Assembly Bill 856: Pupil Health: COVID-19 Youth Health

Information Act

As schools bring students back for in-person learning, it is important to ensure a safe
return to classrooms. Assembly Bill (AB) 856, Pupil Health: COVID-19 Youth Health
Information Act, chaptered on July 23, 2021, encourages schools and school districts to
provide information to our youth and their families on how to safely return to exercise
and physical activity after exhibiting signs or symptoms of, or testing positive for,
COVID-19. AB 856 is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety. In addition, the American
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has guidelines regarding returning to exercise and
physical activity after exhibiting signs or symptoms of, or testing positive for, COVID-19.
The Pupil Health: COVID-19 Youth Health Information Act requires the California
Department of Education (CDE) to do the following:
• Post information related to the safe return of pupils to exercise and physical
activity after exhibiting signs or symptoms of, or testing positive for, COVID-19,
including current AAP guidelines for (1) a preparticipation physical evaluation
with a special emphasis on cardiac symptoms, with a licensed health care
provider to evaluate health and heart risks associated with COVID-19, and (2)
“gradual return to play” protocols, according to whether the pupil’s COVID-19
was mild, moderate, or severe.
• Post AAP guidelines for pupils to obtain medical clearance before returning to
exercise and physical activity after exhibiting signs or symptoms of, or testing
positive for, COVID-19, and the gradual return to play protocols relative to the
severity of symptoms.
• Monitor best practices and evolving guidelines on the safe return of pupils to
physical activity after exhibiting signs or symptoms of, or testing positive for
COVID-19 and update its internet website in response to new information.
• Encourage schools and school districts to give pupils and their parents and
guardians ready access to the information regarding a safe return of pupils to
exercise and physical activity after exhibiting signs or symptoms of, or testing
positive for, COVID-19.
School districts and schools are encouraged to give pupils and their parents and
guardians ready access to the information related to the safe return of students to
exercise and physical activity after exhibiting signs or symptoms of, or testing positive
for, COVID-19 by posting it on their internet websites and actively distributing this
information via postal mail, email, newsletter, meetings, in registration and sports
clearance packets, or in person.