NAEYC Recommendations for COVID Precautions in ECE Settings
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Posted August 13, 2021
Since the onset of the latest surge in COVID nationwide due to the highly transmissible Delta variant, NAEYC has received requests from families and ECE professionals to provide recommendations or directives to NAEYC-accredited programs on COVID precautions.
NAEYC’s vision is that all young children thrive and learn in a society dedicated to ensuring they reach their full potential. To that end, NAEYC encourages all providers to seek and follow current, science-based recommendations for maintaining healthy environments for children and staff in early education settings.
We at NAEYC look to the following trusted sources for COVID-related recommendations:
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): See COVID-19 Guidance for Operating Early Care and Education/Child Care Programs. Vaccinations and “layered COVID prevention strategies” (including the use of face masks) are recommended.
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): See Guidance Related to Childcare During COVID-19. Scroll down this page for detailed recommendations for childcare settings, including daily health checks and screenings, staff vaccinations, infection control, and use of face masks.
NAEYC's Early Learning Program Accreditation recognizes excellence in program practices. We urge all members, educators, and early learning professionals to make practice decisions consistent with the public health expertise and guidelines of the CDC and the AAP, and in keeping with the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct for our profession.