The school will adhere to all ADH and DHS requirements. Currently there are no requirements; however, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends teachers, staff, and students wear cloth face coverings inside (click here and scroll to 2. Consistent and Correct Mask Use) when around people who live outside of their household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. This includes vaccinated individuals due to the “circulating and highly contagious Delta variant.” CDC has provided additional guidance that CAC has utilized to develop our face covering guidelines (click here and here).

The school has tried to follow a “common sense” approach related to our face covering policy. A key consideration has been the recognition that many students find it challenging to wear a mask for an extended period of time and younger children (e.g. preschool or early elementary aged) may be unable to consistently wear a mask properly. Our policies and procedures reflect these considerations.  We have invested significant resources (human and financial) to modify class and common spaces to provide for physical distancing in as many school situations as possible. As a result,   face coverings are not worn by our students for the majority of the school day. When physical distancing is not possible, we attempt to adhere to best practices guidelines to mitigate the risk of infection of our students and staff and reduce the potential for disruptions to the educational process by close contact quarantine requirements.

Early Childhood (PreK-3, PreK-4)

• Per Department of Human Services guidelines, preschool students are not required to wear masks. 
• CAC requires wearing masks when feasible during arrival and departure times.
• Teachers may also have students wear masks for very limited age-appropriate periods inside when physical distancing is not feasible (e.g. circle time) and as a health/hygiene precaution.
• Parents should provide a Ziploc bag with the student’s name written in permanent marker on the outside of the bag. Student face coverings will be placed in the bag when not in use.
• Parents are asked to provide a spare face covering in a labeled Ziploc bag.
• All face coverings should be clearly labeled with the child’s name or initials.
• Parents may attach their child’s mask to a lanyard to promote mask retention. Teachers may opt to remove masks and lanyards if they become a distraction or safety/health concern.
• Students and staff will be allowed to wear an approved face covering of their choice. Coverings and lanyards must be free of writing, logos, figures, etc… with the exception of student name or initial.
• Students may be exempted from wearing a face covering due to documented health concerns.

Grades K-12

• Students must wear face coverings at all times indoors except for the following:
• Students may remove face coverings for eating and drinking;
• Students may remove face coverings when appropriate physical distancing measures are in place as determined by a CAC staff member;
• Students may remove face coverings on a case-by-case basis for specific instructional needs, including physical education activities, as determined by a teacher, in which case the teacher will require appropriate mitigation measures;
• Students may remove face coverings while participating in athletic activities where a six foot distance is not achievable, but a mask is inhibitory to the activity or active exercise; 

• Parents/students should provide a Ziploc bag with the student’s name written in permanent marker on the outside of the bag. Student face coverings will be placed in the bag when not in use.
• Parents/students are asked to provide a spare face covering in a labeled Ziploc bag to be stored in their “home room”.
• All face coverings should be clearly labeled with the child’s name or initials.
• Parents/students may attach their child’s mask to a lanyard to promote mask retention. Teachers may opt to remove masks and lanyards if they become a distraction or safety/health concern.
• Students and staff will be allowed to wear an approved face covering of their choice. Coverings and lanyards must be free of writing, logos, figures, etc… with the exception of student name or initial. 
• Students may be exempted due to documented health concerns.

 CDC Guidance to Parents and Guardians Regarding Face Coverings

Cloth face coverings should not be worn by:

• Children younger than 2 years old.
• Anyone who has trouble breathing.
• Anyone who is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the cloth face covering without assistance.

Actions to consider:

• Have multiple cloth face coverings, so you can wash them daily and have back-ups ready.
• Choose cloth face coverings that:
• Fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face.
• Completely cover the nose and mouth.
• Are secured with ties or ear loops.
• Include multiple layers of fabric.
• Allow for breathing without restriction.
• Can be washed and machine dried without damage or change to shape.
• Label your child’s cloth face coverings clearly in a permanent marker so that they are not confused with those of other children.
• Practice with your child putting on and taking off cloth face coverings without touching the cloth.
• Explain the importance of wearing a cloth face covering and how it protects other people from getting sick.
• Consider talking to your child about other people who may not be able to wear cloth face coverings for medical reasons (e.g., asthma).
• As a family, model wearing cloth face coverings, especially when you are in situations where physical distancing is difficult to maintain or impossible.
• If you have a young child, help build their comfort wearing a cloth face covering and become comfortable seeing others in face covers.
• Praise your child for wearing a cloth face covering correctly.
• Put a cloth face covering on stuffed animals.
• Draw a cloth face covering on a favorite book character.
• Show images of other children wearing cloth face coverings.
• Allow your child to choose their cloth face covering that meets any dress requirements your school may have.

1. Are students and staff required to quarantine before returning to school if they have traveled to an area designated as a “hot spot” by ADH?
   CAC adheres to all ADH Quarantine Orders for staff and students. Currently there are NO quarantine requirements for travelers entering Arkansas based on the location of their travel. Please check for ADH Executive Quarantine Orders before future travel to areas that may be considered “hot spots.”
   *Please note absences during the school year are designated as excused or unexcused per school policy as outlined in the Student Handbook.

2. Does the school screen for COVID-19 symptoms?
   Preschool — DHS no longer requires symptom and temperature screening of all preschool students and staff prior to entering the school building.
   K-12 — Effective July 23, 2020, CDC does not currently recommend universal symptom screenings (screening all students K-12) be conducted by schools. Daily before school at home screening is required of all students and staff. 

3. What happens if a student displays symptoms of infectious illness while at school?
   Students who develop any COVID-19 symptoms while at school will be placed in isolation per CDC guidelines until they go home or to a healthcare facility. Parents should be prepared to immediately pick their child up from school.

4. May students attend on-campus instruction if they display COVID-19 symptoms as a result of a non-infectious medical condition?
   Yes. Families must provide the school with a physician’s statement documenting the condition.

5. Is everyone in a class required to quarantine if one person in the class contracts COVID-19?
   Any person who meets the definition of “close contact” with a COVID-19 positive individual will be required to quarantine. We have implemented multiple mitigation strategies to reduce close contact between students and staff (e.g. classroom reconfiguration to meet physical distancing guidelines, limited student movement, installation of physical barriers when feasible and appropriate). Strict adherence to mitigation strategies may reduce the number of close contacts within a cohort.  Quarantine decisions will be made in consultation with ADH.
   
6. What are school protocols when a parent or other family member tests positive for COVID-19?
   Students or staff within that family would be designated as a “close contact” unless they have been vaccinated or were previously diagnosed with COVID-19 within the last three months and are required to quarantine per CDC guidelines. Students or staff who interacted with a “close contact” classmate/student are considered secondary contacts and are not required to quarantine.