It was bats, not coronavirus cases, that delayed Chesterton Middle School's fall reopening for in-person classes after some of the flying mammals were discovered inside the building.

Indianapolis Public Schools spent $27 million on COVID-19 related expenses since March when school buildings began to close in response to the pandemic.

State officials have long resisted setting specific parameters for when local schools should open to in-person instruction or shut back down. But State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box said the new guidance comes out of repeated pleas for direction.

A new study from Ball State University found that about 68,649 to 84,118 Indiana school-age children do not have internet access at home.

The dashboard will let people see the number of cases in a given school, along with a cumulative number, according to Dr. Kristina Box, commissioner of the Indiana State Department of Health.

Even with all the planning and preparation, the first few days of school will focus on getting everyone especially kids on the same page.

As some Midwest school districts open with in-person classes, school nurses face a big challenge. They play a crucial role in keeping kids safe from COVID-19. And they have to handle many other health issues. A middle school nurse in Fort Dodge, Iowa, explains how shes preparing.

The school cited violations of the Protect Purdue Pledge, which -- among other guidelines -- calls for the use of face masks and social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The awards announced Wednesday will go to 1,366 schools, the vast majority of which are traditional public schools.

As colleges across the country welcome students back to campus, incoming freshmen are starting college in the middle of a pandemic. And, many are struggling with a tough decision to start or defer college this fall.