We have appreciated all of the resources and ideas you have shared about keeping Safe Routes to School programs running during COVID-19. As we move into summer break, many of you have started thinking about what your programs will look like when school resumes. We are putting together a Back to School 2020 Working Group to help develop strategies and resources for effectively implementing Safe Routes to School programs this fall. These strategies and resources will be shared with our entire Safe Routes to School community in time for back-to-school activities, whether school resumes in-person, remotely, or a variation of different learning options.
We are looking for a broad range of Safe Routes to School practitioners, parents/caregivers, students, and advocates from across the country to join this group. Interested participants must complete a brief application and be able to commit to at least three remote meetings over the next few months. These calls are scheduled for the following dates:
- Thursday, June 11th - 9am PT/10am MT/11am CT/12pm ET
- Tuesday, June 16th - 12pm PT/1pm MT/2pm CT/3pm ET
- Wednesday, June 24th - 9am PT/10am MT/11am CT/12pm ET
- Wednesday, July 1st - 12pm PT/1pm MT/2pm CT/3pm ET
We are also looking for representatives from communities that have been greatly impacted by COVID-19 and communities lacking in strong Safe Routes to School infrastructure - though you will not be disqualified if your community does not fit these descriptions. While this is not an effort we have funding for, we know the need to support our communities during this time is critical. Working group participants will be recognized as authors of the forthcoming recommendations and published materials.
If you are interested in applying to participate in the Back to School 2020 Working Group, please complete this online application by Wednesday, May 27th. We will notify selected applicants the first week of June. If you have questions, feel free to reach out to Kori Johnson at kori@saferoutespartnership.org or Becky Gilliam at becky@saferoutespartnership.org
If you are not interested in participating in the working group but would like guidance on a particular topic, you can submit questions and comments via this online form. These questions will help inform the Back to School 2020 Working Group agenda and forthcoming materials.