Distance learning didn’t stop important discussions, lessons and events from happening in schools across the state for Black History Month. Stockton Unified School District’s Stagg High School had students and staff share the stories of different influential figures ranging from KRS-One to Ruby Bridges via […]
Category: Coronavirus
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 […]
Facilities planning during a pandemic means more cooks in the kitchen, experts say
At no time before have the more mundane, day-to-day aspects of school facilities been discussed with such contention, panelists said during a Feb. 10 webinar hosted by the California Association of School Business Officials. “Facilities and our operations have never been in the limelight like […]
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 […]
SB 86 attempts to address school reopening challenges
Hoping to expedite the widespread return of in-person instruction, California legislators introduced Senate Bill 86 on Feb. 18, 2021. The $6.5 billion proposal, titled the “Safe and Open Schools Act,” is designed to get large numbers of students back in the classroom this spring. The […]
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 […]
CDC releases ‘roadmap’ to school reopening; CDPH releases maps showing school reopening status
In a flurry of activity on Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Department of Public Health held a series of press conferences on school reopening and issued new tools and guidance meant to support the return to in-person instruction. Although […]
Past chronic absence data can help identify students most in danger of falling behind during pandemic
Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, one out of six children — or 8 million U.S. students — experienced some level of chronic absenteeism, according to an analysis of the most recent federal data. Those with the most absences are also in the groups hardest hit […]
State digital divide taskforce discusses legislation to expand broadband connectivity
The first 2021 meeting of California’s Closing the Digital Divide Task Force on Feb. 2 provided viewers a more in-depth look at some the initial proposals put forth by lawmakers to boost broadband access to students and communities. “For us, this is one of the […]
Litigation and school districts: Providing FAPE amid the COVID-19 pandemic
Despite the remarkable efforts school districts have made to meet the legal and practical requirements of educating all students during the COVID-19 pandemic, lawsuits related to distance learning and school closures were inevitable, including lawsuits related to educating students receiving special education services. For some […]