The California Department of Education offered several insights into the development of its guidance for safely reopening schools during a May 21 webinar, with the department planning to release the document in the “days to weeks to come.” At the meeting’s outset, State Superintendent of […]
LEAs should prepare now to address mental health when schools return
California’s district and county office of education officials are looking toward the 2020–21 school year with serious concern over how to provide a safe learning environment for students and staff, as well as the myriad academic and mental supports that will be necessary to move […]
School nutrition programs more necessary than ever
Short of any official playbook dictating how to provide healthy school meals to children during a pandemic, districts throughout California have scrambled to feed students — in many instances, more than ever — and implement meal delivery systems that allow for social distancing during extended […]
President’s Message: Building a bridge across the digital divide
In this space last month, I commended the tireless work of trustees, administrators, teachers, classified staff and others for truly rising to the challenge and finding creative ways to teach and serve students on a massive scale and in relatively short order. And while much […]
COVID-19 webinar explores legal, policy and instructional aspects of special education
Of all the challenges faced by local educational agencies during the COVID-19 crisis, questions around providing services and learning opportunities to students with disabilities have been at the top of the list. Absent waivers to requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, schools have […]
May Revision cuts LCFF, drops COLA, introduces proposals in effort to mitigate impact
Reflecting California’s pandemic-induced $54 billion budget deficit, Gov. Gavin Newsom presented his May Revision on May 14 featuring a blend of proposals aimed at mitigating the dire financial straits of the state’s K–12 schools. “Coupled with a 10 percent cut to LCFF — the primary […]
Federal stimulus proposal calls for $58 billion for K-12 schools
House Democratic leadership released its expansive fourth COVID-19 stimulus package on May 12, H.R. 6800, calling for more than $100 billion in total education funding. The bill, known as the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act, spans over 1,800 pages, and includes […]
Fauci says ensuring student and staff safety before reopening schools is a ‘moral imperative’
Questioned about what it will take to safely reopen businesses and schools to jump-start the American economy, Anthony S. Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, warned on May 12 that “consequences could be really serious” if states move too quickly to return to business […]
Webinar highlights CSBA’s efforts on digital divide, shares district perspectives
With school districts and county offices of education now well into widespread distance learning across California — and acknowledging that at least some form of it will continue next school year — CSBA’s latest COVID-19 webinar explored how the association is playing a role in […]
State Board Report: May virtual meeting focuses on new realities, future projects and plans amid COVID-19
At its first meeting since the COVID-19 pandemic completely changed the shape of California’s public school system, the State Board of Education on May 7 virtually addressed how the crisis will shift its own policy work, priorities and timelines. Much of the discussion focused on […]