On March 18, 2021, in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit once again upheld the school district’s handling of a high profile First Amendment issue where a high school football coach was suspended after praying on […]
Author: Kimberly Sellery
National school reopening summit emphasizes safety and collaboration
The U.S. Department of Education on March 24 hosted the National Safe School Reopening Summit, which presented three panels discussing different aspects of school reopening from both a scientific and boots-on-the-ground perspective from district representatives around the U.S., including San Diego County’s Cajon Valley Union […]
San Diego court decision granting temporary reprieve from CDPH framework has statewide implications
On March 15, 2021, Superior Court Judge Cynthia A. Freeland issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) in A.A. v. Newsom, et al, a lawsuit brought by several students against six school districts in San Diego County, Gov. Gavin Newsom and key members of his COVID-19 […]
Updated national student survey shows improvements compared to spring 2020
In July 2020, YouthTruth released a national report that surveyed more than 20,000 students about their learning and well-being during that first wave of school closures, Students Weigh In: Learning & Well-Being During COVID-19. Although intended to be a standalone report, the organization has now […]
President Biden signs historic relief package dedicating $128 billion to K-12 schools
President Joe Biden on March 11 signed a historic $1.9 trillion relief package H.R.1319, known as the American Rescue Plan, that includes $128 billion for K-12 education, $7 billion for an Emergency Connectivity Fund and $350 billion for state governments to fill their budget gaps. […]
School boards in action: Social-emotional and mental health support during the pandemic
In a national survey this summer, more than three in four school social workers reported that a majority of students at their schools needed serious mental health supports in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, school closures, economic hardship and a convergence of other factors. […]
Governor and Legislature respond to advocacy with new school reopening deal
Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders on March 1 announced an agreement that provides a path to the reopening of schools statewide while retaining local discretion over the return of in-person instruction. Although the bill is not perfect, it addresses many of the concerns CSBA […]
School boards in action: The digital divide
CSBA knows the challenges our students and school communities are facing and the hard work school boards across the state are putting in to keep students learning and support the goal of reopening schools safely. While calls for reopening schools in districts that have not […]
U.S. Education Department will not provide assessment waivers, but institutes flexibility
The U.S. Department of Department of Education released a letter on Feb. 22 stating that assessment, accountability and reporting requirements for the 2020–21 school year will not be waived. The letter says that assessments are needed to “understand the impact COVID-19 has had on learning […]
New athletics guidance allows outdoor sports, even in purple tier
The California Department of Public Health today announced that youth and recreational sports will be allowed to resume in counties with fewer than 14 positive COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents. The new rules apply to all organized youth and adult sports and take effect next […]