Contact your child’s health care provider. Symptoms for COVID-19/Coronavirus can be found on the CDC website. 

See the Coronavirus guidance from the Centers for Disease Control.

Information about the CDC's contract tracing plan is available on the CDC website.

ETHS has increased its cleaning protocols and we are deep cleaning and disinfecting all of our facilities. Our Operations staff routinely disinfects all high-touch surfaces.

If there is a confirmed case of coronavirus in our school community, ETHS will act under the directive of the local health department to contain the spread of the virus. 

We realize that social distancing and isolation can be difficult for teens.  ETHS created a webpage Navigating the Emotional Landscape of COVID-19 to help connect students with resources during an e-learning period. 

Yes. Free, cold breakfasts and lunches will be served to youth ages 1 to 18 years old at locations throughout Evanston. There are no residency or income-based restrictions to participate in the program. Information about the Youth Meals Program and other Evanston food sources are available from the City of Evanston.

ETHS  recommends following the CDC travel advisories. ETHS-sponsored international trips are canceled through summer 2020. ETHS-sponsored domestic trips are canceled through the end of the school year. We will continue to monitor travel advisories and will adjust ETHS-sponsored domestic travel as needed.

ETHS has a limited supply of Internet hotspots that can be checked out from our Chromezone.  Please email chromesupport@eths202.org for additional information.  

Families may also consider taking advantage of the Comcast Internet Essentials program to receive two months of free Internet access at home during this time.  Please note that the Comcast Internet Essentials program is not an ETHS-sponsored program and ETHS will not be able to supply support over the phone, via email, or at your location for this program.

The ETHS building is closed to students, families, and visitors in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. ETHS staff members will contact individuals about scheduled appointments. For questions about appointments at the Health Center, please call 847-424-7265 and refer to the Health Center updates.

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) provides school districts with new directives and new interpretations frequently, sometimes daily. ETHS does not recommend contacting ISBE or other state agencies during this fluid time as many systems are dealing with unknowns. See the "Executive Orders" section of this page for links to the governor's executive orders related to COVID-19.

Please see the COVID-19 Remote Registration web page for details about how to register a student. Each of the steps will be supported remotely by ETHS staff.

Please visit the ETHS Class of 2020 web page for the most up-to-date information.

ETHS has shared a plan for grade 12 students to pick up their belongings and return school items by the end of May. The plan is outlined on the ETHS website. Due to the number of challenges faced for this process during the state-mandated closure of schools, only grade 12 students will follow this plan in May. ETHS will share a plan for students in grades 9-11 at a later date.

A daily email will be sent to students with a link to an attendance check-in form. Students that do not check in on the form will be marked absent for the day.

Steps for reporting an absence should be followed if a student is unable to check in for the day.

ETHS recognizes that the performance of students this quarter will reflect more than the  mastery of a subject, but may be impacted by a number of factors, such as health and wellbeing for themselves and their loved ones, access to technology, and changes in the household. This is an equity issue. This is why ETHS aligns with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) principle of “no educational harm to any child.”

ISBE indicates that a student’s grade cannot go lower than it was at the end of the third quarter.

ISBE indicates that an incomplete (I) should be used instead of an F.

ETHS aligns with the guidelines of Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) for all assignments during the e-learning period. Assignments and grading will focus on the continuation of learning and prioritize the connectedness and care for students and staff.

Teachers will grade assignments and record them in their gradebooks. Progress can be monitored by students and guardians in Home Access Center (HAC). Any grade below a D will be recorded as an incomplete (I) in HAC. Teachers may also use Z as a placeholder.

An incomplete (I) now calculates at 50 percent. This more transparently reflects where a student is in relation to a passing grade.

Based on teacher feedback, students can re-submit their work to improve their grades.

ETHS currently uses a letter-based grading system of A, B, C, D (including +/- grades) and incomplete (I), but instead of failing grades students will receive an incomplete.

In the coming weeks, ETHS will be reaching out to students who earned a failing grade in third quarter so they can work toward a passing grade. Students who do not participate in e-learning may earn an incomplete.

• For students who perform at a passing level during Fourth Quarter (D or better), their Second Semester grade will be one letter grade higher than their Third Quarter grade.
• For students who do not engage at all in e-learning or do not perform at a passing level during the Fourth Quarter, they will earn an Incomplete for the Fourth Quarter, and if they earned a passing grade for the Third Quarter, then they will receive a grade of Pass for Second Semester.  A grade of Pass does not negatively impact a student’s GPA. 
• For students who do not engage at all in e-learning or do not perform at a passing level during the Fourth Quarter, they will earn an Incomplete for the Fourth Quarter, and if they did not earn a passing grade for the Third Quarter, then they will receive a grade of Incomplete for Second Semester. We will follow the existing Incomplete timeline to make up work. However, if a student does not complete the course, they will receive no credit for the course. This will not negatively impact a student’s GPA. 

Universities are aware that high schools are facing disrupted schedules, indefinite suspensions, or online/remote education. Students attending schools that have enacted precautionary measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic will not be penalized in application review. 

Universities across the country have made it clear that students will not be penalized for missing traditional standardized tests or for posting credit/no credit transcripts for this semester. One of the clearest explanations of the assurances our students should expect comes from Harvard University. Visit their website for details.

In an effort to provide clarity about what this means for our students and teachers, the following guidelines should be followed: 

• “Submitting work at a passing level” is defined as earning a D or higher. If at the end of the semester, students have a grade that is below passing, teachers should use Incomplete, instead of an F.  

During 4th quarter teachers will continue to provide students 

• graded and ungraded feedback over the course of the quarter.
• a variety of ways to demonstrate what they know and can do. 
• dates and guidelines to provide structure to the learning.
• opportunities to submit their assignments and assessments without penalties throughout the quarter.

Yes, ETHS will continue to follow IEPs and 504 plans during e-learning.

The best way for a student to improve their grade is to consistently participate in e-learning.

Earned honors and pathway to honors credit courses are taught at the honors level and honors credit is determined through assessments.  During the COVID 19 pandemic, we are not able to assess remotely with confidence. For example, we cannot proctor tests.  We are also directed by the State to not give high-stakes assessments during the pandemic. This means that we are unable to determine honors credit using our assessment system.  Given these constraints during this unprecedented time:

• All students enrolled in pathway to honors/earned honors courses (ie, 1 Humanities English,  2 English, 3 English, 1 Humanities History, Civics, Biology, Geometry) will receive the honors designation during Second Semester 2020. 

In a Mixed Level course, students will earn the credit for which they are enrolled. We will not be moving students down a level from honors to regular this semester. 

Teachers are generally available by email between 8am and 4pm on an e-learning day. Teachers aim to respond to student communications in a timely manner. 

During e-learning, a teacher may opt to use live and recorded audio/video conferences. If a teacher decides to offer a live session with students, the teacher will send a message on the day prior to the session, no later than 4pm. Students are not required to attend these sessions.

There is also flexibility around how and when live sessions are used. For example, teachers who choose to conduct a live session can decide which classes to meet with and for how long. There may be virtual “office hours” for students to check in with a teacher either in small groups or individually. Each academic department is working within a general framework and offering flexibility within it.

ISBE advises to not administer assessments that are inappropriately high stakes during this time. This means that honors credit assessments are suspended during e-learning.

Universities are aware that high schools are facing disrupted schedules, indefinite suspensions, or have moved to online education. Students attending schools that have enacted precautionary measures related to the spread of the coronavirus will not be penalized in application review.

Universities across the country have made it clear that students will not be penalized for missing traditional standardized tests or for even posting credit/no credit transcripts for this semester. One of the clearest explanations of the assurances our students should expect comes from Harvard.

ETHS will clearly communicate this semester and its impact on grading in its 2020-21 School Profile. The School Profile is used by colleges and universities to learn about schools.

ETHS is planning summer curriculum projects to address this issue in sequential courses (eg., math, world languages).  In addition, ETHS will reach out to provider districts regarding algebra and geometry content in 8th grade.  

It is important to note that ETHS has always integrated some level of review in our math courses in 9th grade. 

ETHS will continue to use formative assessment throughout all of its courses to determine gaps in student understanding and re-teach as necessary throughout the school year.

No, due to the extension of remote learning days, there will be no semester exams in May 2020.

Advanced Placement (AP) Exams - see the College Board's AP Updates for Schools Impacted by Coronavirus for the most current information. An FAQs page for Spring 2020 AP exams is also available on the ETHS website.

SAT exam - According to the U.S. Department of Education (ED), Illinois appears to meet all statutory requirements for the SAT, including accountability metrics for the 2019-20 school year. ED directed Illinois to begin implementing waivers while formal approvals are processed. More information will be provided in the coming weeks. 

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) is working with the College Board on developing options to allow current 11th grade students to take the SAT in the fall. Information will be shared by ISBE as it becomes available.

No. Remote Learning Planning Days are days where students are not required to engage in or submit work. Educators will not provide new assignments for the day; attendance will not be taken via the Google check-in form.

ETHS has designated the following as Remote Learning Planning Days with no student participation on the following days: May 4, May 11, May 18, and May 29. There is no need to make up Remote Learning Planning Days.

Executive Order 2020-44​ (June 26, 2020) re-issues previous Executive Orders in response to the epidemic emergency and public health emergency.

Executive Order 2020-40​ (June 4, 2020) allows for limited in-person instruction, in accordance with Illinois Department of Public Health guidance.​

Executive Order 2020-31 (April 24, 2020) waives specific licensure requirements and graduation and coursework requirements.

Executive Order 2020-15 (March 27, 2020) suspends all state assessments, creates Remote Learning Days and Remote Learning Planning Days, addresses Early Childhood Block Grant funds, and permits virtual submission of school construction bids.

Executive Order 2020-10 (March 20, 2020) with exceptions, requires all individuals currently living within the State of Illinois to stay at home or at their place of residence. Among other changes, extends mandated statewide suspension of in-person instruction through April 7, 2020.

Executive Order 2020-07 (March 16, 2020) includes Open Meetings Act flexibility.

Executive Order 2020-06 (March 15, 2020) exempts schools operated by the Department of Juvenile Justice, State Board of Education or Department of Human Services from EO 2020-05. 

Executive Order 2020-05 (March 13, 2020) requires all public and non-public schools to close beginning on Tuesday, March 17 through Monday, March 30. EO 2020-05 also provides flexibility in e-learning plans.

“Act of God” is the state’s legal term indicating the days that school is required to be closed. These days do not need to be made up at the end of the school year.

Yes. ETHS is committed to providing our students with continued education through our e-learning model.

Act of God means teachers don’t have to report attendance or grade work at this time. But ETHS is eager to help our students continue their intellectual and academic growth. We’re continuing with e-learning days to keep our students engaged with checking in with their teachers daily, striving to keep students connected to their school and their teachers, providing students with some structured learning and responsibility while they are out of school, and we are motivated to create a semblance of normality in our students’ lives on weekdays. Being in the midst of a pandemic, we need to take this kind of different approach for our young people. 

As of March 13, 2020, Governor Pritzker designated March 17-30, 2020 as Act of God Days. Prior to this date, ETHS shared that we would transition to an e-learning plan March 17-April 3. This does not change. We are motivated to create a semblance of normality in our students’ lives on weekdays. ETHS students will continue remote learning under the e-learning model after March 30. Updates will be shared regularly.

The primary differences between an Act of God day and an e-learning day have to do with attendance and grades. We know that many of our students want to maintain a connection and many will feel reassured knowing that we are here for them.

Just like e-learning days ...

• Students will receive a daily email to "check-in"; however, teachers will not be recording attendance.
• Teachers are encouraged to stay connected with their students: establish communication, check on wellbeing, and be available for support as applicable.
• Teachers are asked to engage students in creative, relevant, and meaningful assignments.  
• Emphasis continues to be on the quality of work rather than ensuring that a specific amount of instructional time is reached during the day.
• Teachers are encouraged to provide meaningful feedback to students; however, any assignments given during an Act of God Day will not be counted in a student's grade.
• Teachers are asked to be generally available by email.