More Resources Secretary's letter Community Mitigation Guidance Emergency Planning: Pandemic

Atlanta — The U.S. Department of Education today joined the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal agencies to roll-out the Interim Pre-pandemic Planning Guidance: Community Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Mitigation in the U.S., an essential resource for teachers, administrators, schools and communities that offers guidance on non-pharmaceutical approaches for mitigating the effects of an influenza pandemic.

"It is critical that we take the appropriate steps to ensure that our students continue to learn, even during an emergency situation," Secretary Spellings remarked. "This guidance is an important component as we work to develop a strategic preparedness plan."

The Guidance makes recommendations to state and local community decision-makers, parents, educators and administrators about different measures communities can take based on the projected severity of a pandemic, such as dismissing students from school and asking teachers to stay home when they are sick. The goal is to limit the spread of disease and reduce contact between sick people and those who are well.

"Although decisions about closing schools will be made at the local level in coordination with health officials, I encourage schools and communities to take this planning seriously," said Secretary Spellings.

Later this year, the Department will provide additional guidance specifically related to ways in which schools should administer federal education funds and policies if schools were to be closed for an extended period of time.

"In the event of a pandemic flu, the Department will provide—as we did during Hurricane Katrina—timely and accurate information and link people to available resources and assist State and local education officials with any policy and operational challenges," stated Spellings.

The community planning guidance, titled Interim Pre-pandemic Planning Guidance: Community Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Mitigation in the United States—Early Targeted Layered use of Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions, and new Public Service Announcements about pandemic influenza are available at www.pandemicflu.gov.

For additional resources, tools and information on promising practices in crisis planning and emergency response, please visit www.ed.gov/emergencyplan. For more information on today's announcement, visit www.hhs.gov/news.

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