A Look at DESE's Cited Sources: Footnote #54 - Ready Schools, Safe Learners, Guidance for School Year 2020-21 (June 10, 2020)

DESE Claim: "Utilizing external facility spaces: Schools should consider engaging community partners to find spaces outside the school"

Cited Source: Oregon Department of Education, Ready Schools, Safe Learners, Guidance for School Year 2020-21 (June 10, 2020). Available at https://www.oregon.gov/ode/students-and-family/healthsafety/documents/ready%20schools%20safe%20learners%202020-21%20guidance.pdf

Peer Reviewed?: No

Study Methodology: N/A - school opening guidance from the state of Oregon.

Notes: This source is Oregon's school reopening plan. As of June 26, 2020 Oregon has 7,083 cases of COVID-19 in a population of 4.218 million, a rate of 168 cases per 100,000 people. Massachusetts has 108,443 COVID-19 cases in a population of 6.893 million, a rate of 1,573 cases per 100,000 people. In other words, this guidance document is intended for a state with a case rate nearly 10 times lower than the one in Massachusetts. Oregon released their guidance on June 10. Page 13 of the plan does include the suggestion of considering other spaces. "Consider utilizing outdoor spaces, common areas, and other buildings in planning." The guidance also recommends/requires masks, physical distancing, cohorting, and hand washing. 

Supports DESE Claim?: Partial - supports use of other buildings, does not mention community partners