COVID-19

Metro Schools' Ongoing Response to the

COVID-19 Global Health Crisis

The Latest News

 

02/24/2022: Universal mask requirements will end after Friday, March 11 at the start of Spring Break.

  • When students return Monday, March 21, masks will be encouraged, but not required for students and staff.
  • KN95 masks, which are shown to be more effective at preventing transmission of COVID, will continue to be provided to any students and staff who want them.
  • The Board of Education adopted this change in protocols at their meeting on Tuesday, February 22 based on the continued decline in COVID cases in our district and the Nashville community. 

The contact tracing protocols are also changing based on updated state and public health guidance. Previously, students who were determined to be within 3 feet of another student or staff member who had tested positive would be notified as being a close contact. Due to the higher transmissibility of the Omicron COVID variant, the guidance has been amended so that classrooms will be notified as a whole if there is a positive case, along with guidance on how to monitor for symptoms and when they are recommended to get tested for COVID. MNPS ended the practice of requiring a close contact to quarantine several months ago, so this change is not anticipated to have a significant impact on operations. 

The district will continue to provide rapid tests through our school nurse program for staff or students, with parental consent, who have been identified as being possibly exposed to the virus or are exhibiting symptoms while in school.

Close Popup

This Video Offers Information On:

  • Strategies used to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our buildings
  • Contact tracing
  • CDC guidance on social distancing and & close contact
  • What happens when a student is quarantined
  • How a student in quarantine can continue to do their assigned work
  • How to log into Schoology
  • Instructional support offered to MNPS students in quarantine from the MNPS Virtual School
  • What happens when quarantine is over and students are eligible to return to school

 

COVID-19 Face Mask Opt-Out Feedback Form

Families can now download and submit a form to indicate their preference for opting out of a mask requirement.

  • The form can be submitted to your school's principal via email or in person.
  • For the time being, all students without a medical accommodation are still required to wear masks. As we gather information, we will continue to follow all applicable guidance, rules, regulations, and metrics to further inform our policies.
    •  For more information on the current use of face masks read the 2021-22 COVID protocols on this page.

Information has been delivered via email to all MNPS families. 

 

2021-22 COVID Protocols

Metro Nashville Public Schools is focused on keeping all students, staff, and their families as safe as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data suggests that schools can be safer and reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission if mitigation measures are followed, such as:

  • Consistent and correct use of masks
  • Social distancing when feasible
  • Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette
  • Cleaning and disinfecting
  • Contact tracing
  • Vaccination when available

There is not one single person responsible for making this happen. It will take a collective effort of teachers, administrators, support staff, students and families to instill in each other the importance of being safe.

Risk Score

In the 2020-21 school year, Metro Nashville Public Schools created a “risk score” tracking tool that used publicly reported information provided by the Metro Public Health Department that was used to determine whether instruction would be offered in-person or remotely through the CLP. The metrics used to inform the risk score were the 7-day average of new cases per 100,000 residents (60%), the 7-day average positivity rate (20%), and the transmission rate (20%).

As the remote learning option is not available to school districts in the 2021-22 school year, the risk score will no longer be used. MPHD continues to monitor statistics and post them three times a week on the COVID-19 dashboard.

COVID 19 Guidance Graphic

Protocols & Guidance

Visit the MNPS COVID-19 protocols and procedures pages for information on when students and/or staff are exposed to COVID-19, have symptoms, or are diagnosed with COVID-19.

 

The pages detail procedures for things such as quarantine, infection control, cleaning, transportation, closure, and communication with students, families, and staff, as well as steps that will be taken by the Metro Public Health Department.

As thousands of our students return to the classroom, our safety protocols and procedures are meant to reduce the spread or transmission of COVID-19 in our buildings. Asking families to monitor student symptoms, wearing of masks, social distancing when possible, frequent washing of hands, the use of sanitizer, and cleaning protocols will all reduce the chances of COVID-19 passing from one person to another.

Also be sure to read and download the flyer: When is sick too sick for school?