To ensure that all students will be safe in our school buildings in the fall, we will continue to implement evidence-based health and safety protocols. We will require that masks or cloth face coverings continue to be worn indoors by everyone, regardless of vaccination status, except for while eating or drinking. This includes students, educators, support staff, and all visitors to school buildings. Face coverings may be removed for outdoor activities, such as recess and some sports activities. We will also ensure that at least three feet of social distancing is maintained whenever possible. Additional health and safety protocols include: 

• Enhanced Cleaning Standards: Enhanced cleaning standards that the district implemented in 2020 will remain in place next school year. There will also be additional support from the 400 custodians the district hired to support re-opening.
• Additional Sanitation Resources for Students and Staff: The district will continue to ensure hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes are available to all students and staff. Additional protective measures, such as sneeze guards, will also remain in place.
• Continued Ventilation and Air Quality Standards: The district will continue to follow industry standards for indoor air quality. This means that we will monitor air quality and provide a HEPA filter for all occupied classrooms and staff spaces. 
• Contact Tracing and Community Notifications: The district will continue to provide timely contact tracing support to schools and will provide notifications to impacted communities. Additionally, for the 2021-22 school year, the district will have a team of 24 contact tracing staff members.
• School and Districtwide Safety Committees: CPS will continue to maintain joint CPS-CTU school-based safety committees, which include principals, teachers, and staff who monitor and address health and safety issues. We will also continue to maintain the CTU-CPS district-wide safety committee to coordinate responses on important health and safety protocols.

Another way students can stay safe from COVID-19 is by getting vaccinated. Currently, all students ages 12 and over can get vaccinated through a variety of opportunities provided by CPS, including its five Back-to-School Bashes and the following three school-based vaccination sites: 

• Chicago Vocational Career Academy, located at 2100 E. 87th St. in Chicago’s Avalon Park neighborhood, is offering walk-in vaccinations from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. on Tuesdays.
• Theodore Roosevelt High School, located at 3436 W. Wilson Ave. in Chicago’s Albany Park neighborhood, is offering walk-in vaccinations from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. on Wednesdays.
• Michele Clark High School, located at 5101 W. Harrison St. in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, is offering walk-in vaccinations from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. on Thursdays. 

The district also encourages students and families to look into other ways to get vaccinated by using the city’s vaccination event calendar, which is separated by region and updated regularly.