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School responses in Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington 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 12, 2022: Statewide school mask requirements ended in California, Washington, and Oregon. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D), and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) jointly announced the change on Feb. 28.[3]
  • February 28, 2022: California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D), and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) jointly announced their statewide school mask requirements would end on March 12.[3]
  • Sept. 9, 2021: At the beginning of the school year, Burbio, a school data aggregator, reported no in-person schooling disruptions in Washington.[4][5]
  • Aug. 18, 2021: Gov. Jay Inslee (D) announced that all public and private K-12 educators, staff, and volunteers would be required to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18.[6]


2020-2021 school year

  • June 29, 2021: At the end of the school year, Burbio reported a majority of schools were in-person in Washington .[7][8]
  • April 19, 2021: Washington public schools had to offer all K-12 students at least 30% in-person instruction every week by April 19. Gov. Jay Inslee (D) signed the proclamation March 15.[9]
  • March 12, 2021: Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) said he would issue an emergency proclamation requiring elementary schools to provide students at least two partial days of in-person instruction by April 5. Inslee said schools had to provide older students the same by April 19. As of March 15, Inslee had not signed the proclamation.[10]
  • December 16, 2020: On December 16, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) released updated school reopening guidance for returning students to the classroom. The guidance, which wasn’t binding, gave schools three options based on the level of COVID-19 spread. For schools in counties with low spread, the guidance recommended in-person learning for all students. For schools in counties with moderate spread, the guidance recommended a phased approach starting with elementary students and increasing by grade level. In counties with high COVID-19 spread, the guidance recommended in-person learning in small groups for elementary and high-need students only.[11]
  • Sept. 10, 2020: At the beginning of the school year, Burbio reported most schools were using virtual or hybrid learning in Washington .[12][13]
  • June 11, 2020: Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal released guidance for reopening schools. The guidelines required face coverings for all students and staff and the development of alternate instruction plans for each school. Reykdal said that his expectation was for schools to reopen to in-person instruction in the fall.[14]


2019-2020 school year

  • April 6, 2020: Gov. Jay Inslee (D) closed schools for the remainder of the academic year. Prior to the announcement, schools were closed through April 24.[15]
  • March 13, 2020: Inslee ordered all K-12 schools in the state to close for six weeks, effective March 17, and banned gatherings of more than 250 people in the state.[16]

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[17]
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[18]
Iowa Ban Legislative action May 16, 2022 - Reinstated by court action[19]
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[20]
Maryland Requirement Maryland State Board of Education order March 1, 2022 - Lifted by executive action[21]
Massachusetts Requirement Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education order Feb. 28, 2022 - Lifted by executive action[22]
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[23]
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: August 14, 2020

Washington released an initial operating plan for the 2020-2021 school year on June 11, 2020. An analysis of this plan appeared in our Documenting America's Path to Recovery newsletter on August 14. The sections below include an analysis of the plan, the details of the plan, and reactions from officials to the plan.

On June 11, Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal released Reopening Washington Schools 2020, a guidance document developed by the Reopening Washington Schools 2020 Workgroup with health and safety recommendations from the state Department of Health.

Gov. Jay Inslee (D) said, “We all want students back in educational settings, but we must continue to monitor health data carefully, and proceed with caution. This virus is unpredictable and has upended our regular ways of doing everything. Therefore, if COVID cases spike or spread, we may need to reassess this plan. We cannot guarantee that school will open in fall. But for now, this guidance provides a path that schools, educators and families need to plan for the coming months and the fall. Kids need to be learning but they also need to be safe and healthy.” Washington does not have a statewide date for public schools to reopen—individual districts that meet the state’s requirements can set their own timelines, depending on conditions in their community. According to EdWeek, public schools in Washington traditionally start the academic year in late August to early September, with the exact start date varying by district.

On March 13, Inslee ordered all K-12 schools in the state to close for six weeks, effective March 17. On April 6, Inslee closed schools for the remainder of the academic year.

Context

Washington has a Democratic trifecta. The governor is a Democrat, and Democrats hold majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. The state became a Democratic trifecta in 2017.

The following tables show public education statistics in Washington, 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.

Washington school metrics
Category Figure Rank
Per pupil spending (16-17) $14,530 19
Number of students (18-19) 1,124,582 14
Number of teachers (Fall 2016) 58,815 19
Number of public schools (18-19) 2,445 13
Student:teacher ratio (18-19) 18.2 8
Percent qualifying for free/reduced lunch (16-17) 3.6% 36


Washington school revenue
Category Figure Rank
Total revenue $13,606,501,000 15
Federal revenue percent 7.6% 34
State revenue percent 61% 9
Local revenue percent 31.4% 40

Details

District reopening plans

Districts are required to develop their own reopening plans which must be approved through a local board resolution. Districts then must file their plans with the Office of the Superintendent for Public Instruction and the State Board of Education within two weeks of the district’s fall starting date.

In-person, hybrid, and online learning

Individual districts are responsible for developing a schedule for returning to school. The guidance document specifies that alternative and hybrid schedules are to be implemented only if social distancing and other health requirements cannot be met:

“

In partnership with their students, families, staff, and local health authorities, school districts will have the flexibility to choose and adapt a concept and schedule that works best for their school community in the 2020–21 school year. … All districts must be prepared to shift to continuous remote learning should there be a need for a short- or -long-term school facility closure.[24]

”

Mask requirements

Students, volunteers, or guests must wear cloth face coverings at school. Students are permitted to use face shields rather than a cloth covering. Staff are required to wear face coverings unless they are working alone.

In-person health recommendations and requirements

Physical distancing of at least six feet is required in schools, but how to achieve that is left to individual districts. The guidance document says that in addition to keeping students in cohorts, districts should, “practice physical distancing (six feet) within each group of students as much as possible. Create space between students and reduce the amount of time they are close with each other. Your ability to do this will depend on students’ ages and developmental and physical abilities.”

The document also recommends limiting the number of students in common spaces, such as cafeterias, and suggests holding lunch periods outside when possible. This may also be done “through meal delivery to classes, or through grab-and-go services. If using the cafeteria, have students sit with their class or group, and ensure physical distance between students and between groups.”

If a student or staff member shows symptoms of COVID-19, districts are advised to “separate the person away from others, with supervision at a distance of six feet, until the sick person can leave.” In the case of a positive COVID-19 test, “the local health jurisdiction will advise, but it is likely that many of the student’s classmates will be considered close contacts and need to be quarantined for 14 days.”

Transportation and busing requirements and restrictions

Schools are required to develop a system for drop-off and pick-up that keeps families at least six feet from each other and reduces their need to enter the school. For school buses and transportation, the guidelines require that districts:

“
  • Maximize outside air and keep windows open as much as possible
  • Encourage walking, biking, or being driven by caregivers as much as possible
  • Riders and staff members must wear a cloth face covering
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces
  • Keep riders as far apart as possible on the bus[24]
 ”

Responses

On July 27, the Washington Education Association posted a statement to its website calling for Inslee to mandate fully virtual reopening of public instruction. The statement read, in part, “We know that in-person teaching and learning is best for both students and educators, and educators want nothing more than to get back into schools with our students. The reality is that, with very few exceptions, we are nowhere close to containing the spread of this virus and nowhere close to being able to guarantee the health and safety of our students, educators, families, and communities.  Therefore, we cannot responsibly support a return to school buildings for in-person learning this fall.  We call on Governor Inslee to continue leading with science and safety and declare that schools will open remotely this fall.”

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. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named CA228
  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. ↑ Jay Inslee on Medium, "Inslee announces educator vaccination requirement and statewide indoor mask mandate," August 18, 2021
  7. ↑ Burbio rated Washington's in-person index at 60.9. To read more about Burbio's school opening tracker, click here. To read more about Burbio's methodology, click here.
  8. ↑ Burbio, "Burbio's K-12 School Opening Tracker," accessed Oct. 8, 2021
  9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named WA419
  10. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named WA312
  11. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named WA1216
  12. ↑ Burbio rated Washington's in-person index between 0-20. To read more about Burbio's school opening tracker, click here. To read more about Burbio's methodology, click here.
  13. ↑ Burbio, "Burbio's K-12 School Opening Tracker," accessed Oct. 8, 2021
  14. ↑ KREM, "'We cannot guarantee that school will open in fall,' Washington Gov. Inslee says," June 11, 2020
  15. ↑ Q13 FOX, "Inslee: Washington schools will remain closed through end of school year in June," April 6, 2020
  16. ↑ The Seattle Times, "Inslee expands coronavirus K-12 school closure, 250-person gathering ban, across Washington," March 13, 2020
  17. ↑ On Sept. 2, 2021 the ban was temporarily suspended by court action. An appeals court upheld the ban on Sept. 10.
  18. ↑ Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) ended the statewide school mask requirement on Feb. 28, 2022.
  19. ↑ On Sept. 13, 2021 the ban was temporarily suspended by court action for all schools. On Jan. 25, 2022, the ban was partially reinstated.
  20. ↑ Oct. 26, 2021 - School districts could be exempt from the school mask requirement if they followed CDC quarantine guidance
  21. ↑ 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.
  22. ↑ Oct. 1 - Schools could become exempt from the school mask requirement when at least 80% of students were vaccinated
  23. ↑ On Nov. 10, 2021 the ban was suspended by court action. An appeals court upheld the ban on Dec. 1.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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