If you count one or more charter schools among your top insurance clients, you may have received several questions pertaining to school reopenings and post-Covid policies. Although your charter school clients may have already secured extensive insurance coverage as is appropriate for them, they may be at a loss when it comes to envisioning a safe and productive school environment after the pandemic. This confusion may be compounded by the fact that charter schools’ needs can differ from those of most public or private schools. If your clients are concerned, here’s some insight you can share with them about what many charter schools may look like post-Covid.

Many Charter Schools Are Taking Steps To Reopen Safely In-Person

There’s a good chance that one of your clients’ top concerns is reopening the school safely. Many charter schools have taken additional safety steps, including but not limited to:

• Hiring additional janitorial services to clean all rooms and surfaces thoroughly after use
• Requiring students, teachers, and staff to practice key hygiene measures, such as regular handwashing
• Staggering class schedules and reducing class sizes to minimize the risk of Covid spread
• Seating students at a distance when necessary
• Keeping the backup option of switching to virtual classes in the event of a serious outbreak

Schools Must Balance Rigorous Academics With Student Well-Being

Another concern your clients may have is managing to balance academics with student well-being in the post-pandemic era. Your clients should make sure to:

• Ensure all students have access to the materials they need
• Offer a wide range of academic subjects and see all courses through to completion
• Check in with students regularly via surveys to ensure emotional, mental, and physical well-being

Including Teachers, Students, Parents, and Staff in Key Decisions Can Ensure a Smooth Transition

In some cases, charter schools may run into issues when administrators make decisions without consulting the rest of the academic community. That’s why your clients may find it helpful to:

• Hold community-wide meetings to discuss major transition topics
• Keep email lists for those interested in staying up to date on the latest news about the school’s reopening strategies
• Ensure all members of the school community are on the same page and feel safe and comfortable returning to in-person learning post-Covid

For many of your charter school insurance clients, reopening safely and successfully in the post-Covid era may seem like a difficult maze to navigate, especially given that their concerns may differ from those of many public or private schools. Thankfully, knowing what most charter schools may look like after Covid can help your clients devise a workable plan. You may want to share with them that they can take several safety steps, focus on balancing academics with student well-being, and include all relevant community members in key decisions for the smoothest transition possible.

About PGUI

Professional Governmental Underwriters, LLC., is a full-service risk management company dedicated to assisting public, educational and non-profit entities in the management of their professional liability exposures including educators liability insurance. We are dedicated to providing state-of-the-art professional underwriting management and loss control advisory services on behalf of our designated carriers. For more information, call us toll-free at (800) 586-6502.