---
title: Back to School May Mean Paid Time Off for Working Parents
description: The U.S. DOL recently addressed questions surrounding FFCRA paid leave to care for children not attending in-person classes due to COVID. Will it mean PTO?
image: https://blog.axcethr.com/hubfs/FFCRA%20and%20Kids%20Returning%20to%20School.png
---

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Back to School May Mean Paid Time Off for Working Parents

5:02

# Back to School May Mean Paid Time Off for Working Parents

 By [Jeanette Coleman, SPHR & SHRM-SCP](https://blog.axcethr.com/author/jeanette-coleman) on [Sep 03, 2020](https://blog.axcethr.com/back-to-school-may-mean-paid-time-off-for-working-parents)   
 3 min read [0 comment(s)](https://blog.axcethr.com/back-to-school-may-mean-paid-time-off-for-working-parents#comments-listing)

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![Back to School May Mean Paid Time Off for Working Parents](https://blog.axcethr.com/hs-fs/hubfs/FFCRA%20and%20Kids%20Returning%20to%20School.png?width=1000&name=FFCRA%20and%20Kids%20Returning%20to%20School.png)

As parents and students navigate an unprecedented back-to-school season, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division recently addressed eligibility questions surrounding paid leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) to care for children who may not be attending classes in person due to the pandemic. The Wage and Hour Division in late August 2020 released [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-questions#98) for workers and employers that explain – among other things – when workers qualify for paid time off to accommodate the varied formats and schedules schools are following as they reopen.

## Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)

The FFCRA’s paid leave provisions apply to leave taken through the end of 2020. Generally speaking, the new guidance stipulates that workers qualify for FFCRA-provided paid time off only when schools are closed or disallow students’ entry. In the FAQs, questions number 98, 99 and 100 – listed below – address specific situations:

1. ##### **My child’s school is operating on an alternate day (or other hybrid-attendance) basis. The school is open each day, but students alternate between days attending school in person and days participating in remote learning. They are permitted to attend school only on their allotted in-person attendance days. May I take paid leave under the FFCRA in these circumstances?**

Yes, you are eligible to take paid leave under the FFCRA on days when your child is not permitted to attend school in person and must instead engage in remote learning, as long as you need the leave to actually care for your child during that time and only if no other suitable person is available to do so. For purposes of the FFCRA and its implementing regulations, the school is effectively “closed” to your child on days that he or she cannot attend in person. You may take paid leave under the FFCRA on each of your child’s remote-learning days.

[![Enduring the HR Impacts of COVID19](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2652187/e836d43c-84b8-437a-ae5b-e8b521c7a7f6.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2652187/e836d43c-84b8-437a-ae5b-e8b521c7a7f6)

1. ##### **My child’s school is giving me a choice between having my child attend in person or participate in a remote learning program for the fall. I signed up for the remote learning alternative because, for example, I worry that my child might contract COVID-19 and bring it home to the family. Since my child will be at home, may I take paid leave under the FFCRA in these circumstances?**

No, you are not eligible to take paid leave under the FFCRA because your child’s school is not “closed” due to COVID-19-related reasons; it is open for your child to attend. FFCRA leave is not available to take care of a child whose school is open for in-person attendance. If your child is home not because his or her school is closed, but because you have chosen for the child to remain home, you are not entitled to FFCRA paid leave. However, if, because of COVID-19, your child is under a quarantine order or has been advised by a health care provider to self-isolate or self-quarantine, you may be eligible to take paid leave to care for him or her. See [FAQ question 63](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-questions#63).

Also, as explained more fully in [FAQ question 98](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-questions#98) (above), if your child’s school is operating on an alternate day (or other hybrid-attendance) basis, you may be eligible to take paid leave under the FFCRA on each of your child’s remote-learning days because the school is effectively “closed” to your child on those days.

1. ##### **My child’s school is beginning the school year under a remote learning program out of concern for COVID-19, but has announced it will continue to evaluate local circumstances and make a decision about reopening for in-person attendance later in the school year. May I take paid leave under the FFCRA in these circumstances?**

Yes, you are eligible to take paid leave under the FFCRA while your child’s school remains closed. If your child's school reopens, the availability of paid leave under the FFCRA will depend on the particulars of the school’s operations.

**[![What to Do When Employees Refuse to Return to Work Post-COVID](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2652187/229bc7b3-6c59-490f-9fe8-b0e84e7c7ea0.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2652187/229bc7b3-6c59-490f-9fe8-b0e84e7c7ea0)**

## **Providing Non-FFCRA Leave and Flexibility**

Although employees aren’t entitled to FFCRA leave if their child’s school is technically open and they choose remote learning, we encourage employers to work with employees who have chosen to keep kids home (as in Question 99), working out a flexible or reduced schedule as needed. If an employee has chosen to have their children attend school online only, it is likely because they feel the school is not safe or the risk of the child bringing the virus home and infecting a more vulnerable person is too high. If required to choose between working and keeping their family safe, many parents will choose safety, thus leaving their employer with a position to fill. Given the cost of replacing an employee (generally from 20 to 200 percent of their yearly salary), working out a flexible or reduced schedule with employees in this situation is likely the best choice for the company’s bottom line as well as its reputation.

[![Jeanette Coleman, SPHR & SHRM-SCP](https://blog.axcethr.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Jeanette-04.jpg?width=80&height=80&name=Jeanette-04.jpg)](https://blog.axcethr.com/author/jeanette-coleman)

Written by

#### [Jeanette Coleman, SPHR & SHRM-SCP](https://blog.axcethr.com/author/jeanette-coleman)

Jeanette Coleman, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, is the Director of Human Resources at Axcet HR Solutions, where she has contributed her expertise for over 21 years.

As a leader in the HR industry, she holds advanced certifications as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and SHRM-Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). Jeanette oversees HR strategy and operations, ensuring Axcet delivers exceptional HR services that help small and mid-sized businesses stay compliant and grow.

With a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management from Keller Graduate School and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Kansas State University, Jeanette is well-equipped to lead and support clients in navigating complex HR challenges.

Throughout her 15-year tenure as Director of Human Resources, she has been instrumental in positioning Axcet as the Midwest’s largest and premier Professional Employer Organization (PEO). Her previous roles at Axcet include Director of Employee Benefits and Senior HR Consultant, where she gained extensive experience in HR outsourcing, and employee risk management.

Jeanette’s expertise has been recognized through industry and regional publications. She co-authored the article “High-Touch in the Age of High-Tech: How PEOs Can Embrace AI Without Losing Their Humanity” (https://peoinsider.org/articles/high-touch-in-the-age-of-high-tech-how-peos-can-embrace-ai-without-losing-their-humanity/) for PEO Insider (March 2026), alongside Jo McClure, and was featured in Ingram’s Magazine in a Q&A (https://ingrams.com/article/qa-with-jeanette-coleman/) discussing generational change, technology, and workplace culture. These contributions reflect her perspective on balancing innovation with the human side of HR.

Jeanette’s leadership reflects her deep commitment to helping businesses thrive through strategic, compliance-driven HR solutions. Through her writing, she shares insights on HR strategy, compliance, and best practices to help employers confidently manage their workforce.

 Published in: PEO Insider and Ingram's

Read more

<https://www.axcethr.com> <https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanette-coleman-sphr-shrm-scp-a40a537/> [View all posts →](https://blog.axcethr.com/author/jeanette-coleman)

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  "articleBody" : "As parents and students navigate an unprecedented back-to-school season, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division recently addressed eligibility questions surrounding paid leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) to care for children who may not be attending classes in person due to the pandemic. The Wage and Hour Division in late August 2020 released Frequently Asked Questions for workers and employers that explain – among other things – when workers qualify for paid time off to accommodate the varied formats and schedules schools are following as they reopen. Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) The FFCRA’s paid leave provisions apply to leave taken through the end of 2020. Generally speaking, the new guidance stipulates that workers qualify for FFCRA-provided paid time off only when schools are closed or disallow students’ entry. In the FAQs, questions number 98, 99 and 100 – listed below – address specific situations: My child’s school is operating on an alternate day (or other hybrid-attendance) basis. The school is open each day, but students alternate between days attending school in person and days participating in remote learning. They are permitted to attend school only on their allotted in-person attendance days. May I take paid leave under the FFCRA in these circumstances? Yes, you are eligible to take paid leave under the FFCRA on days when your child is not permitted to attend school in person and must instead engage in remote learning, as long as you need the leave to actually care for your child during that time and only if no other suitable person is available to do so. For purposes of the FFCRA and its implementing regulations, the school is effectively “closed” to your child on days that he or she cannot attend in person. You may take paid leave under the FFCRA on each of your child’s remote-learning days. My child’s school is giving me a choice between having my child attend in person or participate in a remote learning program for the fall. I signed up for the remote learning alternative because, for example, I worry that my child might contract COVID-19 and bring it home to the family. Since my child will be at home, may I take paid leave under the FFCRA in these circumstances? No, you are not eligible to take paid leave under the FFCRA because your child’s school is not “closed” due to COVID-19-related reasons; it is open for your child to attend. FFCRA leave is not available to take care of a child whose school is open for in-person attendance. If your child is home not because his or her school is closed, but because you have chosen for the child to remain home, you are not entitled to FFCRA paid leave. However, if, because of COVID-19, your child is under a quarantine order or has been advised by a health care provider to self-isolate or self-quarantine, you may be eligible to take paid leave to care for him or her. See FAQ question 63. Also, as explained more fully in FAQ question 98 (above), if your child’s school is operating on an alternate day (or other hybrid-attendance) basis, you may be eligible to take paid leave under the FFCRA on each of your child’s remote-learning days because the school is effectively “closed” to your child on those days. My child’s school is beginning the school year under a remote learning program out of concern for COVID-19, but has announced it will continue to evaluate local circumstances and make a decision about reopening for in-person attendance later in the school year. May I take paid leave under the FFCRA in these circumstances? Yes, you are eligible to take paid leave under the FFCRA while your child’s school remains closed. If your child's school reopens, the availability of paid leave under the FFCRA will depend on the particulars of the school’s operations. Providing Non-FFCRA Leave and Flexibility Although employees aren’t entitled to FFCRA leave if their child’s school is technically open and they choose remote learning, we encourage employers to work with employees who have chosen to keep kids home (as in Question 99), working out a flexible or reduced schedule as needed. If an employee has chosen to have their children attend school online only, it is likely because they feel the school is not safe or the risk of the child bringing the virus home and infecting a more vulnerable person is too high. If required to choose between working and keeping their family safe, many parents will choose safety, thus leaving their employer with a position to fill. Given the cost of replacing an employee (generally from 20 to 200 percent of their yearly salary), working out a flexible or reduced schedule with employees in this situation is likely the best choice for the company’s bottom line as well as its reputation.",
  "author" : {
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    "name" : "Jeanette Coleman, SPHR & SHRM-SCP",
    "url" : "https://blog.axcethr.com/author/jeanette-coleman"
  },
  "dateCreated" : "2020-09-03",
  "dateModified" : "2026-06-16",
  "datePublished" : "2020-09-03",
  "description" : "As parents and students navigate an unprecedented back-to-school season, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division recently addressed eligibility questions surrounding paid leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) to care for children who may not be attending classes in person due to the pandemic. The ...",
  "editor" : "Jeanette Coleman, SPHR & SHRM-SCP",
  "genre" : "Human Resources and Employee Management",
  "headline" : "Back to School May Mean Paid Time Off for Working Parents",
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