The Education Project
The Education Project aims to compile records on K-12 and higher education reopening plans and their responses to COVID-19. As part of the project, we have requested records from more than 100 health departments, school districts and university administrators across the U.S.
Most of the records we have obtained highlight student and faculty concerns about reopening plans and quarantine polices; exposure to COVID-19 on campus; disparities in remote learning opportunities; and differences in reopening protocols for private versus public schools. The records include email correspondence related to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Education Project is led by Kyra Senese, a Chicago-based investigative journalist who graduated from Columbia Journalism School's Stabile program in 2020. You can reach her at kas2317@columbia.edu. If you have information or expertise that would be helpful to this project or would like to collaborate with us, you can email us at info@documentingcovid19.io.
Record Set(s)
Barry-Eaton District Health Department COVID-19 variant emails and contact tracing notes
Date Updated: April 19, 2021
Date Added: April 19, 2021
Barry and Eaton counties, MI
Principal Subject: J. Daniel Woodall and Colette Scrimger, medical director and health officer, Barry-Eaton District Health Department
This material includes the Barry-Eaton District Health Department's internal emails, memos and contact tracing notes related to COVID-19 variants, including the U.K. B.1.1.7 strain of the virus.
Date Range: February 1 to April 8, 2021
Format Details: .zip of .pdf file with related .eml and .msg files (3.2 MB)
University of Wyoming COVID-19 emails and response
Date Updated: February 1, 2021
Date Added: October 30, 2020
Albany County, WY
Principal Subject: Vice President for Student Affairs Kimberly Chestnut
This material includes emails sent to, from or copied to Vice President for Student Affairs Kimberly Chestnut, regarding Covid-19 response, including reopening plans.
Date Range: August 15, 2020, to September 11, 2020
Format Details: PDF, 640 pages
New Mexico State University COVID-19 emails and reopening
Date Updated: December 29, 2020
Date Added: September 9, 2020
Doña Ana County, NM
Principal Subject: Lori McKee, executive director of Health & Wellness
This material includes emails sent to, from or copied to Lori McKee, executive director of Health & Wellness for New Mexico State University, regarding Covid-19 response, including fall reopening plans for the university.
Date Range: May 26 to July 31, 2020
Format Details: PDF, 313 pages
Malheur County Health Department COVID-19 emails and response
Date Updated: December 28, 2020
Date Added: August 27, 2020
Malheur, OR
Principal Subject: Sarah Poe
These documents include emails sent from, to or copied to Malheur County Health Department Director Sarah Poe regarding local response to COVID-19.
Date Range: July 1 to August 20, 2020
Format Details: .pdf (40MB, 427 pages)
Oregon Governor's Office COVID-19 emails and school reopening response
Date Updated: December 28, 2020
Date Added: September 3, 2020
OR
Principal Subject: Oregon Governor Kate Brown
These documents include emails sent from, to or copied to Oregon Governor Kate Brown regarding state response to COVID-19, including schools reopening.
Date Range: June 20 to August 12, 2020
Format Details: .pdf (90.8MB, 1,584 pages)
University of North Georgia COVID-19 emails and response
Date Updated: December 15, 2020
Date Added: August 31, 2020
Hall and Oconee counties, GA
Principal Subject: Chaudron Gille, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs at the University of North Georgia
This material includes emails sent to, from, or copied to Chaudron Gille between July 1, 2020, and August 25, 2020, regarding the Covid-19 response, including the university's reopening plans for the Fall 2020 semester.
Date Range: July 1, 2020, and August 25, 2020
Format Details: .pdf, 742 pages
University of Connecticut COVID-19 emails and response
Date Updated: December 3, 2020
Date Added: December 3, 2020
Tolland County, CT
Principal Subject: Michael Gilbert, vice president for Student Affairs
This material includes emails sent to, from or copied to Michael Gilbert, vice president for Student Affairs at University of Connecticut, regarding Covid-19 response and testing issues at the university.
Date Range: July 13, 2020, to August 13, 2020
Format Details: .pdf, 68 pages
Saginaw County COVID-19 outbreak reports
Date Updated: November 20, 2020
Date Added: November 20, 2020
Saginaw, MI
Principal Subject: Saginaw County Health Officer Christina Harrington
This material includes emails sent to, from or copied to Saginaw County Health Officer Christina Harrington regarding Covid-19 outbreaks.
Date Range: October 1 to November 16, 2020
Format Details: .pdf (2.1MB, 71 pages)
University of Central Florida COVID-19 emails and response
Date Updated: November 11, 2020
Date Added: August 28, 2020
Orange County, FL
Principal Subject: Maribeth Ehasz, vice president of Student Development and Enrollment Services
This material includes emails sent to, from or copied to Maribeth Ehasz, vice president of Student Development and Enrollment Services, regarding Covid-19 response, including fall reopening plans for the University of Central Florida.
Date Range: June 17, 2020, to July 29, 2020
Format Details: PDF, 1,600 pages
Tulsa, Oklahoma Health Department COVID-19 emails and response
Date Updated: November 4, 2020
Date Added: August 5, 2020
Tulsa, OK
Principal Subject: Bruce Dart and and Kelly VanBuskirk of James O. Goodwin Health Center
This material includes email correspondence, and all underlying documentation contained therein, between June 1 and July 24, 2020, sent to, from or copied to Bruce Dart and Kelly VanBuskirk regarding local response to COVID-19.
Date Range: June 1 to July 24, 2020
Format Details: PDF, 2,013 pages
Clemson University COVID-19 emails and response
Date Updated: October 28, 2020
Date Added: October 22, 2020
Pickens County, SC
Principal Subject: Bob Jones, executive vice president for Academic Affairs and provost
This material includes emails sent to, from or copied to Bob Jones, executive vice president for Academic Affairs and provost, from August 15 to September 9, 2020, regarding COVID-19 response and reopening plans.
Date Range: August 15 to September 9, 2020
Format Details: PDF, 335 pages
Indiana Department of Education COVID-19 emails and response
Date Updated: October 26, 2020
Date Added: October 26, 2020
IN
Principal Subject: Jennifer McCormick, superintendent for Public Instruction for the Indiana Department of Education
This material includes emails sent to, from or copied to Jennifer McCormick from July 1 to August 17, 2020, regarding COVID-19 response and disclosure.
Date Range: July 1 to August 17, 2020
Format Details: PDF, without attachments, 65 pages
Texas A&M University COVID-19 emails and response
Date Updated: October 22, 2020
Date Added: October 22, 2020
Brazos County, TX
Principal Subject: Director of Student Life Anne Reber
This material includes emails sent to, from or copied to Director of Student Life Anne Reber from July 1 to October 9, 2020, regarding COVID-19 response.
Date Range: July 1 to October 9, 2020
Format Details: PDF, 63 pages
Illinois State University COVID-19 emails and response
Date Updated: October 19, 2020
Date Added: October 16, 2020
McLean County, IL
Principal Subject: Vice President for Student Affairs Levester "LJ" Johnson
This material includes emails sent to, from or copied to Vice President for Student Affairs Levester "LJ" Johnson from June 26 to September 24, 2020, regarding COVID-19 response, issues with testing and isolation in student housing.
Date Range: June 26 to September 24, 2020
Format Details: PDF, 206 pages
Mary Greeley Medical Center COVID-19 emails and response
Date Updated: October 16, 2020
Date Added: October 16, 2020
Ames, Iowa, IA
Principal Subject: Cory Geffre, vice president and chief nursing officer at Mary Greeley Medical Center
This material includes emails sent to, from or copied to Cory Geffre from August 1 to September 2, 2020, regarding COVID-19 response, PPE and school reopening plans.
Date Range: August 1 to September 2, 2020
Newark Public Schools COVID-19 emails and response
Date Updated: October 13, 2020
Date Added: October 13, 2020
Essex County, NJ
Principal Subject: Superintendent Roger León
This material includes emails sent to, from or copied to Newark Public Schools Superintendent Roger León from July 1 to August 25, 2020, regarding COVID-19 response, reopening and remote learning plans for the school district.
Date Range: July 1 to August 25, 2020
Format Details: PDF, 732 pages
University of Nebraska-Lincoln COVID-19 emails and reopening
Date Updated: September 24, 2020
Date Added: September 9, 2020
Lancaster County, NE
Principal Subject: Patrick Winter, associate vice chancellor of Academic Services and Enrollment Management
This material includes emails sent to, from or copied to Patrick Winter, associate vice chancellor of Academic Services and Enrollment Management, regarding the university's COVID-19 response, including reopening plans for the fall semester.
Date Range: July 23 to August 12, 2020
Format Details: PDF, 24 pages
Oregon Governor's Office COVID-19 emails and school reopening response
Date Updated: September 15, 2020
Date Added: August 13, 2020
OR
Principal Subject: Oregon Governor Kate Brown
These documents include emails sent from, to or copied to Oregon Governor Kate Brown regarding local response to COVID-19.
Date Range: May 31 to August 12, 2020
Format Details: .pdf (42.8MB, 1492 pages)
Galveston County Health District COVID-19 emails and response
Date Updated: September 2, 2020
Date Added: September 2, 2020
Galveston County, TX
Principal Subject: Philip Keiser, Galveston County Local Health Authority
This material includes emails sent to, from or copied to Philip Keiser, Local Health Authority, regarding Covid-19 response, including reopening plans for Galveston County, between June 1, 2020 to July 27, 2020.
Date Range: June 1, 2020 to July 27, 2020
Format Details: PDF, 1,022 pages
Jackson County Health Department COVID-19 emails and response
Date Updated: September 2, 2020
Date Added: September 1, 2020
Jackson County, MO
Principal Subject: Jackson County Health Director Bridgette Shaffer
This material includes emails sent to, from or copied to Bridgette Shaffer, Jackson County Health Department Director, regarding the local Covid-19 response, including community spread and school safety operations for Jackson County, Missouri.
Date Range: July 1 to July 17, 2020
Format Details: .pdf (1,226 pages)
Howard County Health Unit COVID-19 emails and response
Date Updated: August 28, 2020
Date Added: August 28, 2020
Howard County, AR
Principal Subject: Donna Webb, administrator, Howard County Health Unit
This material includes emails sent to, from or copied to Donna Webb regarding the local Covid-19 response, including reopening plans for Howard County, Arkansas.
Date Range: July 1, 2020, and July 24, 2020
Format Details: 18 .eml files, 6.4 MB, zipped file
Madera County Health Department COVID-19 emails and response
Date Updated: August 27, 2020
Date Added: August 27, 2020
Madera, CA
Principal Subject: Madera County Health Department Director Sara Bosse
These documents include emails sent from, to or copied to Gloucester County Health Department Director Tamarisk Jones regarding local response to COVID-19, including migrant farm outbreaks.
Date Range: July 1 to July 30, 2020
Format Details: .pdf (194.8MB, 6093 pages)
West Nodaway School District, Missouri, COVID-19 emails and response
Date Updated: August 24, 2020
Date Added: August 21, 2020
Nodaway County, MO
Highlighted Documents: St. Louis Area Superintendents Return to School Work Group Suggested Practices
Principal Subject: Mitch Barnes, superintendent, West Nodaway R-I School District
This material includes emails sent to, from or copied to Mitch Barnes, superintendent of the West Nodaway R-I School District, regarding Covid-19 response and reopening plans.
Date Range: July 1 to August 11, 2020
Format Details: .pdf (216 pages)
Wood County Health Department COVID-19 emails and response
Date Updated: August 19, 2020
Date Added: August 19, 2020
Wood, OH
Principal Subject: Wood County Health Commissioner Ben Batey
These documents include emails sent from, to or copied to Wood County Health Commissioner Ben Batey regarding local response to COVID-19.
Date Range: June 1 to August 4, 2020
Format Details: .pdf (20.2MB, 1060 pages)
Orange County COVID-19 emails and response
Date Updated: August 18, 2020
Date Added: August 18, 2020
Orange County, CA
Principal Subject: Orange County Health Director Clayton Chau
These documents include emails sent from, to or copied to Orange County Health Director Clayton Chau regarding local response to COVID-19.
Date Range: July 1 to July 20, 2020
Format Details: .pdf (11.9MB, 179 pages)
Ector County, Texas Health Department COVID-19 emails and response
Date Updated: August 5, 2020
Date Added: August 3, 2020
Ector County, TX
Principal Subject: Ector County Health Department Director Brandy Garcia
This material includes email correspondence, and all underlying documentation contained therein, requested between June 1, 2020 to July 30, 2020, 2020, sent to, from or copied to Brandy Garcia containing any of the following non-case-sensitive key-strings: “covid”; “coronavirus”; “reopen*”; “outbreak”, with April 23, 2020 information included as well
Date Range: April 23 to July 30, 2020
Format Details: .pdf (336 pages)
Louisiana Department of Education COVID-19 emails and response
Date Updated: July 13, 2020
Date Added: July 13, 2020
Louisiana Department of Education, LA
Principal Subject: Beth Scioneaux, interim director, Louisiana Department of Education
This material includes emails sent to, from or copied to Beth Scioneaux, interim director, Louisiana Department of Education, regarding statewide response to COVID-19.
Date Range: May 18 to June 26, 2020
Format Details: .pdf (530 pages)
South Carolina governor's office COVID-19 emails and response
Date Updated: July 13, 2020
Date Added: July 12, 2020
SC
Principal Subject: South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster
These documents include emails sent from, to or copied to South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster regarding statewide response to COVID-19.
Date Range: April 1 to April 30, 2020
Format Details: .pdf with copied attachments (862 pages, 87.2 MB, duplicative material)
Desoto County government COVID-19 emails and response
Date Updated: July 12, 2020
Date Added: June 23, 2020
Desoto, FL
Principal Subject: Desoto County Administrator Mandy Hines
These documents include emails sent from, to or copied to Desoto County Administrator Mandy Hines, regarding local response to COVID-19.
Date Range: June 1 to June 20, 2020
Format Details: .zip with attachments (203.3 MB)
Palm Beach County government COVID-19 emails and response
Date Updated: July 12, 2020
Date Added: July 13, 2020
Palm Beach County, FL
Principal Subject: Palm Beach County Administrator Verdenia Baker
These documents include emails sent from, to or copied to Palm Beach County Administrator Verdenia Baker regarding local response to COVID-19.
Date Range: April 23 to May 12, 2020
Format Details: .pst including attachments (498 MB, duplicative mateiral)
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