Category Archives: Policy

Adopting policy for COVID-19 mitigation during campus reopening

15 Jun
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students taking test
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, it is important to remember that the reopening process will look different in every community. Each district will need to develop plans based on its own needs and circumstances. “As long as COVID-19 still presents...

Protecting students’ online privacy: Special considerations during distance learning

1 Jun
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With school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic having led to the widescale implementation of distance learning, local educational agencies must be vigilant in protecting the privacy of student data that may be gathered electronically. While districts and county offices of education have always had a duty to protect students’ privacy, the sheer number of students going online to communicate with teachers and participate in digital learning increases the potential for abuse. Risks include the misuse or monetization of students’...

Board policies, without delay

8 May
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governance meeting
School closures due to the spread of COVID-19 have affected nearly every aspect of school, district and county office of education operations. Under these unique circumstances, governing board members and staff may find that they are consulting their board policies and administrative regulations more often, and may also be discovering their policies are not up to date or require changes and revisions that must be approved quickly. Local educational agencies often ask, “What is the minimum timeline for posting, reviewing...

Board member electronic communications in the virtual world of COVID-19

27 Apr
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California’s stay-at-home order and social distancing requirements imposed to maintain the health and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic have created a virtual world for most, including governing board members. Given that board members are increasingly, and perhaps solely, using electronic means during this time to communicate with their superintendents, each other and the public, it is important to be aware of the proper use of electronic resources, especially in regard to the Brown Act. Although Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Executive Order...

Ensuring proper use of district technology loaned to students and staff

20 Apr
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computer science
School closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic have required local educational agencies to find creative ways to implement distance learning districtwide and to address the needs of employees working from home. Districts are doing all they can to convert curriculum to an online or alternative platform, respond to the needs of students who do not have devices or internet access at home, develop multiple methods to reach students, and prepare teachers to deliver instruction remotely, all on very short notice....

Existing board policy can aid in preparing and responding to emergencies: BP/AR 3516 – Emergencies and Disaster Preparedness Plan  

13 Apr
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governance meeting
As districts and county offices of education navigate the daily-changing landscape of providing education to students while shelter-in-place orders are extended, leadership teams should look at their existing policies and plans that pertain to emergencies. Over the last few years, many local educational agencies have become familiar with Board Policy and Administrative Regulation 3516 – Emergencies and Disaster Preparedness Plan as their LEAs dealt with complications caused by wildfires and Public Safety Power Shutoffs. BP/AR 3516 also applies to medical...

Key board policies for our moment of crisis

3 Apr
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The COVID-19 pandemic presents an unprecedented crisis for school leaders trying to educate, feed and care for students from afar. While there are few easy solutions to today’s challenges, existing board policies can provide crucial tools for addressing these issues. This piece looks at some of the most useful board policies to reference during these turbulent times. CSBA sample Board Policy 2210 – Administrative Discretion Regarding Board Policy CSBA sample Board Policy 2210 can be applied to a number of...