CDC releases new school guidance for reopening decisions; reverts asymptomatic testing guidance

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidance on Sept. 15 to aid local educational agencies in school reopening decisions. Though the guidance comes well after the start of the school year for many LEAs, it provides suggested reopening criteria for states that […]

U.S. Department of Homeland Security memo limits DACA program again after Supreme Court decision

On June 18, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court held in a 5-4 decision in University of California v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security that the Trump administration may not immediately proceed with its plan to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The […]

New tools available to center equity for English learners in Learning Continuity and Attendance Plan

A new collaboration to support the needs of English learners in California by Californians Together, Sobrato Early Language Academy and Loyola Marymount University’s Center for Equity for English Learners is teaming up with county offices of education to aid in the implementation of the English Learner Roadmap […]

Revised Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum begins new rounds of public review

A revised draft of the California Department of Education’s Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum was presented to the Instructional Quality Commission on Aug. 13, after reviewing thousands of critical comments of the initial draft. The first draft had been criticized by advocacy groups as promoting anti-Semitism […]

State issues updated guidance on reopening school waiver process

On the evening of Monday, Aug. 3, the California Department of Public Health released updated guidance for reopening California schools. The updated guidance outlines the waiver process through which local educational agencies in counties on the COVID-19 monitoring list can seek to resume in-person instruction at […]

UPDATE: Legislature’s recess extended to May 4; what that means for remainder of session, state budget process

On March 16, just after passing a package of $1 billion in funding to fight the COVID-19 pandemic (which included $100 million for schools, equal to approximately $17.37 per average daily attendance that will be sent to local educational agencies in early April), the Legislature […]

Serving students with disabilities during school closures: Updated federal guidance

California schools are taking extraordinary measures to continue to provide high-quality educational opportunities to all students while school sites are physically closed. According to the California Department of Education’s Special Education Guidance for COVID-19, at this time, the federal government has not waived the requirements […]

Information for Schools on Responding to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak

Each day, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has a greater impact on our lives. Epidemiologists have indicated that the outbreak is accelerating and will likely be with us for some time. As stewards of a community’s most valuable resource — its children — school trustees have […]