Open, regular communication and the development of routines will help families feel more prepared to handle extended COVID-19 school closures or the potential that districts must once again close their doors, according to a new brief from the EdResearch for Recovery Project. The report, “Engaging […]
Category: Coronavirus
Large donation of facemasks to be distributed to students in high-need communities
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced on Oct. 22 that the California Department of Education received 500,000 cloth facemasks donated by General Motors for students in need across the state. In a press conference announcing the donation, Thurmond said that allocation of the […]
Federal audit of disaster recovery funds finds LEA issues exacerbated by COVID-19
A new audit report from the U.S Government Accountability Office addressed to Congress examines how federal disaster recovery funds are being used in districts that received them, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has complicated fund implementation and exacerbated issues connected to natural disasters. In a […]
New report examines ways to rethink education as schools reopen
As local educational agencies across the country face decisions about when and how to reopen schools for in-person learning, the Learning Policy Institute has released a new report that looks at methods to rethink schools in ways that align with evidence-based policies and practices. Restarting […]
Ongoing digital divide concerns, possible solutions highlight Assembly hearing
A joint Assembly committee hearing on Oct. 14 offered an array of perspectives on the digital divide, which has long plagued California but is now being considered with new urgency due to the COVID-19 pandemic and widespread distance learning. New Reality: Students’ Access to the […]
USDA extends critical nutrition waivers through end of school year
In a major victory for public schools and the millions of students they serve, the United States Department of Agriculture on Oct. 9 announced that it is extending flexibilities to allow free meals to continue to be available to all children throughout the entire 2020–21 […]
Updated CDC guidance provides testing protocol recommendations for schools, including shift in broad testing strategies
With COVID-19 tests becoming more widely available, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released updated guidance Oct. 13 on what K-12 school administrators and public health officials should consider when testing students or staff. “Interim Considerations for Testing for K-12 School Administrators and Public […]
CDE updates arts education guidance for 2020–21
The California Department of Education recently updated its Arts Education Guidance for the 2020–21 school year to supplement California Department of Public Health regulations with details around how to safely provide arts education when schools reopen. The document provides suggestions that may assist arts programs in […]
Report examines how well schools served English learners during spring closures
Californians Together released a report in September examining the quality of instruction provided to English learners in the state’s schools during the spring when schools were suddenly shuttered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization reviewed 79 school districts’ COVID-19 Operation Written Reports to help […]
Guest view: Getting back to school, safely
By Emma Tudor Getting students back on campus is a priority for all schools this fall. Not only for high-need students who require extra support for their well-being, but for all students who are missing that crucial in-person interaction with their peers and teachers. While […]