“I want to be very clear,” Gov. Kim Reynolds near the beginning of her press conference on Tuesday. “Schools that choose not to return to school for at least 50 percent in-person instruction are not defying me, they’re defying the law.” The governor said that if a school moved to all online instruction without first […]
Iowa Department of Education
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COVID-19: Doctors rally to ask Gov. Reynolds for a mask mandate; experts warn about school reopenings
Doctors from across the state gathered on the steps of Iowa State Capitol on Saturday to call on Gov. Kim Reynolds to issue a statewide face covering mandate or allow local governments to issue mandates in their communities to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. “Our message is clear,” Dr. Brian Privett, an ophthalmologist in […]
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COVID-19: Another 463 Iowans test positive; Minnesota school districts will be able to choose how to reopen
On Thursday, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the standards that will determine whether schools must have all in-person instruction, can use a hybrid model incorporating both in-person and online instruction, or move all classes online. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a former school teacher, announced his state’s school reopening plan that same day. The two states are […]
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Cedar Rapids law firm offers to prepare living wills and other health care documents for teachers for free
A Cedar Rapids law firm has announced it will help teachers prepare living wills and other legal health care documents for free during a pop-up event in Bever Park on Sunday, Aug. 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. “Teachers are invited to come to this outdoor, socially distanced event where they will receive attorney […]
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Gov. Reynolds sharply limits ability of schools to respond to COVID-19
During a press conference on Thursday, Gov. Kim Reynolds unveiled the standards her administration is imposing on school districts as those districts begin a new school year during the COVID-19 pandemic. School districts are expected to hold on-site classes until their county sees a 14-day rolling average positivity rate of 15 percent, and there is […]
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Gov. Kim Reynolds orders schools to prioritize in-person class, throwing a wrench in some districts’ plans
Gov. Kim Reynolds emphasized the importance of bringing kids back to school in the fall during her press conference Friday morning, shortly before she signed a new public health proclamation that says Iowa schools must prioritize in-person learning. The proclamation comes on the same day Iowa reported its highest single-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases. […]
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Cedar Rapids schools will require face masks or shields during upcoming school year
Students in Cedar Rapids schools will be required to wear face masks or face shields in classrooms and on the bus if they return to class this fall. The Cedar Rapids Community School District (CRCSD) is also looking at smaller class sizes, serving meals in classrooms and other measures to ensure appropriate social distancing. The […]
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Cedar Rapids schools exploring three possible plans for upcoming school year
The Cedar Rapids Community School District (CRCSD) is looking at three possible options for the upcoming school year and plans to make a final decision later this month. All Iowa school districts were required to submit a Return to Learn plan to the Iowa Department of Education by July 1. Four superintendents, including CRCSD superintendent […]
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Iowa City schools will require face coverings as part of its reopening plan
The Iowa City Community School District Board of Directors reviewed options for the district to resume classes in the fall during a special board meeting on Tuesday night. Matt Degner, who is transitioning from assistant superintendent to interim superintendent, provided the board with the current details of the district’s Return to Learn Plan. Degner said […]
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Following backlash, Iowa Department of Education issues new statement about face masks in schools
Shortly after 5 p.m. on Friday, the Iowa Department of Education (DOE) released a statement about the guidance for reopening schools safely it had issued on Thursday. “The Department of Education acknowledges that the reopening guidance released Thursday, June 25, needs further clarification, and will release additional information in the near future as well as […]
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Iowa Department of Education guidance for reopening schools says requiring face masks is ‘not recommended’
On Thursday, the Iowa Department of Education (DOE) issued its guidance for schools to safely reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic. The document immediately attracted attention for a paragraph stating that policies that mandate the wearing of face masks or other coverings that experts say limit the spread of the virus are “not recommended.” Requiring face […]
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Gov. Reynolds opens up Test Iowa testing to all, criticizes reporters for focusing too much on testing
Gov. Kim Reynolds started her press conference on Thursday by boasting about the amount of COVID-19 testing being done in Iowa, and announcing the Test Iowa program will soon begin testing anyone who wants a test. Before the press conference was over, she was complaining that reporters are too “hung up on testing.” Reynolds also […]
