As various organizations, including the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois Department of Public Health, our local health departments, and the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention modify their COVID-19 guidance, District 300 will likely need to update our Back to School Handbook. As such, District 300 will capture all changes to our handbook on this webpage.

• The latest version of our Back to School Handbook can be accessed by clicking here (the Spanish version can be accessed by clicking here).
  
  
• A version of the Back to School Handbook that captures all updates in red font (along with the date of the change) can be accessed by clicking here (the Spanish version can be accessed by clicking here).

A comprehensive list of all handbook updates can be found below:

Back to School Handbook Updates

Update: August 27, 2021 - Page 7: Case Management - My Child is Impacted by COVID-19. What Do I Do Now?

• Inclusion: The image below is intended to help parents determine the options available to them should their child be impacted by COVID-19. Parents can select the scenario that best describes their child’s COVID-19 situation and identify the specific circumstance (or multiple options) available to their student. 'Click on the image below to view a larger size.'

Update: August 27, 2021 - Page 12: Case Management - Unvaccinated Close Contact Quarantine Options

• Previous Sentence (originally published August 11) read: the following shortened quarantine options may be available for unvaccinated close contact students.
  

  The quarantine period is for ten (10) days following the last exposure to a positive COVID-19 individual. The date of last exposure is considered day zero (0). For this option, the student may end their quarantine:

  • After day ten (10);
  • If no symptoms developed;
  • If they received a negative test (if required by the local health department);
  • If they can maintain physical distance and mask at all times when they return to school.

  For classrooms where masking is strictly adhered to, the physical distance of 3 to 6 feet is acceptable for return.

  
  
• Sentence: there are currently three options that may be available to unvaccinated close contacts: The 10-Day Quarantine period, the 7-Day Quarantine period, and the Test-to-Stay Program. For detailed information regarding each option, please see the two images below. 'Click on the image below to view a larger size.'
  
  'Click on the image below to view a larger size.'
  

Option1: The 10-Day Quarantine Period:

The quarantine period is for ten (10) days following the last exposure to a positive COVID-19 individual. The date of last exposure is considered day zero (0). For this option, the student may end their quarantine:

• After day ten (10);
• If no symptoms developed;
• If they received a negative test (If required by the local health department);
• If they can maintain physical distance and mask at all times when they return to school. 

For classrooms where masking is strictly adhered to, the physical distance of 3 to 6 feet is acceptable for return.

Option 2: The 7-Day Quarantine Period:

The 7-Day Quarantine Period is only available to students deemed eligible by their local health department. The quarantine period is for seven (7) calendar days following the last exposure to a positive COVID-19 individual. The date of last exposure is considered day zero (0). For this option, the student may end their quarantine:

• After day seven (7);
• If no symptoms develop during daily monitoring; AND
• The student has a negative SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic test (PCR) collected within 48 hours of exposure day seven (7), starting on day six (6) or after); AND
• If they can maintain physical distance and mask at all times when they return to school. For classrooms where masking is strictly adhered to, the physical distance of 3 to 6 feet is acceptable for return.

Option 3: The Test-to-Stay Program:
The Test-to-Stay program is only available to students deemed eligible by their local health department. Students can stay in school if they participate in a Test-to-Stay Program, as documented by the CDC, following the exposure to a positive COVID-19 individual. The Test-to- Stay Program requires schools to test close contacts on days one (1), three (3), five (5), and seven (7) from the date of exposure using a PCR or rapid test. Close contacts are permitted to remain in the classroom as long as the results are negative.

Students engaged in Test-to-Stay after exposure:

• Must wear a mask regardless of the mask policy at school; AND
• Will be tested on the next school day when testing is not possible due to a weekend or holiday.

The Test-to-Stay Program will not be available if:

• The health department assesses the case to be a high-risk exposure.
• The student tests positive or becomes symptomatic. The student will then follow the Positive Case information.
• Household exposures are not eligible for the Test-to-Stay Program.

Regardless of when an individual ends quarantine, daily symptom monitoring should continue through calendar day 14 after the exposure.

Information for the student participating in the Test-to-Stay Program will be shared with the local Health Department for tracking purposes.

Update: August 27, 2021 - Page 15: Case Management - Opt-In COVID-19 Testing

• Inclusion: Case Management - Opt-In COVID-19 Testing

Update: August 27, 2021 - Page 15: Case Management - Opt-In COVID-19 Testing

• Previous Sentence (originally published August 11) read: Additional information and consent forms will be available at your child’s school at a later date.
  
  
• Updated Sentence: Additional information and consent forms will be available at your child’s school beginning September 14, 2021

Update: August 27, 2021 - Page 15: Case Management - Onsite COVID-19 Testing for Symptomatic Students

• Previous Sentence (originally published August 11) read: Testing will be made available weekly at a District 300 building location by appointment. To schedule an appointment, please contact your child’s school nurse.
  
  
• Updated Sentence: Testing will be made available Monday through Friday at the D300 Central Office. To schedule an appointment please call 224-484-4190.

Update: August 27, 2021 - Page 16: Case Management - Positive COVID-19 Cases Parent Communication

• Previous Sentence (originally published August 11) read:Parents of students who were not identified as “close contacts” will receive an email from the school informing them that an individual at their child’s school has tested positive for COVID-19
  
  
• Updated Sentence: Beginning August 30, 2021, schools will only send targeted messages to the parents and guardians of students who test positive for COVID-19 or are identified as close contacts. Parents and guardians who want to remain informed of their school’s total number of positive cases and close contacts should refer to the COVID-19 dashboard. Messages will be sent to all parents and guardians within a school if:

  • A school encounters a significant or notable COVID-19 scenario.
  • A school has a COVID-19 outbreak.

Update: August 27, 2021 - Page 16: Case Management - Tracking Positive COVID-19 Cases Dashboard

• Previous Sentence (originally published August 11) read: The District 300 COVID-19 Dashboard contains the total number of students and staff members who have tested positive for COVID-19 or are quarantined due to COVID-19 exposure. In addition, the dashboard includes a cumulative total, beginning August 12, 2021.
  
  
• Updated Sentence: The dashboard contains the total number of students and staff members who have tested positive for COVID-19 or have been identified as a close contact. The dashboard will be updated daily (Monday through Friday).

Update: August 17, 2021 - Page 7: Case Management - Positive COVID-19 Case

• Previous Sentence (originally published August 11) read: Students living in the same household as those exhibiting one or more COVID-19 symptoms will also be excluded from school.
  
  
• Change: The phrase “unless the student is fully vaccinated” was added on August 17, 2021
  
  
• Updated Sentence: Students living in the same household as those exhibiting one or more COVID-19 symptoms will also be excluded from school unless the student is fully vaccinated.

Update: August 17, 2021 - Page 9: Case Management - Suspected/Reported COVID-19 Symptoms

• Previous Sentence (originally published August 11) read: Students living in the same household as those exhibiting one or more COVID-19 symptoms will also be excluded from school.
  
  
• Change: The phrase “unless the student is fully vaccinated” was added on August 17, 2021
  
  
• Updated Sentence: Students living in the same household as those exhibiting one or more COVID-19 symptoms will also be excluded from school unless the student is fully vaccinated.

Update: August 17, 2021 - Page 9: Case Management- Quarantine Requirements for a Close Contact to a COVID-19 Positive Person

• Previous Sentence (originally published August 11) read: Being within 3 feet for a cumulative total of at least 15 minutes during a 24-hour period without a mask in the classroom setting
  
  
• Change: The phrase “without a mask” was modified to “with or without a mask.”
  
  
• Updated Sentence: “Being within 3 feet for a cumulative total of at least 15 minutes during a 24-hour period with or without a mask in the classroom setting”