While touted by Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders as preserving K–12 funding and positioning schools to reopen this fall, the 2020–21 state budget trailer bill language strips local educational agencies of critical flexibility needed to safely and effectively resume instruction. Distance learning Assembly Bill […]
Category: Coronavirus
Mandated reporters help ensure the safety and well-being of children during COVID-19
While learning loss has been at the forefront of concerns about the impacts of school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the shuttering of schools across the country poses additional risks for children who may experience abuse and neglect in their households. The economic crisis […]
Revised playbook offers chronic absenteeism strategies amidst COVID-19
The Attendance Playbook — originally released in 2019 by the nonprofit Attendance Works and Georgetown University-based think tank FutureEd — has been updated to account for the challenges posed by transitioning to fully virtual or blended learning models. The resource, Attendance Playbook: Smart Strategies for […]
Education leaders call for greater funding for COVID-19 challenges in U.S. House Committee hearing
The overarching theme of a recent U.S. House of Representatives Education and Labor Committee hearing echoed what many in education have been repeating since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic: schools need more money to ensure the safety and high-quality education of all students. Witnesses […]
Legislators call out resources, liability and lack of direction as concerns in reopening schools
With local educational agencies equipped with federal, state and county guidance on reopening campuses for the 2020–21 academic year, a June 16 joint Assembly Education Committee hearing cast concerns about the practicality and affordability of welcoming students back to the classroom. A yet-to-be finalized state […]
Budget negotiations to intensify as Legislature meets June 15 deadline
The Legislature on Monday, June 15, passed a 2020–21 budget bill that staves off immediate and drastic cuts to K–12 education, however, the spending plan is far from final as negotiations with the Governor’s Office continue. The Legislature’s action meets the requirement that lawmakers pass […]
Schools must keep needs of English learners in mind when crafting reopening plans
The disruption in learning due to COVID-19 school closures has impacted all students, but when the 2020–21 academic year begins, there are undoubtedly certain students who will need additional help and resources to catch up and stay on track. Experts and practitioners who gathered virtually […]
Adopting policy for COVID-19 mitigation during campus reopening
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, […]
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 […]