Get a COVID-19 Vaccine at Select School Sites
All New Yorkers age 12 and up can now receive a free COVID-19 vaccine! In partnership with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, some school sites will offer vaccination. You can simply walk in with your student, any friend or family member who needs a vaccine, or just get one for yourself. It's quick and easy, and will help you keep yourself, your neighborhood, and your school community safe.
Have questions about the vaccine? Visit the NYC Covid-19 Vaccine page for all the facts.
Important information:
- You will not need to provide proof of immigration status or a social security number to get vaccinated. ID is only required for proof of age.
- You do not need health insurance to get vaccinated.
- All minors who are 12 to 15 must be accompanied to the vaccination site by a parent or guardian, or another adult caregiver designated by the parent/guardian.
Final Opt-In Period
For Blended Learning for 2020-21 School Year
Families who chose all remote learning for their students have another opportunity to transition to blended learning this school year. If your child is currently learning remotely every day, they can learn in person in the school building at least part of the week for the last months of the school year.
Beginning Wednesday, March 24, you can opt your child in to in-person learning by selecting blended learning in the survey. You can also call 311. You have until Friday, April 9, to select this option.
Please read on to learn more about our commitment to health and safety, and expectations for blended learning. Additional updates regarding start dates for students who select blended learning during this opt-in window will be posted on this page
Blended Learning Expectations
As of December 7, 2020 citywide expectations apply for students to maintain in-person seats. Students attending school in person must attend school on their scheduled in-person days at least one time in the first week of school, and if your child is unable to attend you must contact your child’s school to provide notice and an acceptable reason.
All excused absences are acceptable, and exceptions are wider than a typical excused absence, and include but are not limited to:
- Quarantine/COVID-related absence
- Quarantine from out-of-state travel – though not an accommodation for the travel itself
- Your family is looking after a sick relative, or caring for a sibling
- Your child is not expected for in-person activities, but prefers 'blended' in order to maintain transportation benefits necessary for attending in-person shared instructional sessions
Schools will attempt to contact you if your child has been absent and they have not heard from you. If your child’s school cannot reach you to confirm your learning preference, your child will be transitioned to full remote learning.
Mandatory In-School COVID-19 Testing
Random COVID-19 testing will continue throughout Summer Rising 2021 for students and staff. Beginning in July, every other week, each school building hosting a Summer Rising program will test 10 percent of all randomly selected students and staff. For information on the Summer Rising Testing program please visit the Summer COVID Testing page.
Exceptions
Exemptions will only be granted in certain limited cases:
- For students who need a medical exemption, due to a health condition that would make it unsafe to undergo testing (e.g., facial trauma, nasal surgery), you will be able to submit a separate form for consideration. This form must be signed by a physician and you must submit medical documentation from a health care provider.
- For students with disabilities who cannot be safely tested in school due to the nature of their disability, you will be able to submit a separate request for an exemption.
- The exemption forms are available in ten languages on the COVID Testing page.
Health and Safety
The health and safety of all of our students continues to be our first priority in the wake of the evolving situation around the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in New York City.
It’s important we come together as a city and support one another as neighbors and New Yorkers during this time. COVID-19 is not more likely found in any one race or nationality, and we must each model inclusion and actively work to combat bias in our workplaces and communities.
Important Precautions
It is critical that all New Yorkers continue to practice general viral infection prevention measures including:
- Wash your hands with soap and water often.
- Wear a face covering, indoors and outdoors.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when sneezing or coughing.
- Do not touch your face with unwashed hands.
- Keep six feet of physical distance between yourself and others.
- Do not shake hands. Instead, wave or elbow bump.
- Monitor your health more closely than usual for cold or flu symptoms.
- Get your flu shot .
- Reduce overcrowding by walking or biking to work, if possible.
- If the train is too packed, wait for the next one.
If You Feel Sick
Stay home and call your doctor if you have symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath, fever, sore throat.
- If you do not feel better in 24-48 hours, contact your doctor.
- Do not go to school or to work until you have been fever-free for at least 72 hours without the use of fever reducing drugs like Tylenol or ibuprofen.
- If you need help getting medical care, call 311.
For More Information
Positive Cases in Schools:
Following guidance from the CDC and our own public health experts, as of Monday, April 12, 2021 we are updating our COVID-19 school building closure policies. These changes will provide stability to school communities while keeping health and safety front and center.
A school site will only close if there are 4 or more cases from 4 different classrooms within 7 days, with exposure traced to the school.
Visit Health and Safety to learn more about how we are ensuring our buildings are safe for students and staff, school-based COVID-19 testing, vaccine access, and more.
Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)
Please see the Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children page for information and letters to families.
Reopening School Buildings
Please read the Letter from the Chancellor about the Re-opening Plan.
On Thursday, November 19, all school buildings temporarily closed for teaching and learning, and all New York City public school students transitioned to fully remote learning.
- The return dates below apply to students in blended learning, including those who selected blended learning during the recent opt-in period.
- If you have recently traveled outside of New York City to a place on the State’s travel advisory list, you will have to follow the recommendations for quarantine before resuming in person learning.
3K Through Grade 5
Students in these grades in District 1–32 schools enrolled in blended learning returned to in-person learning beginning on Monday, December 7, 2020, except for schools located in State-designated Orange Zones. Students in Orange Zone schools enrolled in blended learning in 3-K through grade 5 returned to in-person learning beginning on Wednesday, December 9, 2020.
This includes all students in 3-K, Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K), and Kindergarten through grade 5 across different early education and elementary school types, including District Pre-K Centers and students in schools that would typically also serve grades above grade 5, such as K–12 schools.
District 75 Schools
Students in all grade levels in District 75 schools returned to in-person learning beginning on Thursday, December 10, 2020.
This includes schools that were located in State-designated Orange Zones.
Middle School (Grades 6–8)
Students in these grades in District 1–32 schools enrolled in blended learning returned to in-person learning beginning on Thursday, February 25, 2021. This includes students in grades 6–8 who participate in District 75 Inclusion Programs in their assigned community district schools.
High School (Grades 9–12)
Students in these grades in District 1–32 schools enrolled in blended learning returned to in-person learning beginning on Monday, March 22, 2021. This includes students enrolled in District 79 programs, Young Adult Borough Centers (YABCs), and students in grades 9-12 who participate in District 75 Inclusion Programs in their assigned community district schools.