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COVID-19 Guidelines and Reporting

 

TPSS now has COVID reporting forms that will serve as a notification to the district and school. We are asking our families to use these forms to report a positive COVID test or to report a school absence due to illness/symptoms. 

Please use the guidance below to determine if you should report to school.

Report an Absence due to sickness or Covid Symptoms

STUDENTS ONLY

The Absence Due to Sickness or COVID Symptoms form provides the school notification of a child's absence from school. It also serves to document that the parent provided a written note of excused absence for the child due to illness.

EMPLOYEES & STUDENTS

The Positive COVID Test Reporting form gives the school system formal notification that an employee or student has tested positive for COVID-19. This notification is required by law.

 

TPSS Operational Guidelines for the start of 2022

The best measure to prevent the spread of the virus is to stay home when you are not feeling well. If you have fever and/or cold-like symptoms, you should stay home and be tested. By working together, we can keep our schools open and our children safe. 

Please be sure to keep your child home if they are having any of these COVID-19 like systems including: fever, chills, cough, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestions, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, or shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. 

Students should be symptom free for 24 hours before returning to school. 

We are not actively contact tracing, but if an employee or student is considered a close contact, they are recommended to wear a face covering for 5 consecutive days and monitor symptoms. They may attend work/school if they have NO symptoms.

Melissa M. Stilley
Superintendent of Schools

PROTECTIVE MEASURES IN SCHOOL SETTINGS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

  • Implementing social and physical distancing strategies to the greatest extent possible.
  • Use of face coverings on school campuses is highly recommended, but considered optional in classrooms, school buildings, and buses. 
  • Washing hands and/or using hand sanitizer frequently throughout the day.
  • Utilizing respiratory etiquette: Covering coughs and sneezes by using your elbow or a tissue and by avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
  • Intensifying cleaning and disinfecting efforts to maintain healthy facilities.
  • Refraining from holding indoor social gatherings (e.g., school dances, pep rallies, school assemblies).
  • Getting vaccinated and boosted when eligible.
  • Limiting any nonessential visitors, volunteers, and activities involving external groups or organizations as much as possible. Essential visitors are individuals who must enter schools or early learning centers in order to conduct visits in accordance with Louisiana law or policy. Essential visitors include, but are not limited to, individuals who:
    • conduct CLASS® or NIET observations;
    • observe teacher candidates; and
    • provide essential supports and services including, but not limited to, early intervention education, special education services, or mental health consultations

       

K-12 Guidance and Resources

The LA Department of Health offers guidance for K-12 parents, guardians and caregivers, and teachers and staff for the 2021-2022 school year. For the health and safety of all, make sure students are aware of how to practice daily preventive measures.

  • Hand washing: Wash hands often, especially before eating, after using the restroom or after sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose. Practice proper hand washing:
    • Wet the hands.
    • Lather hands with soap on both sides, including the fingers and nails.
    • Scrub for 20 seconds. Sing the happy birthday song twice to make sure you’ve scrubbed long enough.
    • Rinse with water.
    • Dry hands using a clean towel or air dry.
  • Hand sanitizing: Apply gel to the palm of one hand. Rub hands together, then over all surfaces of hands and fingers until dry (about 20 seconds).
  • Wearing masks: Wearing a mask is optional on school campuses and busses. 
  • Physical distancing: Try to keep at least 6 feet of distance between yourself and other people.
  • Stay home if you are sick.

Visit the LA Department of Health online for more information.

Louisiana Department of Health

 

 

IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION OUTPERFORMS VIRTUAL LEARNING, ACCORDING TO LEAP 2025 DATA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 08/03/21

BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) today released new data showing that in-person students significantly outperformed remote learners on the Spring 2021 LEAP Assessments.

“The data is clear that in-person instruction is far more beneficial than virtual learning options for the majority of students,” said State Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley. “This information should guide decisions for educators and parents moving into the new school year. It is absolutely critical that we keep our students in the classroom for this upcoming year while mitigating the spread of Covid-19.”

For grades 3-8, the rate of students who scored Mastery or above on ELA and Math assessments was 15% higher for students who were in-person for the entirety of the year versus those who were virtual for the entire year. Also, students who were virtual for the entire year had an 11% greater rate of Unsatisfactory scores than students who were in-person for the entire year.

Visit the LDOE website for past performance data. New data will post from the state as it becomes available for publication.

LDOE - DATA CENTER