Californians can now track the status of school reopenings in their local districts and the entire state.
Governor Gavin Newsom first unveiled California’s Safe Schools for All Plan last year, in December. It outlined the framework to continue and expand safe in-person instruction in early spring, including a $2 billion early action proposal to support school safety measures.
According to his administration, the Governor’s plan is built on four pillars: Funding to Support Safe Reopening; Safety & Mitigation Measures for Classrooms; Hands-on Oversight & Assistance for Schools; and Transparency & Accountability for Families & School Staff.
“As a father of four, I know firsthand what parents, educators, and pediatricians continue to say: in-person is the best setting to meet not only the learning needs but the mental health and social-emotional needs of our kids,” said Governor Newsom. “In the midst of this pandemic, my
Administration is focused on getting students back into the classroom in a way that leads with student and teacher health.”
The plan is aimed to encourage more schools to reopen for in-person instruction in 2021. He believes that it is safe to do so as long as health and safety practices are implemented and followed.
In order to circulate information accurately and efficiently, Newsom’s administration released an online website (https://schools.covid19.ca.gov/), The Safe Schools For All Hub.
The platform consolidates key resources and information related to COVID-19 and schools. New resources are also added on a routine basis.
Last week, a new resource was published. It is interactive “Reopening Maps” for public school districts, charter schools, and private schools. The maps are continuously updated. Information is available for elementary, middle, and high schools. A color-coded map tells viewers the primary mode of instruction in the district or school they search for or click on. The key has the following information: In-Person, Hybrid, Distance Learning Only, and No Status Available.
According to The Bakersfield Californian, 25 of Kern County’s 47 districts are considered open for in-person learning. There are is no statuses available for any Kern County high schools, but some middle and
elementary schools’ information is available. Most are in a transitional period, having hybrid instruction.
Data is submitted every 2 weeks, and Newsom is determined to collect as much data as possible for the state of California.
It is important to note that schools opening still have to offer distance learning for parents who don’t want their children to receive in-person instruction. The choice to choose is important for the Kern community residents who have different views on the reopening of schools.
