One of the largest nurses associations in the country is calling on school district leaders and state policymakers in areas where coronavirus infections, hospitalizations and deaths are spiking to postpone returning to in-person instruction. National Nurses United, which represents more than 150,000 registered nurses, said […]
Category: Coronavirus
Surge in COVID-19 cases causes superintendents to rethink reopening plans
Just when it looked like a hybrid learning model would best position their districts to strike a balance between educational needs and safety, several Inland Empire superintendents say a continued surge in COVID-19 cases in their communities has them leaning back toward a full distance […]
New report finds U.S. digital divide twice as large as previously thought
A new analysis on the U.S. digital divide finds that it is twice as large as previous estimates, according to Closing the K-12 Digital Divide in the Age of Distance Learning from Common Sense Media and the Boston Consulting Group. While a 2018 U.S. Department […]
White House summit pushes states to reopen schools — with safety in mind
One day after President Donald Trump tweeted, “SCHOOLS MUST OPEN IN THE FALL!!!” senior health and education officials said at a June 7 White House summit that reopening schools this fall is a necessity. But to do so safely, health and safety precautions eschewed by […]
California leads multistate lawsuit to protect CARES aid for public schools
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced on Tuesday, July 7, that he is leading a multistate lawsuit with Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel against U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos over the interim rule for how public schools distribute K–12 CARES Act money to […]
CDC releases new school guidance, does not recommended universal COVID-19 testing
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on June 30 released new guidance, “Interim Considerations for K-12 School Administrators for SARS-CoV-2 Testing.” The document notes that testing for COVID-19, along with symptom screening and contact tracing, are effective strategies to mitigate the spread of the […]
Governor signs 2020–21 budget package; CSBA webinar dives into details
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday night signed the 2020–21 state budget that leans heavily on deferrals in lieu of cuts to K–12 education funding and counts on significant additional federal funding to bolster schools financially in their monumental task to safely reopen schools. In a […]
State budget provisions complicate school reopening under COVID-19 conditions; Mega-deferrals established and major cuts avoided
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 […]
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 […]











