I am receiving traditional unemployment compensation but need to stay home to take care of my child while they return to school remotely. Can I refuse to return to work or refuse job offers?

No. Under traditional unemployment compensation you must accept job offers for suitable work. Traditional unemployment is meant to cover the worker, not the worker’s family. However, you may be eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits and can open an application for PUA.

My child is attending school remotely and I need to remain home to care for them. Could I be eligible for PUA if I leave my job or refuse to return to work?

Yes. If you are the primary caregiver of your child and your employer does not give you the option for paid leave or telework (work from home), you can receive PUA.

What if I can telework or receive offers to telework but my child needs so much help with remote school, I am unable to work. Could I be eligible for PUA?

Yes. If you are the primary caregiver of your child, are unable/unavailable to work because you need to assist your child with remote schooling, and are not receiving paid leave or telework pay, you can receive PUA benefits for every week that online schooling is in session.

My child is attending school through a “hybrid model” (some days in school, some days remotely) and I need to remain home to care for them. Could I be eligible for PUA if I leave my job or refuse to return to work?

Yes. If you are primary caregiver of your child and are not receiving paid leave or telework pay you can receive PUA benefits.

My child is attending school through a “hybrid model” and I need to remain home to care for them on the days they attending school remotely. I am still working a reduced schedule on the days my child is in school. Could I receive PUA benefits?

Yes. You can receive PUA benefits, but you must report all wages earned each week. Your PUA benefit payment will be reduced based on the amount of wages you earn each week.

My child’s school is allowing students to choose to attend in-person or remotely. I do not feel comfortable sending my child to in-person classes and will choose to have my child attend school remotely. I am the primary caregiver and will not be able to work with my child attending school remotely.  Could I be eligible for PUA benefits?

Maybe. If you meet one or more of the PUA eligibility criteria, such as being advised by a health care professional to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19, then you may be eligible for  PUA benefits. If you do not meet any of the listed criteria and choose to keep your child at home, you would not be eligible for PUA benefits.

Who qualifies as a “primary caregiver?”

A primary caregiver is the person who is most responsible for caring for the child or children in the home. That can be a mother, father, or other family member within the household. If you typically work full time and another member of your household has the primary responsibility of caring for children in your household, then you are not the primary caregiver.

Education: What Do I Need to Know About School During COVID-19?

Education: What Are Schools Doing for Students with Disabilities During COVID-19?

When will schools reopen?

Schools are closed through May 1. They might not reopen this school year.

Will my student be able to graduate this year?

Students can graduate if they were on track to graduate before the schools closed. Schools will be deciding on a case by case basis if your student was on track to graduate. You should talk to your child’s teacher or principal about your school’s process for deciding who will graduate.

My student didn’t pass the third grade reading test. Will they have to stay behind?

Schools are not doing any more reading testing this year. Students will not be held back based on their scores when the schools closed.  The child’s principal and teacher will make the recommendation whether the child has enough reading skills to move on to the fourth grade.  You should talk to your child’s teacher or principal about your school’s process for making this decision.

Are internet or computer-based schools closed?

No. Online schools are still open.

Does a school have to provide educational services during the temporary school closure?

Schools have to give students a certain amount of education hours per year. To find out what your student should get in a normal school year, click here. However, due to the COVID-19 crisis, this year schools are allowed to provide online instruction or packets available on their websites instead of meeting these hours.

What educational services are the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) providing during the school closure?

CMSD is providing packets for each grade level. The packets can be picked up at the meal distribution sites or downloaded from http://www.clevelandmetroschools.org/LearningOpportunities.

You can print the materials for free at any Staples location. There is a limit of 50 pages of free printing per day.  Hopefully more information will be available soon about how CMSD students with disabilities will receive instruction during the school closure.

Are schools still serving meals?

All schools may continue to serve meals to school age children even while closed because of COVID 19.  The Cleveland Metropolitan School District is providing lunch and a breakfast for all children under 18 at 22 schools. For more information, visit: https://www.clevelandmetroschools.org/cms/lib/OH01915844/Centricity/Domain/6268/CMSD_Coronavirus_MealPickup_v1_.4.3.pdf

Where can I go for more information about the school closure and resources for my child?

The Ohio Department of Education is updating Frequently Asked Questions here: http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Student-Supports/Coronavirus/Frequently-Asked-Questions-Governor-DeWine%E2%80%99s-Scho

The Cleveland Metropolitan School district is posting updates here: https://www.clevelandmetroschools.org/LearningOpportunities

Your school or school district may be posting updates on their website or have information available when you call the district’s phone number.

My student has a disability. What can I do to make sure my student is getting the right services while school is closed?

Contact the school district’s special education director, your child’s teacher, or building principal to ask for work at your child’s ability level and tips on how to help them with the work.

Write down the dates to track your requests for services, and the responses to such requests. Keep track of how you got the communication. Was it by telephone? Email? Letter? Did the school talk to you in a language you can understand?

Keep track how many minutes of services your child is receiving to help determine whether any services need to be made up when schools reopen.

My student has a 504 Plan or IEP. If a school provides educational services, what do they have to do to meet needs for students with disabilities?

If the school is providing education to students, it must include students with disabilities. The school has to do its best to give the same services to students with disabilities.

What if a school can’t meet the needs of my student with a 504 Plan or IEP?

When schools reopen, the child’s IEP team should meet to consider what services the child missed out on and how they can be made up to the child. Parents should keep track of what their students are missing.

Can I request an IEP meeting during the school closure?

Yes.  Many schools are holding IEP meetings on the phone or through video conferences.  Some schools have not yet set up ways to hold meetings by phone or video.  However, parents or guardians still have the right to request a meeting.

Can I request an evaluation for special education services during the school closure?

Yes. The school has 30 days to respond to your request. They can either tell you in writing why they don’t think there is a disability, or they can get your permission to evaluate. Many evaluations require in person testing, so the evaluation may be delayed until in person testing is safe.

Where can I find more information about special education services during COVID-19?

The Ohio Department of Education has released a document to help school districts provide special education services to students with disabilities. The document addresses specific requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and speaks to the most frequently asked questions that have emerged during the state’s ordered school-building closure. The document can be found here.

For more information about the service for students with disabilities see the FAQs on the Disability Rights Ohio webpage: https://www.disabilityrightsohio.org/covid-education