Nashville, TN– Today, the Tennessee Department of Education announced the COVID-19 resources webpage has reached over 250,000 views since launching in mid-March. This represents the thousands of school district leaders, educators, Tennesseans, and individuals nationwide who have and continue to access these critical resources.
“Over the past two months, the department has been working overtime to ensure districts have as much up-to-date information and guidance as possible. Our top priority is to support our students, districts, educators, and families during this time, so we are glad to see these resources are being accessed and used regularly,” said Commissioner Schwinn. “We will continue to work closely with districts and support them however we can as they seek to make the best local decisions for their students and families and continue providing access to critical services.”
The department’s COVID-19 resources webpage is updated daily and contains guidance documents and resources including:
· Meeting and Event Updates
· Important Contact Information
· At-Home Resources and Services
· Preparation and Planning
· Closure Guidance and FAQ’s
· School Closure Toolkits
· Press Releases
· Federal Waiver Requests
· Stakeholder Archives
· Additional Resources
“As superintendents are seeking to make the best decisions possible for their districts, it is so important they have access to good, up-to-date information. The department’s consistent communication through the COVID-19 webpage and resources has been critical as superintendents lead their districts through this time,” said Dale Lynch, Executive Director of Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents (TOSS). “I am grateful for the department’s ongoing commitment to providing district staff with as much support and guidance as possible to navigate these challenging times.”
Along with the COVID-19 resources webpage, the department has also developed partnerships and designed several resources for optional, free use by local districts. This includes three times per week superintendent calls, provided access to SchoolMealFinder.com, instructional programming on PBS, an online learning platform ReadyRosie, Tennessee Principal Learning Series, STE(A)M Resources Hub, and acquired an unprecedented approval of federal waivers with a focus on nutrition, accountability and special education.
“During this time of uncertainty, I appreciate very much the efforts of the Tennessee Department of Education to provide multiple resources for educators, parents, and the public through its COVID-19 webpage,” said Dr. Linda Gilbert, Director of Murfreesboro City Schools. “The webpage serves as an easily-accessible repository for multiple guidance documents, Q&As, and summary notes of the Commissioner’s three-times-a-week phone calls with superintendents, and more—important tools for helping Tennessee’s school and district leaders do their jobs more effectively and efficiently.”
For access to these resources and more, visit the Tennessee Department of Education’s COVID-19 resources webpage: https://www.tn.gov/education/health-and-safety/update-on-coronavirus.html.