All counties now green with Androscoggin, Franklin, Oxford, and York counties joining  designation.

AUGUSTA — The Mills Administration today released an update to its color-coded Health Advisory System that classifies counties’ relative risk of COVID-19 transmission to assist schools as they continue with their plans to deliver instruction and support to students safely.

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) continue to review evidence that indicates lower transmission of COVID-19 in schools compared to the general population. Over the last 30 days, the rate of new cases is 36 per 10,000 staff and students, compared to 81 per 10,000 people statewide. Evidence continues to demonstrate that in-person learning in schools that follow public health precautions can be conducted safely without increased transmission of COVID-19.

DHHS and Maine CDC assessed COVID-19 data and trends for all counties and released the following designations:

• NOW GREEN: Androscoggin, Franklin, Oxford and York counties have seen dramatic drops in their new case rates and positivity rates for the past two weeks, and are now aligned with other counties.

All other counties continue to remain in the green designation. All counties were last in the green designation during the week of October 16, 2020.

These designations are provided for the consideration of school administrative units in their decisions to deliver instruction.

It is essential that school districts across the State of Maine continue to implement plans that adhere to the six requirements for returning to in-person instruction, regardless of their county’s designation.

The Health Advisory System categorizations are defined as follows:

• RED: Categorization as “red” suggests that the county has a high risk of COVID-19 spread and that in-person instruction is not advisable.
• YELLOW: Categorization as “yellow” suggests that that the county has an elevated risk of COVID-19 spread and that schools may consider additional precautions and/or hybrid instructional models to reduce the number of people in schools and classrooms at any one time.
• GREEN: Categorization as “green” suggests that the county has a relatively low risk of COVID-19 spread and that schools may consider in-person instruction, as long as they are able to implement the required health and safety measures.  Schools in a “green” county may need to use hybrid instruction models if there is insufficient capacity or other factors (facilities, staffing, geography/transportation, etc.) that may prevent full implementation of the health and safety requirements.

The county-level assessments are based on both quantitative and qualitative data, including but not limited to recent case rates, positivity rates, and syndromic data (e.g., symptoms of influenza or COVID-19). Those data are publicly posted every week on the Maine CDC website. DHHS and Maine CDC also consider qualitative factors, such as the presence of outbreaks that may potentially affect school-age children.

The Health Advisory System reflects ongoing analysis of evolving data, and serves as one piece of information that school and district leaders can use to make decisions about how to deliver education during the school year. The qualitative and quantitative considerations and data used by the CDC in determining community transmission risk levels for schools can be located here: How County Risk Levels for Maine Schools are Determined

The Health Advisory System can be found on the Maine DOE website in Part I of the Framework for Reopening Schools and Returning to In-Person Classroom Instruction: https://www.maine.gov/doe/framework/part-I.

The next update will be provided on February 26, 2021. Updating this advisory on a two-week basis aligns with the incubation period for COVID-19 and allows for greater stability in the trend data for small counties.

###

The Department of Education is pleased to share the most recent guidance from the medical and community health experts who have aided our schools in remaining safe and open. Based on additional studies and information as it relates to COVID-19, updates have been made for choral and singing instruction in Maine schools.  

Universal Considerations for Choral Ensemble/Group Singing Instruction 

Required:

• Masks should be worn at all times for all who are in the rehearsal room. Because singing is a higher risk activity, well-fitting, three-layer, surgical-style masks are recommended.

Considerations: 

• Maintain minimum indoor physical distance of 6x6 between each singer, instructors, and any other people such as conductors, other musicians, audiences or accompanists. All performers should be facing in the same direction to the extent possible. Avoid singing in a circle or semicircular formation. 
• Indoor rehearsals should be limited to 30 minutes followed by a break before the room is used again to allow the central HVAC system to exchange the air in the space. A minimum of one air exchange (which 20 minutes will generally achieve) prior to the next use of the room is required, with three air exchanges preferable. 
• Ensembles meet in either the music classrooms, theater, or larger area depending on their class size. Schools should consult DHHS Guidance to ensure that practice and performance spaces have ventilation systems that are well maintained and operate as designed. 
• Larger groups that preclude appropriate distancing should meet in a larger area (e.g., theater, cafeteria, gym, etc.) or use any outdoor space that meets mandated student distancing requirements. 
• Indoor choral performance should only occur in spaces where proper ventilation systems are compliant with DHHS guidance. 
• One-way traffic patterns should be established for entering and exiting the room, pick-up, and storage of materials. 
• Transition to small group experience whenever possible, especially when facilities and space considerations are limited. 
• Focus on solo and small ensemble playing/singing when the ability to maximize physical distancing is limited. 
• Pivot instructional strategies to reduce the number of students musicians performing at any given time (e.g., small ensembles perform while others listen and assess.) 
• Utilize alternate performance venues including outdoor spaces, large activity centers, etc., to the extent possible. 
• Produce performances of individual ensembles rather than full program concerts, to the extent possible. 
• Use live streaming in combination with, or in place of, in-person audiences, to the extent possible. 
• Maintain observance of all standing Executive Orders from the Governor’s office related to indoor and outdoor public gatherings. 
• Consider having students sing softly/at a lower volume than usual. 
• Consider having teachers use portable amplifiers so they can keep their voices at a low, conversational volume. 
• Students should not share classroom materials such as pencils, sheet music, music stands, etc. 
• Doors should be opened at the beginning and end of class to ensure students are not touching door handles. 
• Use physical barriers (e.g., face shields, free-standing acoustic shields) between rows and/or between individual musicians, if available; clean and disinfect each barrier using approved products after each use. 

NOTE:  These guidelines are largely consistent with those outlined in documentation from the National Association for Music Education/National Federation of State High School Associations. 

Previous and current versions of the guidance and considerations document are available on DOE’s  PK-12 and Adult Education Public Health Guidance webpage.  

The Pre-K For ME Curriculum has an exciting new addition! Over the last year, the Maine Department of Education has been creating unit specific Family Links which complement each unit of study and deepen children’s learning and interactions related to the unit content.  This new resource is designed to enhance instruction by bridging activities in the classroom with extension activities at home.  Families and caregivers will learn more about the focus for each unit of study, including the books, songs, and poems that teachers are using in the classroom. Developmental highlights and parenting tips are also offered.

We are proud to be able to offer Family Links in the top 10 most prevalent languages used in Maine schools.  This access will enable families to support their children in their home languages.  Each unit on the Pre-K For ME webpage has a link to the Family Link that matches the unit. Educators will be able to print and send home copies at the start of each unit.

Additional questions can be directed to Marcy Whitcomb, marcy.r.whitcomb@maine.gov