Schools, childcare, and youth programs during the coronavirus pandemic

All schools must stop holding classes at physical locations within San Francisco.

Schools and other education programs can provide distance learning to their students. Teachers can go to work to prepare distance learning.

The Department of Public Health has guidance for public, private, and parochial TK to 12 schools. Each school district will develop their own plans to reopen for onsite classes from this guidance.

SF Unified School District is planning to continue distance learning in the fall.

Schools are offering all children free meals. Find out how to pick up free meals.

Childcare programs are enrolling all children. 

Summer day camps are open for all children. Sign up at Rec and Park. 

Check your child for possible COVID-19 symptoms before you take them to a program.

You will be asked to sign an acknowledgement of health risks, in taking your child to a childcare or summer camp.

To keep children and staff healthy, facilities serving youth must do the following, if possible:

• Keep a maximum of 12 children assigned to each space, even if not everyone attends at the same time
• Keep groups of children separate from each other in a different room or space
• Have providers stay with the same group of children
• Day camp sessions must last at least 3 weeks
• Children and youth can enroll in only 1 summer camp at a time
• Follow SFDPH guidance for administrators of youth programs
• Remind parents and caregivers they must wear face coverings while at these facilities, including dropping off and picking up children
• Prohibit face coverings for children under 2 years, due to risk of suffocation
• Encourage face coverings for children between ages 2 and 9, and only with adult supervision
• Have children 10 years and over wear a face covering

If you need childcare, see the Department of Children, Youth and their Families for information about free, emergency childcare.

Babysitters and nannies can come to your home to care for your children.

You should hire someone you trust to be staying safe when outside their home. Caregivers should be extra careful about staying healthy, if anyone in your family is over 60 or has a pre-existing health condition.

Tutors can also come to your home. Everyone should wear a face covering. Tutors should stay 6 feet away from your child, if they can. 

When someone from outside the household visits, you should open windows and doors to increase ventilation

You cannot take your children to the playground, or arrange playdates. It is hard for children to keep 6 feet apart from each other.

Entertain your children with games, reading, puzzles, and videos at home. Engage them in education using online tools. 

Take children to trails and open parks near your house. Encourage them to stay active during the coronavirus outbreak.

See documents that childcare providers need to reopen.

See documents that summer day camps need to reopen.

See health guidance from the Department of Public Health for schools and childcare facilities.

Operate your business during the coronavirus pandemic.

If you have questions:

• Call 415-554-2830 (press 1 for COVID-19, then press 6 for schools) 
• Email schools-childcaresites@sfdph.org