Colorado Districts Educational Alliance: Choice For In-Person Learning consists of thousands of families, educators, administrators, medical worker, and community members who stand in solidarity to declare that Colorado children must be given the choice to attend their schools in-person. State quarantine guidelines are crippling our school districts. 

We ask you to adjust CDPHE Quarantine Restrictions to Open Colorado Schools.  The "Close Contact Quarantine Protocol," used by Jefferson County Public Schools identified individuals within 6 ft. of a person for more than 15 minutes in grades 6-12 were quarantined. Before Jefferson County moved to level Orange, this protocol was used. Out of 58 times the close contact quarantine protocol was used, only 1 resulting in an additional case beyond the initial case.  This was successful and allowed for operations to continue while keeping our schools, students, and teachers safe.  The recent change in protocol which ultimately shut schools down was in response to Jefferson County levels and NOT in response to Jefferson County Public Schools levels. 

Our children are in emotional and educational crisis. Our teachers are exhausted and depleted. School districts continue to prove that mitigation efforts enable us to place our teachers in safe working conditions and our children in stimulating environments where they are safe, progressing, and thriving. Our children deserve equitable solutions. Our children deserve to be put first. 

Your consideration to adjust the CDPHE Quarantine Restrictions to open Colorado schools statewide is crucial.