The department said it is up to each school district to decide whether to learn in person, remotely or a hybrid of the two. ODE said the decisions should be made with guidance from local health departments.

When deciding learning models, schools should consider the following:

• Level of COVID-19 transmission in the community
• The school’s ability to implement key mitigation strategies to reduce transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19
• The risk of transmission in schools presented by different learning models

The state also breaks down the level of transmission risks in regards to different types of learning. “Some Risk” is associated with hybrid learning models in which the majority of students learn virtually, and “Highest Risk” is associated with full-sized, in-person classes, activities and events.

Regarding youth sports, the department said the risk increases with the more people that interact, including their physical closeness and the duration of the interaction. Additionally, risk increases with the sharing of equipment by multiple players.

ODE said it recognizes schools have done an effective job complying with health recommendations such as mask wearing, social distancing and sanitizing.

To read the guidelines in full, click here.