During the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, prolonged school closures may result in a reversal of educational gains, limiting children’s educational and vocational opportunities as well as their social and emotional interactions and development. The longer a student stays out of school, the higher the risk of dropping out. Additionally, students who are out of school – and particularly girls – are at increased risk of vulnerabilities (e.g. subject to greater rates of violence and exploitation, child marriage and teenage pregnancy). Furthermore, prolonged school closures interrupt and disrupt the provision of, and access to, essential school-based services such as school feeding and nutrition programmes, immunization, and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS). As the COVID-19 crisis becomes more protracted, there is a growing need to ensure that concerned stakeholders have appropriate mechanisms and capabilities to cope with their evolving local situations (Box 1). On the basis of available data from individual countries and recent studies, children under the 18 years of age account for some 8.5% of reported cases. Also, fewer deaths have been reported in this age group compared to other age groups. Furthermore, infections in children have generally caused mild disease, while severe disease due to COVID-19 is rare among the under-18s. However, a few cases of critical illness have been reported and pre-existing medical conditions have been suggested as risk factors for severe disease and admission to intensive care units (ICUs) in children. The present checklist should be considered as part of overall efforts of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee’s Interim guidance for COVID-19 prevention and control in schools and the Framework for reopening schools.