COVID-19 Preparedness and Planning

Each SYA campus is cleaned thoroughly every day when the building is empty of students and faculty. Students at each campus have access to handwashing throughout the day, disinfectant gel, and a supply of spare face masks should one be needed. Our campuses each have appropriate ventilation and air filtration that meets each country's health and safety standards. 

SYA will adhere to airline and country requirements regarding COVID-19 testing prior to and post student arrival. SYA will follow all in-country guidelines on testing for COVID-19 in schools. If a student displays symptoms of COVID-19 at any time, we will follow the illness policy protocol indicated above.

The relationship a student builds with their host family is among the most important and most rewarding they experience while studying abroad. These relationships are based upon respect and mutual understanding. Host families in all of our countries are eager to host, and they are expected to follow the same rules as the rest of our community. Host families meet with SYA so that the expectations of host families are understood, and they sign a document demonstrating their understanding and commitment to providing students with a safe and supportive home environment.

Travel opportunities for students will depend on rules and regulations set forward by regional and national governments. Independent travel is allowed for students who have earned the privilege. However, should circumstances in any of our countries change, SYA reserves the right to revise our practices and pull programming, including independent travel, that may be considered risky.

Travel outside of host country, except travel to see a parent, guardian or other pre-determined close family member (during Winter and Spring breaks), will not be permitted.

All families must sign a release of liability in order to allow any independent travel, and this earned privilege may be revoked by the Resident Director at any time.

SYA COVID-19 VACCINATION POLICY

School Year Abroad is pleased to continue offering summer, semester and full-year programs in France, Italy and Spain. Nonetheless, the COVID-19 global pandemic is still with us. As a Massachusetts-based organization, SYA is guided by both Massachusetts laws and public health guidelines, in addition to guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization and the governments of our host countries on how best to manage travel and programming during the pandemic. The vast majority of adults in France, Italy and Spain are vaccinated against Covid-19. Please note that at the time of publication, the regulatory agencies in SYA host countries do not require their residents (including host families and SYA faculty) or non-residents (including students) to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

While no longer a requirement, SYA strongly recommends all students be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 (primary series and most recent booster available) but reserves the right to reinstate the vaccine requirement if the destination country regulatory agency requirement is reintroduced and/or the conditions worsen. All tuition payments (except the non-refundable deposit) would be refunded to families who withdraw their child due to a change in the SYA Covid-19 vaccine policy prior to departure.

In addition, SYA will follow future recommendations and requirements by the local governments of our host countries, the Centers of Disease Control (CDC), and/or the World Health Organization regarding further COVID-19 vaccination/booster immunizations that are applicable and available to SYA students prior to the start of the program or during the program.  If the students are already in the host country when the recommendation or requirement is issued, SYA will facilitate the vaccination process. Questions about this policy should be directed to Tom Hassan at thassan@sya.org.

Social distancing and mask wearing guidelines have evolved according to the conditions in each region. SYA continues to consider the local circumstances and follow the legal regulations of the host country, enforcing them in all school spaces.

SYA monitors many factors to determine whether it is safe for our students to study abroad at our campuses overseas, including individual country mandates, ability to safely operate our schools in each location, and overseas travel and visa restrictions.  Ultimately, we want to ensure both a safe and exceptional program abroad.

All SYA campuses are expected to continue operating as planned without disruption. Any case of extenuating circumstances that necessitates a change to this plan of operation, including health crises that threaten student health and safety, will be communicated to parents and sending school administrators in a timely manner.