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School responses in Georgia to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

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Responses by state

As students returned to school for the 2021-2022 school year, states set a variety of policies on education and the COVID-19 pandemic, including how schools should open to in-person instruction and whether students and staff would be required to wear masks. By the end of the 2020-2021 school year, about 66% of students nationwide were in states that left closure decisions to schools or districts, 33% were in states with state-ordered in-person instruction, and 1% were in states with state-ordered regional school closures.[1][2] All 50 states closed schools to in-person instruction at some point during the 2019-2020 school year in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

This article summarizes responses to the coronavirus in Georgia schools in the academic years ending in 2020, 2021, and 2022. You will find:


Ballotpedia’s coverage of COVID-19 includes how federal, state, and local governments are responding, and how those responses are influencing election rules and operations, political campaigns, the economy, schools, and more.

This page is updated monthly, but our email is always open. We encourage you to share updates from local officials, policymakers, and campaigns in your community at editor@ballotpedia.org.


Timeline by school year

Below is a list of major events involving schools in Georgia during the coronavirus pandemic between 2019 and 2022, including school closings and openings, mask requirements, and the release of statewide operating guidance. Know of something we missed? Click here to email us and let us know.

2021-2022 school year

  • March 29, 2022: Gov. Brian Kemp (R) signed a bill into law allowing parents to exempt their children from school mask requirements.[3]
  • Sept. 9, 2021: At the beginning of the school year, Burbio, a school data aggregator, reported sixty-two in-person schooling disruptions in Georgia.[4][5]


2020-2021 school year

  • June 29, 2021: At the end of the school year, Burbio reported most schools were in-person in Georgia .[6][7]
  • Sept. 10, 2020: At the beginning of the school year, Burbio reported about half of schools were in-person in Georgia .[8][9]
  • July 14, 2020: The Georgia Department of Education released reopening guidance for schools for the 2020-2021 school year.[10]
  • June 18, 2020: Gov. Brian Kemp (R) said that he would apply for a waiver to forgo standardized testing for the 2020-2021 school year.[11]


2019-2020 school year

  • April 1, 2020: Kemp announced that schools would remain closed for the remainder of the school year. Prior to the order, the state's school closure was scheduled to end April 24.[12]
  • March 26, 2020: Kemp announced that the statewide school closure, scheduled to end March 31, was extended through April 24.[13]
  • March 16, 2020: Kemp announced the closure of the state's public elementary, secondary, and post-secondary schools from March 18 through the end of the month.[14]

Mask and vaccine requirements in the 2021-2022 school year

Mask requirements in schools

See also: School responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic during the 2021-2022 academic year

As of August 1, 2022, no states had school mask requirements in effect. Forty-two states left mask requirements in schools up to local authorities. Seven states banned school mask requirements.

The table below shows statewide school mask requirement laws and orders in states with school mask requirements or school mask requirement bans in place at the end of the 2021-2022 school year.

Mask requirement orders
State Ban or requirement? Type of order Date lifted or altered
Arizona Ban Legislative action N/A
Arkansas Ban Legislative action Sept. 30, 2021 - Suspended by court action
California Requirement California Department of Public Health order March 12, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
Connecticut Requirement Executive order Feb. 28, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
Delaware Requirement Executive order March 1, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
Florida Ban Executive order N/A[15]
Georgia Ban Legislative action N/A
Hawaii Requirement Executive order Aug. 1, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
Illinois Requirement Illinois Department of Public Health order Feb. 4, 2022 - Suspended by court action[16]
Iowa Ban Legislative action May 16, 2022 - Reinstated by court action[17]
Kentucky Requirement Kentucky Board of Education order Sept. 9, 2021 - Suspended by state law
Louisiana Requirement Executive order Feb. 16, 2022 - Lifted by executive action[18]
Maryland Requirement Maryland State Board of Education order March 1, 2022 - Lifted by executive action[19]
Massachusetts Requirement Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education order Feb. 28, 2022 - Lifted by executive action[20]
Nevada Requirement Executive order Feb. 10, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
New Jersey Requirement Executive order March 7, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
New Mexico Requirement New Mexico Public Education Department order Feb. 17, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
New York Requirement Executive order March 3, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
Oklahoma Ban Executive order N/A
Oregon Requirement Oregon Health Authority and Department of Education order March 12, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
Pennsylvania Requirement Pennsylvania Department of Health order Dec. 10, 2021 - Suspended by court action
Rhode Island Requirement Executive order March 4, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
South Carolina Ban Legislative action Sept. 28, 2021 - Temporarily suspended by court action
Tennessee Ban Executive order Dec. 10, 2021 - Suspended by court action
Texas Ban Executive order N/A[21]
Utah Ban Legislative action N/A
Virginia Ban Legislative action N/A
Washington Requirement Washington State Department of Public Health order March 12, 2022 - Lifted by executive action

School mask requirements over time

School mask bans over time


Teacher and school employee vaccine requirements

See also: School responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic during the 2021-2022 academic year

Seven states had issued a statewide requirement for K-12 teachers and staff to be vaccinated against the coronavirus or receive regular coronavirus testing during the 2021-2022 school year. The table below shows teacher and staff vaccine requirement laws and orders in states that issued such policies during the 2021-2022 school year.

Vaccine requirement orders
State Testing instead of vaccination allowed? Type of order Date effective
California Yes California Department of Public Health order Oct. 15, 2021
Connecticut No Executive order Sept. 27, 2021
Delaware Yes Executive order Nov. 1, 2021
Illinois Yes Executive order Issued: Sept. 19, 2021
Suspended by court action on Feb. 4, 2022
New Jersey Yes Executive order Oct. 18, 2021
New York Yes Executive order Sept. 19, 2021
Oregon No Executive order Oct. 18, 2021
Washington No Executive order Oct. 18, 2021


Student vaccine requirements

See also: School responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic during the 2021-2022 academic year

On Oct. 1, 2021, California was the first state to announce a vaccine requirement for eligible students. Louisiana also announced a vaccine requirement for eligible students on Dec. 14, but then announced the state would be removing the coronavirus vaccine from the list of required immunizations in schools on May 18, 2022.

School reopenings and closures (2020-2021 academic year)

See also: School responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic during the 2020-2021 academic year

Initial school year operating plan

See also: Documenting America's Path to Recovery: July 15, 2020

Georgia released an initial operating plan for the 2020-2021 school year on June 1, 2020. An analysis of this plan appeared in our Documenting America's Path to Recovery newsletter on July 15. The sections below include an analysis of the plan, the details of the plan, and reactions from officials to the plan.

On June 1, the Georgia Department of Education, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Health, released “Georgia’s K-12 Recovery Plan,” a set of guidelines to help schools reopen for the 2020-2021 school year.

State School Superintendent Richard Woods said, “We created these guidelines, in partnership with Dr. Kathleen Toomey and her team at the Georgia Department of Public Health, to give school districts a blueprint for a safe reopening that is realistic in the K-12 setting. We have a responsibility to keep our students, teachers, school staff, and families safe and to provide the best possible education for our children. I'm confident these guidelines will help schools accomplish both of those objectives."

The guidance was revised and re-released on July 13 at the request of the Georgia Department of Health.

Governor Brian Kemp (R) first closed K-12 schools on March 18. He extended the closure through April 24 on March 26 and announced on April 1 that schools would remain closed to in-person instruction for the remainder of the academic year.

According to EdWeek, school districts in Georgia typically begin the year in early August, but the specific start date varies by district.

The recovery plan states that the guidance for schools is not mandatory. Local school districts in Georgia can decide when and whether to return students to physical classrooms.

Context

Georgia is a Republican trifecta, with a Republican governor and Republican majorities in both chambers of the state legislature.

The following tables show public education statistics in Georgia, including a rank comparing it to the other 49 states. Rank one is the highest number of each figure, rank 50 is the lowest. All data comes from the Common Core of Data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics.

Georgia school metrics
Category Figure Rank
Per pupil spending (16-17) $11,531 36
Number of students (18-19) 1,767,202 6
Number of teachers (Fall 2016) 114,763 8
Number of public schools (18-19) 2,309 15
Student:teacher ratio (18-19) 15.1 23
Percent qualifying for free/reduced lunch (16-17) 62% 7


Georgia school revenue
Category Figure Rank
Total revenue $18,772,155,000 10
Federal revenue percent 10.1% 18
State revenue percent 45.2% 30
Local revenue percent 44.7% 21

Details

District reopening plans

The plan does not require school districts to submit reopening plans to state authorities. The guidance in the document states that “Local school districts have the authority and flexibility to meet their individual needs and be responsive to their communities. School leaders should engage and communicate with their students, staff, and communities in the development and implementation of their plans.” The guidance is "designed to help districts prioritize the health and safety of students and teachers as they open school buildings and deliver instruction for the 2020-2021 school year.”

The guidance includes a District Decision Tree that provides districts with different options under scenarios that range from the temporary closure of school buildings to a traditional arrangement of students in classrooms. The original version of the document released on June 1 called the three scenarios “Substantial spread,” “Minimal/Moderate Spread,” and “Low/No Spread.” In the revised document released on July 13, the three scenarios were changed to “Temporary Closure(s),” “Enhanced Mitigation Measure,” and “Preventative Practices.”

In-person, hybrid, and online learning

The guidance lays out the instructional model districts should adopt under the three different scenarios.

  • Temporary closure(s) scenario: local school districts are encouraged to adopt a fully distance/remote learning model.
  • Enhanced mitigation measures scenario: local school districts are encouraged to consider the following three options:
    • Traditional model: students return to classrooms.
    • Hybrid model: students learn both remotely and in physical classrooms. Under this model, school districts are encouraged to implement staggered schedules.
    • Distance/remote learning model: Students learn remotely and use of school buildings is minimal.
  • Preventative practices scenario: Students return to classrooms under this scenario, but with enhanced preventative practices and protocols.

Mask requirements
The plan states that face coverings are not mandatory but are strongly recommended where social distancing is difficult to accomplish. The plan recommends that school districts provide information to staff, students, and families on the proper use of cloth face coverings.

In-person health recommendations and requirements
The plan recommends that school districts conduct regular screening for symptoms of COVID-19 throughout the day and participate in contact tracing efforts as directed by local health officials.

Under all three scenarios, school districts should communicate regularly with local and state Department of Health Officials. Districts should also post signage around schools designed to communicate how students and staff can prevent the spread of the virus.

In-person recommendations under the Enhanced Mitigation Measures scenario include:

  • Establish a protocol for students/staff who feel ill/experience symptoms when they come to school.
  • Screen students and staff (to the extent practicable):
    • Take temperatures ideally before entering buildings
    • Isolate and send home if internal temperature over 100.4°F (38°C)
  • Limit physical interaction through partner or group work
  • Establish distance between the teacher’s desk/board and students’ desks
  • Identify and utilize large spaces (i.e. gymnasiums, auditoriums, outside spaces – as weather permits) for social distancing
  • A/B schedules
    • Alternating Days
    • Alternating Weeks
    • Half Days: AM/PM Schedule

In-person recommendations under the Preventative Practices scenario include:

  • Implement standard operating procedures while taking preventative measures such as:
    • Use of face coverings/masks is not mandated but is strongly recommended, particularly in settings where social distancing is difficult (i.e. class transitioning)
    • Cleaning hallways and high-touch surfaces throughout the school day
  • Establish an academic baseline:
    • Administer formative assessments toward the start of the school year
    • Conduct meetings with teachers to identify where students are academically
  • Prepare for potential future distance/remote learning by increasing current blended learning:
    • Develop a digital learning plan
    • Integrate virtual learning practices.

Transportation and bussing requirements and restrictions

Under the Temporary Closure scenario, the plan recommends that buses be used to deliver up to a week’s worth of meals to students and families on a designated day of the week.

Under the Enhanced Mitigation Measures scenario, districts should consider the following:

  • Provide hand sanitizer for students and bus drivers
  • Provide face masks for bus drivers; allow students to wear face masks/coverings
  • Screen students and bus drivers for symptoms of illness and utilize spaced seating (to the extent practicable)
  • Eliminate field trips
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces on the bus at least daily
  • Establish protocols for bus stops, loading/unloading students to minimize congregation of children from different households

Under the Preventative Practices scenario, districts should consider the following related to transporting students:

  • Implement standard operating procedures while taking preventative measures, such as:
    • Providing hand sanitizer for students and bus drivers
    • Allowing bus drivers and students to wear face masks/coverings
    • Limiting field trips
    • Inspecting buses prior to students returning and as part of a regular rotation
    • Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces on the bus at least daily
    • Airing out buses when not in use
    • Lowering windows and allowing fresh air in during routes as weather permits

Map of school closures

The map below shows the status of school reopenings and closures at the end of the 2020-2021 academic year.

As of July 8, 2021, the status of school closures and reopenings was as follows:

  • Two states (Delaware, Hawaii) and Washington, D.C. had state-ordered regional school closures, required closures for certain grade levels, or allowed hybrid instruction only.
    • 2019-20 enrollment: 410,896 students (0.81% of students nationwide)
  • Thirteen states had state-ordered in-person instruction.
    • 2019-20 enrollment: 15,697,460 students (30.96% of students nationwide)
  • One state (Arizona) had state-ordered in-person instruction for certain grades.
    • 2019-20 enrollment: 1,152,586 students (2.27% of students nationwide)
  • Thirty-four states left decisions to schools or districts.
    • 2019-20 enrollment: 33,449,499 students (65.96% of students nationwide)



School reopenings and closures (2019-2020 academic year)

See also: School responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic during the 2019-2020 academic year


The map below shows the status of school reopenings and closures at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year.

  • States closed to in-person instruction for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year: 48
  • Number of public school students in states closed to in-person instruction for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year: 50,261,464


The chart below shows the first date schools in a state were closed to in-person instruction during the 2019-2020 academic year, divided by the political party of the governor.

School responses by state

To read about school responses to the coronavirus pandemic in others states, click one of the following links below:

General resources

The chart below shows coronavirus statistics from countries across the world. The information is provided by Real Clear Politics.

Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.


See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Number of operating public schools and districts, student membership, teachers, and pupil/teacher ratio, by state or jurisdiction: School year 2019–20," accessed September 10, 2021
  2. ↑ EducationWeek, "Map: Where Were Schools Required to Be Open for the 2020-21 School Year?," June 14, 2021
  3. ↑ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Kemp signs bill letting parents opt kids out of school mask mandates," March 29, 2022
  4. ↑ To read more about Burbio's school disruption tracking, click here
  5. ↑ Burbio, "Burbio's K-12 School Opening Tracker," accessed August 27, 2021
  6. ↑ Burbio rated Georgia's in-person index at 93.1. To read more about Burbio's school opening tracker, click here. To read more about Burbio's methodology, click here.
  7. ↑ Burbio, "Burbio's K-12 School Opening Tracker," accessed Oct. 6, 2021
  8. ↑ Burbio rated Georgia's in-person index between 40-60. To read more about Burbio's school opening tracker, click here. To read more about Burbio's methodology, click here.
  9. ↑ Burbio, "Burbio's K-12 School Opening Tracker," accessed Oct. 6, 2021
  10. ↑ Georgia Department of Education, "Georgia's K-12 Restart and Recovery," accessed July 20, 2020
  11. ↑ The Washington Post, "Georgia becomes first state to seek suspension of standardized tests in 2020-21 because of coronavirus," June 18, 2020
  12. ↑ WTXL, "Gov. Brian Kemp will sign shelter-in-place order, close all Georgia schools for rest school year," April 1, 2020
  13. ↑ WSAV, "Gov. Kemp extends public school closure into April," March 26, 2020
  14. ↑ Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Kemp orders public K-12 schools, colleges in Georgia closed through end of March," March 16, 2020
  15. ↑ On Sept. 2, 2021 the ban was temporarily suspended by court action. An appeals court upheld the ban on Sept. 10.
  16. ↑ Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) ended the statewide school mask requirement on Feb. 28, 2022.
  17. ↑ On Sept. 13, 2021 the ban was temporarily suspended by court action for all schools. On Jan. 25, 2022, the ban was partially reinstated.
  18. ↑ Oct. 26, 2021 - School districts could be exempt from the school mask requirement if they followed CDC quarantine guidance
  19. ↑ Dec. 7, 2021 - School districts could be exempt from the school mask requirement if they met one of the three following criteria: 1) the county vaccination rate was 80% or higher, 2) 80% of school staff and students were vaccinated, or 3) COVID-19 transmission in the county was considered moderate or low for 14 straight days.
  20. ↑ Oct. 1 - Schools could become exempt from the school mask requirement when at least 80% of students were vaccinated
  21. ↑ On Nov. 10, 2021 the ban was suspended by court action. An appeals court upheld the ban on Dec. 1.
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