COVID-19: Creating Safe & Just Schools
NEA is here to ensure we rebuild schools with an emphasis on equity, return to the classroom safely, protect the most vulnerable students, and help educators navigate their rights and responsibilities amidst the COVID-19 crisis.
As schools and campuses reopen, it’s a make-or-break moment for the future of education. To ensure the safety and success of you and your students — during the COVID-19 pandemic, and long after — we’ve assembled helpful resources to support students’ learning and well-being, professional development, and legal and safety guidance to help educators turn this crisis into an opportunity to build back better.
Recent Updates
Majority of Nation’s Educators Vaccinated, Back in School as Last School Districts Open
While NEA members generally feel safe, Delta variant puts greater emphasis on safety protocols and measures
Low Pay, Poor Benefits Driving School Transportation Shortage
A national school bus driver shortage is hitting districts across the country where delivery drivers earn more.
School Rescue Funds Ranking Tool
The American Rescue Plan can fund our schools’ most critical needs. Help us rank what the funding priorities should be in your state and district to share with lawmakers.
As Teacher Shortage Grows, Schools Opening Without Key Educators
The teacher shortage has been a growing for years, but the pandemic has worsened it. Many schools are opening this year with vacancies.
NEA President: Vaccine and Testing Requirements 'Appropriate, Responsible, and Necessary'
NEA announces support for mandatory vaccination or regular COVID testing for all U.S. public school educators.
How to Help Your School Community Through Grief and Loss
Countless people have been touched by grief during the pandemic, and people working in schools have often struggled with it – in an atmosphere where there is so much else that we have lost.
It's Time to Get Vax to School
NEA encourages widespread use of safe and effective vaccines for educators and students. We've collected the following information and resources to help educators and parents make an informed decision about how best to protect our students.
Popular Resources
Mitigation Strategies for Safe In-Person Learning
Based on the CDC’s measures “essential to the safe delivery of in-person instruction” we have created resources to help our members implement the safest practices and mitigation strategies during in-person instruction.
Learning Beyond COVID-19: A Vision for Thriving in Public Education
For students to learn now and beyond COVID-19, we must create the conditions to help them thrive.
COVID-19–Related Micro-Credentials
Now's the perfect time to demonstrate your competence in subjects that are particularly relevant when coping with the impact of COVID-19.
Technology Integration 101
Learn how to integrate digital tools (Google docs, QR codes, student response systems and more) into classroom lessons.
Cultivating Socially Just Environments
Deepen your understanding of how to cultivate socially just educational environments.
Cultural Competence Standard
Examine cultural contexts and learn to interact across cultural contexts with sensitivity to differences like economics, race, and disability. (For education support professionals.)
Join the Community of Educators Navigating COVID-19 Together
Join our Facebook group to connect with NEA members in your states and locals to seek and share important information about how COVID-19 is affecting your communities and what’s being done to support your students and one another.
Tackle the Issues And Change Students' Lives
Sign up for email alerts with insights and actions you can take to protect public schools.
