COVID Response 2023-2024

COVID Disease Response

Updated August 31, 2023

In an effort to return to a more routine disease response to COVID, the Colorado Department of Public Health (CDPHE) has simplified and aligned previous CDC guidance. In March, CDPHE transitioned to a Routine Disease Response, meaning individual case investigation, contact tracing, and notifications of exposure were no longer recommended in K-12 settings by CDC or CDPHE.

In the coming weeks, CDPHE will release updated guidance that will focus on monitoring for increases in cases and absenteeism, reminding staff, students, and parents to stay home when sick, staying up to date with vaccinations, testing if symptomatic, and isolating if positive for COVID.

As we did long before the pandemic, schools will continue to work closely with school nurses and our local public health agency, The Douglas County Health Department, when increases in cases and/or outbreaks are detected to determine the best mitigation strategies to control disease transmission and preserve in-person learning.

2023-2024 Guidance for DCSD Schools (PreK-12):

  •  COVID response will be treated like a routine illness (CDPHE Routine Disease Control).
  •  If a student is positive for COVID, please enter it into the attendance log, like any other illness.
  • Monitor student absences for increased cases of communicable diseases, including COVID, and report to your nurse.
  • Staff will not require testing for students or staff to return to school after an illness. DCSD is not monitoring testing or vaccination status for students or staff.
  • The state and local health departments ask that people voluntarily cooperate with isolation and quarantine instructions - school staff are not required to monitor or enforce.
  •  There is no requirement for staff or students who have been exposed to COVID to stay home and quarantine. However, if they are symptomatic it should be treated like a routine illness (see above).
  •  There is no longer a declared public health emergency for COVID. This means that employees no longer have PHEL balances and should utilize their other leave balances accordingly if needed. Please contact [email protected] or [email protected] for questions about individual leave balances. More information can also be found in the Employee Guide.

Douglas County School District will continue with the following illness mitigation measures: air purifiers, ventilation, hand washing, and routine cleaning procedures in schools.

To learn more about COVID-19 and symptoms, click here.

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In compliance with Titles VI & VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, and Colorado law, the Douglas County School District RE-1 does not unlawfully discriminate against otherwise qualified students, employees, applicants for employment, or members of the public on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, religion, ancestry, or need for special education services. Discrimination against employees and applicants for employment based on age, genetic information, and conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth is also prohibited in accordance with state and/or federal law. Complaint procedures have been established for students, parents, employees, and members of the public. The School District's Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator to address complaints alleging sexual harassment under Title IX is Aaron Henderson, 620 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, [email protected], 303-387-0127.

Outside Agencies

Complaints regarding violations of Title VI, (race, national origin), Title IX (sex, gender), Section 504/ADA (handicap or disability), may be filed directly with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 1244 North Speer Blvd., Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204. Complaints regarding violations of Title VII (employment) and the ADEA (prohibiting age discrimination in employment) may be filed directly with the Federal Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 303 E. 17th Ave., Suite 510, Denver, CO 80202, or the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 1560 Broadway, Suite 1050, Denver, CO 80202.

NOTICE OF DESTRUCTION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION RECORDS

Special Education records which have been collected by Douglas County School District related to the identification, evaluation, educational placement, or the provision of special education in the district, must be maintained under state and federal laws for the period of five (5) years after special education services have ended for the student. Special education services end when the student is no longer eligible for services, graduates, or completes his/her educational program at age 21, or moves from the district. This notification is to inform parents/guardians and former students of Douglas County School District's intent to destroy the special education records of students who exited special education services as of June 30, 2016. These records will be destroyed in accordance with state law unless the parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student notifies the school district otherwise. After five years, the records are no longer useful to the district, but may be useful to the parent/guardian or former student in applying for social security benefits, rehabilitation services, college entrance, etc. The parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student may request a copy of the records by requesting the records at this link ( Douglas County School District Transcripts and Records Requests ).