Even though schools across the US worked hard to put campus safety first, returning to school during a global pandemic that won’t let up is risky business.
An ongoing?New York Times??revealed that more than 178,000 total new positive COVID-19 cases have shown up on over 1,400 college campuses since the beginning of the pandemic.
But colleges and universities aren’t the only schools impacted by the novel coronavirus pandemic. Elementary and secondary (K–12) schools are also facing outbreaks and when it comes to the best ways to protect staff, faculty, and students—all while trying to maintain an effective learning environment.
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To help you navigate the ever-changing landscape of education during COVID-19, we’re reporting on trends across the country. We’ll also highlight states or school districts that implement proactive strategies to protect the health and safety of students, staff, and faculty.
Plus, we’ve got tips and resources to help keep you and your students safe during this uncertain time.
Find out in our Safest College Towns report. We ranked college towns across the US based on which ones report the fewest crimes, and we highlighted COVID-19 plans for the fall semester.
The New York Times tracker reports positive coronavirus cases at more than 1,400 colleges and universities nationwide—and not one state is unscathed.
Overall, 35 states have each reported over 1,000 coronavirus cases on college and university campuses.
Texas leads the way with over 14,500 cases among 82 schools. The Texas schools with the biggest case numbers are Texas Tech University (1,768), Texas A&M University (1,661), the University of Texas at Austin (1,361), and Baylor University (1,102).
Another outcome of the pandemic is how, where, and when students can vote safely. Many colleges that started with in-person classes have sent students home amid outbreaks. Others have canceled fall break—a time when many students planned to vote in their home state.
With voting registration deadlines looming, find out? in whichever state you’ll call home on November 3.
If you’re voting in person, remember to follow these safety precautions:
—Wear a mask or other face covering.
—Wash hands often or use hand sanitizer.
—Avoid touching your face.
—Keep a physical distance, especially while waiting in line.
Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands also report low numbers. Puerto Rico has recorded two cases on one campus, and the Virgin Islands have seen only three cases at one school—with no increases since our last report.
Tracking COVID-19 in K–12 schools is no easy task. There isn’t a cohesive national approach for states and school districts to collect and share data on positive cases.
The New York Times is working to fill the gap of information by from school districts and individual schools that are publicly releasing information. On top of analyzing public information, the Times is also conducting a rolling survey to try to get a better picture of how COVID-19 is showing up in the nation’s schools.
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Some states are going all-in when it comes to letting the public know about COVID-19 cases in schools, while others are releasing limited data. A full 10 states have declined to release any information at all about the novel coronavirus in K–12 schools.
Of the 21 states where districts or schools are reporting at least some of the positive cases, Texas once again lands on top. The Lone Star State has reported at least 4,500 coronavirus cases in grade schools.
The next highest numbers are Arkansas with nearly 3,000 and Mississippi with just over 2,000.
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These states have committed to publicly reporting on positive coronavirus cases in K–12 schools.
*Minimum known case counts from different reporting periods.
?plans to use rapid tests for COVID-19 in the state’s schools, starting with 69,000 tests next week.
In early October,??started releasing public data about coronavirus numbers in schools.
?will start random coronavirus testing in public schools next week.
These states have said “no” to publicly sharing data about coronavirus cases on K–12 campuses:
Get more tips for campus safety during the COVID-19 pandemic in our guide to staying safe at college.
Learn more about protecting yourself online in our computer safety guide and check out our?video chat safety checklist?for younger students. We've also got some helpful that show you how to during online classes.
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