KDE Releases COVID-19 Guidance On Class Size, Libraries

KDE has provided guidance documents since May 15 and will continue to provide guidance.

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(Frankfort, Ky.) – The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) has released two news COVID-19 guidance documents today, August 10.

These documents are on class sizes and the operation of school libraries.

The “Class Sizes in Virtual Programs and Courses” guidance details appropriate student-teacher ratios for virtual learning courses to ensure the most effective instruction. It also gives details on how to set class sizes in school with site-based-decision-making (SBDM) councils, and how to seek class size exemptions for schools without SBDMs.

On August 4, Gov. Andy Beshear stated that he supports schools beginning the academic year with online-only non-traditional education (NTI) due to worrisome rates of COVID-19 infection.

He also recommended that schools wait until at least the third week of August before resuming in-person instruction.

The “Library Media Center” guidance covers staff preparation, sanitation and social distancing, operation during in-person instruction and during NTI, and related guidance and resources.

KDE has provided guidance documents since May 15 and will continue to provide guidance. These two documents bring the total to 21, including the flagship Healthy at School guidance issued June 24 and updated August 3 based on the latest recommendations from the CDC.