Continuity of Learning During COVID-19
With the extended school closures happening throughout the United States, many States, districts, schools, parents, families, and students are having to learn in entirely new ways and facing challenges when it comes to learning during these unprecedented times. It is important to provide continuity of learning and growth for all children and youth, particularly those with disabilities. The links below offer information, tools, and resources to help educators, parents and families, and related service providers meet the educational, behavioral, and emotional needs of children and youth with disabilities through remote and virtual learning.
On this webpage you will find a direct link to the U.S. Department of Education’s COVID-19 informational webpage, as well as several highlighted resources. There are also direct links to the National Center for Systemic Improvement (NCSI) and the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA). These two centers are serving as the key repositories for OSEP resources addressing continuity of learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, users will find several information briefs on evidence-based and promising practices designed to support continuity of learning for students with disabilities. Viewers also have access to a searchable database containing resources and information for educators, parents and families, and related service providers to support students with disabilities.
The information on this webpage will be updated regularly to include additional information and resources as they become available.
We hope these resources assist you during these unprecedented times.
Three-part webinar series on Continuity of Learning and Return to School during COVID-19
OSEP hosted a three-part webinar series on Continuity of Learning and Return to School during COVID-19. This series showcased ready-to-use resources, tools, and practices from OSEP partners to support the educational, developmental, behavioral, and social/emotional needs of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities through remote and distance learning. Below you will find the archived webinars, featured resources, and additional tools and information to help educators, parents and families, and related service providers provide for the needs of students with disabilities during the pandemic.
August 4, 2020 Webinar: Highlighting Resources and Practices to Support Back to School and Continuity of Learning During COVID-19 for Children with Disabilities
This was the third webinar in the series and presented strategies and considerations for conducting instruction in remote, on-site, and hybrid educational settings. Specifically, this webinar highlighted exemplar resources and practices for teachers, leaders, and other providers to support students with disabilities from Preschool—Grade 12. After a presentation from national leaders in special education, a panel discussion related to the resources and strategies shared was facilitated by Laurie VanderPloeg, Director of OSEP.
June 29, 2020 Webinar: Highlighting Strategies and Practices in Providing Related Services to Enhance the Continuity of Learning During COVID-19 for Children with Disabilities
This webinar was the second in the series and focused on the provision of related services through remote and distance methods to address the critical, ongoing needs of children with disabilities during the COVID-19 era. This webinar included representatives from several related service national organizations, OSEP Centers, and university partners.
- Archived Webinar
- June 29, 2020 Webinar Transcript
- PowerPoint Presentation
- Related Services Resources
June 4, 2020 Webinar: Highlighting Resources for Teachers and Parents to Enhance the Continuity of Learning During COVID-19 for Children with Disabilities
This webinar was the first in the series and was designed to highlight products developed by our funded investments to support teachers, providers, and parents in their efforts to provide services and supports to children with disabilities. The link to the archived webinar can be found below, we will be providing the PowerPoint, as well as additional information from the centers that were highlighted soon!
- Archived Webinar
- June 4, 2020 Webinar Transcript
- PowerPoint Presentation
- Teachers and Parents Resources
U.S. Department of Education and the Office of Special Education Programs Highlighted Resources
The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) is dedicated to improving results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities ages birth through 21. OSEP has developed this website to provide easy access to resources, links, and other important information in response to COVID-19’s impact on State and local educational agencies, students, families, staff, and communities. Below you will find a link to the U.S. Department of Education’s COVID-19 Resources webpage which provides information and links from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as information for elementary and secondary schools, institutions of higher education and additional resources for parents and families. In addition to the Department of Education COVID-19 webpage, OSEP has two projects, the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA) and the National Center for Systemic Improvement (NCSI) that are the central repositories of the latest information on funding and guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic. ECTA is focusing on early childhood audiences and NCSI is focusing on K12 audiences.
- U.S. Department of Education: COVID-19 Resource Webpage : The U.S. Department of Education has released resources for schools and school personnel related to COVID-19.
- Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA): COVID-19 Resources and Information Webpage : ECTA has created a webpage to provide State Part C and Part B, Section 619 programs with the latest information on funding and guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- National Center for Systemic Improvement (NCSI): COVID-19 Resource Hub for Supporting Students with Disabilities : NCSI has created several webpages to address the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as adding resources to its Resource Library.
- NEW Document: Resources and Strategies to Support Children with Disabilities and their Families During COVID-19 : This resource, jointly created by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA), the Office of Head Start (OHS), and the OHS TA National Centers may be helpful when seeking guidance and resources to help leaders, services providers, teachers, support staff, children, and families during this re-opening and continuity of services.
Information Briefs on Evidence-Based and Promising Practices to Support Continuity of Learning
Due to school building closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many students around the country are now participating in school activities from home, including attending virtual classes, using online learning programs, or completing traditional paper-and-pencil assignments at home and submitting them to teachers electronically. Parents and families are asked to take on a new role in supporting their children’s education at this time. This situation presents challenges for all families and particularly for families of students with disabilities who often must take on a significant role in supporting their children in virtual learning and distance instruction. The following briefs provide evidence-based and promising practices to support continuity of learning for students with disabilities and examples for families and teachers.
- Practices and Resources to Support Parents and Families - Topical Issue Brief
- Practices and Resources to Support Teachers - Topical Issue Brief
- Practices and Resources to Support Related Service Providers - Topical Issue Brief
Resources for Educators, Parents and Families, and Related Service Providers
This collection of resources is targeted for educators, parents and families, and related service providers. The resources in the database are listed alphabetically but can be narrowed down to an individual user needs by using the filter located on the right-hand side. You can select multiple filters to help narrow your search. As a reminder, in addition to the resources in the database, you will find additional COVID-19 information and resources on ED.gov, ECTA, NCSI, and the REL Network.
The database contains resources that are provided for the user's convenience. The inclusion of these materials is not intended to reflect its importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services offered. These materials may contain the views and recommendations of various subject matter experts as well as hypertext links, contact addresses and websites to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. The opinions expressed in any of these materials do not necessarily reflect the positions or policies of the U.S. Department of Education. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of any outside information included in these materials.