Infectious Diseases and Public Health

Subtopics

Distance Learning

In-Person Learning

Physical Spacing and Testing

Sanitation and Ventilation

Maintain healthy and sustainable learning environments.

Schools play a critical role in promoting the health and well-being of children and adolescents. They support students’ cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development; provide access to critical health services; and help students establish lifelong healthy behaviors. Safe and healthy learning environments and access to health education programs and services can reduce negative risk factors among youth and increase students’ capacity to learn.

Schools should also have plans in place that can help reduce illness and illness-related absenteeism by preventing the spread of infectious diseases. While infectious disease outbreaks and public health emergencies may be unpredictable, K-12 schools can implement a core set of prevention strategies as part of their normal operations. These include promoting proper handwashing; cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting surfaces and objects; improving indoor air quality; teaching and reinforcing respiratory etiquette; and promoting equitable access to vaccinations. When there is a higher level of illness in the school or surrounding community, schools can work with their local public health partners to implement additional prevention strategies. Schools can also prepare for outbreaks or a pandemic by creating an emergency operations plan with an infectious disease section, which outlines the actions necessary to reduce the impact of the outbreak.

Featured Resources

These resources are a starting point for learning more about infectious diseases and public health. Use these resources to create and sustain healthy K-12 learning environments.

Additionally, SchoolSafety.gov regularly publishes issue briefs that provide a high-level overview of a specific school safety topic as well as a sampling of aligned strategies, resources, programs, and tools. Download and explore the infectious diseases and public health-related issue brief below.

Infectious Diseases and Public Health

Guidance

Preventing Spread of Infections in K-12 Schools

Department of Health and Human Services, 2024

This guidance is designed to maximize school attendance and its benefits for all students, while also preventing the spread of infectious diseases. It consolidates and simplifies previous recommendations intended specifically for K-12 school settings.

Webpage

Radon in Schools

Environmental Protection Agency

This webpage provides information on the dangers of radon and testing and mitigation standards for schools.

Assessment

School Health Index

Department of Health and Human Services, 2017

This online self-evaluation and planning tool enables schools to identify strengths and weaknesses of health and safety policies and programs, develop an action plan for improving student health, and engage teachers, parents, students, and the community in promoting health-enhancing behaviors and better health.

Guidance

When Students or Staff are Sick

Department of Health and Human Services, 2024

This resource provides strategies to help schools slow the spread of infectious diseases when children or staff become ill.

Filter Resources

All Infectious Diseases and Public Health Resources

Access additional resources below to learn more about infectious diseases and public health and related best practices. Use the filters to sort resources based on subtopic and/or preparedness action.

Guidance

COVID-19 Handbook Volume 3: Strategies for Safe Operation and Addressing the Impact of COVID-19 on Higher Education Students, Faculty, and Staff

Department of Education, June 2021

The U.S. Department of Education (Department) released the COVID-19 Handbook Volume 3: Strategies for Safe Operation and Addressing the Impact of COVID-19 on Higher Education Students, Faculty, and Staff to provide additional strategies for higher education institutions (IHEs) and communities as they work to reopen for in-person instruction safely and equitably.

Guidance

Cleaning and Disinfection for Community Facilities

Department of Health and Human Services, June 2021

This guidance provides recommendations on the cleaning and disinfection of rooms or areas occupied by those with suspected or with confirmed COVID-19.

Fact Sheet

New Guidance on Children Being Authorized to Receive the Pfizer Vaccine

Department of Health and Human Services, May 2021

On May 10, 2021, the FDA expanded the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to include adolescents 12 through 15 years of age.