After an extended period of campus closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, state and local leaders are weighing what actions and resources will be needed for schools to physically reopen. As board members and superintendents review guidance issued by CSBA, state agencies and other organizations, […]
Month: June 2020
President’s Message: Facing a daunting task, we must put students first
Now that the 2019–20 school year is coming to a close, we must shift our focus to reopening schools and how we can do so in a way that’s safe, equitable and effective for students, staff, families, and community. While that will require detailed discussions, […]
Education leaders grapple with what is needed to reopen schools
To shed light on some of the key considerations for school leaders as they plan to reopen schools, the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research hosted a webinar on June 2 featuring local and statewide experts and research perspectives. In “Back to school: What parents […]
Latest U.S. Senate Committee hearing on reopening schools focuses on learning loss, equity and funding
Amidst a global pandemic and nationwide protests over the unjust murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis, the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions’ June 10 hearing, “COVID-19: Going Back to School Safely,” featured senators and education leaders discussing what is […]
New CSBA guidance for reopening schools addresses challenges faced by governance teams
As new information about COVID-19 and guidance for the reopening of schools in the 2020–21 academic year is released at a breakneck pace, CSBA has released a document that speaks directly to the needs of its members during this time. The Uncertain Road Ahead: Reopening […]
CCEE pivots focus to distance learning needs amid COVID-19 pandemic
Like all other parts of California’s public education system, the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence had to quickly pivot its focus in March when the COVID-19 pandemic closed classrooms throughout the state and ushered in widespread distance learning. At the CCEE’s June 4 board meeting, […]
CDE releases guidebook as schools plan how to reopen campuses
The California Department of Education on Monday, June 8, released a 55-page document to guide local educational agencies in their planning and discussions on physically reopening schools. “What we’ve done is compiled, as best as we can, a ‘how to’ to how we can safely […]
State releases health and safety guidance for schools; funding needed for implementation
The California Department of Public Health on Friday, June 5, unveiled the administration’s health and safety guidelines and considerations as schools prepare to resume in-person instruction. Among the recommendations are that all staff and students be screened before entering school facilities and that staff use […]
School meals: More important this summer than ever
By Christina Hecht and Jennifer McNeil Unemployment hits California hard The California Employment Development Department estimates that unemployment reached nearly 25 percent by mid-May 2020. In the eight-week period between March 14 and May 14, the EDD processed 4.7 million unemployment benefit claims — nearly […]
Legislature agrees on budget that rejects K–12 education cuts, counts on federal aid
The Legislature on Wednesday unveiled a 2020–21 budget proposal that prioritizes education and rejects the $8.1 billion in cuts to Proposition 98 funding called for in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s May Revision proposal, including the 10 percent reduction to the Local Control Funding Formula. The Senate […]