Title: Pandemic Planning and Response For Schools Act of 2020
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Pandemic Planning and Response For Schools Act of 2020
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services, within 30 days of declaring a public health emergency and in consultation with the Department of Education, to make publicly available a plan to continue education during the emergency.
Specifically, the plan must include (1) best practices for keeping students and faculty safe during the emergency; (2) best practices for keeping schools functioning during the emergency that are consistent with public health requirements and recommendations; and (3) guidance on establishing priorities for cohorts of students who should receive their instruction online, in person, or through a hybrid program.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8715 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8715

To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary 
 of Education to make public a plan for the continuation of education 
                   during a public health emergency.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 30, 2020

 Mr. Payne (for himself, Ms. Jackson Lee, Mr. Mfume, Mr. Hastings, and 
    Mr. Carson of Indiana) introduced the following bill; which was 
            referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary 
 of Education to make public a plan for the continuation of education 
                   during a public health emergency.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Pandemic Planning and Response For 
Schools Act of 2020''.

SEC. 2. PLAN FOR CONTINUATION OF EDUCATION DURING PUBLIC HEALTH 
              EMERGENCY.

    Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services determines, pursuant to section 319 of the 
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d), that a public health 
emergency exists, such Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Education, shall provide to the Congress, the States, and the public a 
clear and concise plan containing guidance on--
            (1) best practices for keeping students and faculty safe 
        during the public health emergency;
            (2) best practices for keeping schools functioning to the 
        maximum extent possible, consistent with public health 
        requirements and recommendations; and
            (3) establishing priorities for cohorts of students who, 
        consistent with public health requirements and recommendations, 
        should receive--
                    (A) an education program based entirely on online 
                delivery of instruction;
                    (B) an education program which occurs under direct 
                instructor supervision at a school or other location 
                away from home; and
                    (C) a hybrid or blended learning program, which 
                occurs under direct instructor supervision at a school 
                or other location away from home and, at least in part, 
                through online delivery of instruction.
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