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TN Department of Education Develops Pandemic Flu Preparedness Guide

Nashville – The Tennessee Department of Education has developed, with support and guidance from the Tennessee Department of Health, a pandemic influenza preparedness planning guide for school districts that includes a Continuity of Learning plan.

“This planning guide will allow districts to think ahead and proactively about long-term closures, especially during a flu season like we’ve had this year,” Education Commissioner Timothy Webb said. “It is critical that students continue learning even if class time is effected due to illness.”

The preparedness planning guide will help school districts plan for potential closings, large numbers of staff and student absences, loss of services and methods to continue instruction should students remain at home. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Department of Education recommend that schools and districts develop a Continuity of Learning plan to minimize the potential disruptions in learning that may occur from long-term school closures.

The guide includes specific planning elements related to planning and coordination, continuity of learning and core operations, infection control policies and procedures, and communication planning.

“It is important to have a framework for planning as districts tackle emergency situations such as these,” said Mike Herrmann, Executive Director of School Safety and Learning Support.

To view the planning guide, visit http://www.state.tn.us/education/learningsupport/schsafetyctr/PandemicFluPreparedness1.shtml.

For more information, contact Rachel Woods at (615) 253-1960 or Rachel.Woods@tn.gov.

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