California Department of Public Health releases updated school reopening guidance for 2020–21 school year

The California Department of Public Health today released an update to its “COVID-19 and Reopening In-Person Instruction Framework & Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools in California, 2020–2021 School Year.” The document notes the new version consolidates content from other CDPH COVID-19 and school-related guidance […]

Cost estimates to reopen schools safely within reach in California

As school districts across the United States consider how to safely reopen schools, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has provided indicators to help local educational agencies evaluate the risks associated with reopening schools for in-person instruction, including the level of community transmission. Other […]

New brief highlights ways of improving distance learning for the youngest students

The transition to distance learning for all students has been a challenge, but particularly for those in transitional kindergarten through third grade who have not yet learned to read or lack experience using computers. A new brief from Policy Analysis for California Education identifies a […]

Surgeon General’s report highlights need for cross-sector cooperation to support children and families

California Surgeon General Nadine Burke Harris released a report Dec. 9 to help support communities to recognize and effectively address Adverse Childhood Experiences — experiences that can include neglect, homelessness and witnessing violence in the home or community. In a press conference the following day, […]

Gov. Newsom plan proposes to open all schools by “early spring 2021”

On the morning of Dec. 30, Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a plan to incentivize the reopening of California public schools. During a 10 a.m. virtual press conference, Gov. Newsom outlined his administration’s “Safe Schools for All” plan, which contains a variety of funding and technical […]

Education relief receives $82 billion in COVID-19 stimulus package

Late on Dec. 21, Congressional leaders passed a roughly $900 billion COVID-19 stimulus package, with $54.3 billion dedicated to public K-12 schools. $82 billion in education relief funds While substantially less than the funding requested by education stakeholders or the amount proposed by either version […]

Sacramento COE outlines extensive efforts to support student mental health

The California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission released a report in November urging Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature to expand and strengthen school-based partnerships that serve children and their families — including those too young to yet enroll in school — to better […]

Closing the digital divide will require significant policy overhaul

Since schools closed last spring to slow the spread of the coronavirus, districts and county offices of education throughout California have stepped up and gotten creative to ensure students without access to devices or internet connectivity had what they needed to learn in an online […]

Parents still in need of support from schools as they do their best to keep their children on track

“What has COVID-19 taught us about the digital and opportunity divides in America’s schools?” Brookings Institution researchers asked of a panel of education officials during a Nov. 9 webinar. The answer — or at least one of them — is that family engagement is critical […]