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Newsom Order Would Keep Most California Schools Online Newsom Order Would Keep Most California Schools Online
(7 days later)
LOS ANGELES — Responding to soaring coronavirus infections and growing concern from teachers, Gov. Gavin Newsom of California announced new rules on Friday that would force many of the state’s districts to teach remotely when school starts next month.LOS ANGELES — Responding to soaring coronavirus infections and growing concern from teachers, Gov. Gavin Newsom of California announced new rules on Friday that would force many of the state’s districts to teach remotely when school starts next month.
More than 80 percent of the state’s population lives in counties that would currently not qualify for schools to reopen based on their surging caseloads and hospitalization rates. The rules would also require most students to wear masks in classrooms and force schools that do hold in-person classes to shut down if enough students or employees test positive for the virus.More than 80 percent of the state’s population lives in counties that would currently not qualify for schools to reopen based on their surging caseloads and hospitalization rates. The rules would also require most students to wear masks in classrooms and force schools that do hold in-person classes to shut down if enough students or employees test positive for the virus.
“We all prefer in-classroom instruction for all the obvious reasons,” Mr. Newsom said, “but only if it can be done safely.”“We all prefer in-classroom instruction for all the obvious reasons,” Mr. Newsom said, “but only if it can be done safely.”
The announcement comes at the end of a week in which many school districts across the state and the country, including California’s two largest, Los Angeles and San Diego, abandoned plans for in-person instruction, saying they would start the school year remotely, and in which California announced a sweeping rollback of plans to reopen businesses.The announcement comes at the end of a week in which many school districts across the state and the country, including California’s two largest, Los Angeles and San Diego, abandoned plans for in-person instruction, saying they would start the school year remotely, and in which California announced a sweeping rollback of plans to reopen businesses.
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Education leaders in Houston, Atlanta, Nashville, Arlington, Va., and Broward County, Fla., also said this week that they planned to open the academic year online, despite pressure from President Trump and some Republican governors who want students in their classrooms five days a week.Education leaders in Houston, Atlanta, Nashville, Arlington, Va., and Broward County, Fla., also said this week that they planned to open the academic year online, despite pressure from President Trump and some Republican governors who want students in their classrooms five days a week.
In Texas, where state officials had previously put limits on online schooling, new guidelines were issued Friday that would allow as many as eight weeks of online-only instruction when schools return next month.In Texas, where state officials had previously put limits on online schooling, new guidelines were issued Friday that would allow as many as eight weeks of online-only instruction when schools return next month.
And leaders of Chicago’s public school system, the nation’s third-largest district after New York and Los Angeles, said on Friday that they were planning for a mix of in-person and online classes. But they stressed that the announcement was a tentative framework, with a final plan expected in August. New York City schools are also planning an in-person and online mix.And leaders of Chicago’s public school system, the nation’s third-largest district after New York and Los Angeles, said on Friday that they were planning for a mix of in-person and online classes. But they stressed that the announcement was a tentative framework, with a final plan expected in August. New York City schools are also planning an in-person and online mix.
The California rules announced on Friday would require schools in counties that the state has put on a “watchlist” — based on indicators that include new infections per capita, the test positivity rate and the hospitalization rate — to teach online until conditions improve. Currently, 33 of the state’s 58 counties, including many of the most populated, are on the list.The California rules announced on Friday would require schools in counties that the state has put on a “watchlist” — based on indicators that include new infections per capita, the test positivity rate and the hospitalization rate — to teach online until conditions improve. Currently, 33 of the state’s 58 counties, including many of the most populated, are on the list.
Counties would have to be off the list for at least two weeks before their classrooms would be allowed to reopen, but the decision would still be up to local officials on whether to resume in-person classes, the governor said.Counties would have to be off the list for at least two weeks before their classrooms would be allowed to reopen, but the decision would still be up to local officials on whether to resume in-person classes, the governor said.
Many districts in those counties had already said they would start the academic year online, including San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, Long Beach, Santa Ana and San Bernardino. But at least a few districts that had planned to hold in-person classes would be required to switch.Many districts in those counties had already said they would start the academic year online, including San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, Long Beach, Santa Ana and San Bernardino. But at least a few districts that had planned to hold in-person classes would be required to switch.
“Quite frankly, we are going to have to pivot, which is my new least favorite word,” said Eimear O’Farrell, the superintendent of Clovis Unified School District in Fresno County, which is on the watchlist.“Quite frankly, we are going to have to pivot, which is my new least favorite word,” said Eimear O’Farrell, the superintendent of Clovis Unified School District in Fresno County, which is on the watchlist.
On Wednesday, the Central Valley district with about 43,000 students had rolled out what Ms. O’Farrell described as a painstakingly developed plan to welcome students back to classrooms in August.On Wednesday, the Central Valley district with about 43,000 students had rolled out what Ms. O’Farrell described as a painstakingly developed plan to welcome students back to classrooms in August.
“It is a challenge and a source of frustration for us,” she said in a virtual news conference on Friday afternoon. “Every superintendent has been aiming to get this information out in time.”“It is a challenge and a source of frustration for us,” she said in a virtual news conference on Friday afternoon. “Every superintendent has been aiming to get this information out in time.”
The statewide rules would also require teachers and staff members in schools that are allowed to reopen to maintain six feet of physical distance with one another and children, and mandate masks for students in third grade and up. Younger children would be encouraged but not required to wear face coverings, and all children would be encouraged to maintain six feet of distance.The statewide rules would also require teachers and staff members in schools that are allowed to reopen to maintain six feet of physical distance with one another and children, and mandate masks for students in third grade and up. Younger children would be encouraged but not required to wear face coverings, and all children would be encouraged to maintain six feet of distance.
The guidelines recommend that school employees be tested regularly for the coronavirus, something teachers across the country have been pushing for, although the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said doing so is not necessary, and scaling up testing has been a challenge.The guidelines recommend that school employees be tested regularly for the coronavirus, something teachers across the country have been pushing for, although the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said doing so is not necessary, and scaling up testing has been a challenge.
Mr. Newsom’s unveiling of a statewide framework for schools marked a contrast to his usual reluctance to apply one set of policies for all of California, which he has often described as a kind of nation-state unto itself, with roughly 40 million residents spread across a vast and varied geography.Mr. Newsom’s unveiling of a statewide framework for schools marked a contrast to his usual reluctance to apply one set of policies for all of California, which he has often described as a kind of nation-state unto itself, with roughly 40 million residents spread across a vast and varied geography.
By and large, Californians have said they are supportive of restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the virus. But Mr. Newsom has been hesitant to impose statewide orders, instead repeating that “localism is determinative” and allowing counties to drive much of their own reopening.By and large, Californians have said they are supportive of restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the virus. But Mr. Newsom has been hesitant to impose statewide orders, instead repeating that “localism is determinative” and allowing counties to drive much of their own reopening.
The results have been at times confusing for residents attempting to navigate a patchwork of restrictions — though on Monday, in response to climbing numbers of new cases and shrinking hospital capacity in some areas, he announced the most sweeping statewide rollback yet of efforts to reopen many businesses.The results have been at times confusing for residents attempting to navigate a patchwork of restrictions — though on Monday, in response to climbing numbers of new cases and shrinking hospital capacity in some areas, he announced the most sweeping statewide rollback yet of efforts to reopen many businesses.
Still, the state’s efforts have met pushback from conservative officials, largely in more rural parts of the state where the virus has hit less hard, but also in some populous counties.Still, the state’s efforts have met pushback from conservative officials, largely in more rural parts of the state where the virus has hit less hard, but also in some populous counties.
In Orange County, where local officials have taken public stances against many of the state’s restrictions, the Board of Education voted this week to recommend that schools reopen without requiring students to wear masks — a decision that sparked widespread outcry. But the board is largely advisory and does not carry authority over the county’s more than two dozen districts, and many education leaders there have said they will adhere to state and county public health recommendations.In Orange County, where local officials have taken public stances against many of the state’s restrictions, the Board of Education voted this week to recommend that schools reopen without requiring students to wear masks — a decision that sparked widespread outcry. But the board is largely advisory and does not carry authority over the county’s more than two dozen districts, and many education leaders there have said they will adhere to state and county public health recommendations.
Updated July 27, 2020 Updated August 3, 2020
That difficulty is mirrored at the federal level, where guidance on the safety of reopening schools has been unsteady.That difficulty is mirrored at the federal level, where guidance on the safety of reopening schools has been unsteady.
On Friday, the C.D.C. postponed releasing new guidance amid a clash with Mr. Trump, who this month criticized the agency’s proposed school reopening guidelines as “very tough and expensive.” A copy of the draft rules to which Mr. Trump apparently objected, outlined in a document obtained by The New York Times and marked “For Internal Use Only,” warned that fully reopening schools remained “the highest risk” for spreading the virus.On Friday, the C.D.C. postponed releasing new guidance amid a clash with Mr. Trump, who this month criticized the agency’s proposed school reopening guidelines as “very tough and expensive.” A copy of the draft rules to which Mr. Trump apparently objected, outlined in a document obtained by The New York Times and marked “For Internal Use Only,” warned that fully reopening schools remained “the highest risk” for spreading the virus.
But without being able to send their children to school, parents must shoulder huge burdens, which affects their ability to work. Tens of millions of school children are falling behind academically, and the trends will widen existing socioeconomic gaps.But without being able to send their children to school, parents must shoulder huge burdens, which affects their ability to work. Tens of millions of school children are falling behind academically, and the trends will widen existing socioeconomic gaps.
Some educators are fearful and angry about the prospect of returning to schools with unanswered questions. The 310,000-member California Teachers Association urged state leaders this month to require districts to start the year “under robust distance learning protocols” and described even a hybrid model as “high-risk.”Some educators are fearful and angry about the prospect of returning to schools with unanswered questions. The 310,000-member California Teachers Association urged state leaders this month to require districts to start the year “under robust distance learning protocols” and described even a hybrid model as “high-risk.”
On Friday, the president of the California Federation of Teachers, which represents 120,000 school employees, said the state’s new guidelines did not go far enough to protect them. He objected to the state’s willingness to allow waivers for some schools in counties on the watchlist, as well as the lack of mandatory social distancing and testing for all students.On Friday, the president of the California Federation of Teachers, which represents 120,000 school employees, said the state’s new guidelines did not go far enough to protect them. He objected to the state’s willingness to allow waivers for some schools in counties on the watchlist, as well as the lack of mandatory social distancing and testing for all students.
“This updated guidance still allows for an ‘acceptable amount of harm’ to come to our students, their families and our education professionals,” the president, Jeff Freitas, said in a statement, demanding that schools across California continue to provide remote learning until “the governor can ensure adequate safety measures throughout the state.”“This updated guidance still allows for an ‘acceptable amount of harm’ to come to our students, their families and our education professionals,” the president, Jeff Freitas, said in a statement, demanding that schools across California continue to provide remote learning until “the governor can ensure adequate safety measures throughout the state.”
Erin Springer, who teaches fifth grade at a charter school in Inglewood, said that starting the new year with remote learning has felt inevitable since the beginning of summer. She said she wished the call had been made sooner, so that she and her colleagues could have prepared.Erin Springer, who teaches fifth grade at a charter school in Inglewood, said that starting the new year with remote learning has felt inevitable since the beginning of summer. She said she wished the call had been made sooner, so that she and her colleagues could have prepared.
“Almost every teacher I know felt like we were just wasting time,” Ms. Springer said.“Almost every teacher I know felt like we were just wasting time,” Ms. Springer said.
Mr. Newsom emphasized that education officials across the state would be working hard to ensure that all students would have access to “rigorous distance learning,” including access to devices and connectivity and live interactions every day with teachers and other students.Mr. Newsom emphasized that education officials across the state would be working hard to ensure that all students would have access to “rigorous distance learning,” including access to devices and connectivity and live interactions every day with teachers and other students.
He added that leaders would pay specific attention to students who are homeless, in the foster care system, or who are English language learners. The state, he said, has put $5.3 billion in additional money toward those efforts.He added that leaders would pay specific attention to students who are homeless, in the foster care system, or who are English language learners. The state, he said, has put $5.3 billion in additional money toward those efforts.
“We want to create some sense of equivalency,” Mr. Newsom said.“We want to create some sense of equivalency,” Mr. Newsom said.
In Marin County, a Bay Area suburb that is on the state’s watchlist, Brooke Palizi, a mother of two elementary school students, said the district recently announced that parents would be able to choose between letting their children attend socially distant in-person classes, remote learning, and a virtual academy akin to home schooling.In Marin County, a Bay Area suburb that is on the state’s watchlist, Brooke Palizi, a mother of two elementary school students, said the district recently announced that parents would be able to choose between letting their children attend socially distant in-person classes, remote learning, and a virtual academy akin to home schooling.
The new guidelines, she said, at least take the guesswork out of her children’s back-to-school plans.The new guidelines, she said, at least take the guesswork out of her children’s back-to-school plans.
“A decision’s been made, instead of it being up in the air, which is annoying,” she said.“A decision’s been made, instead of it being up in the air, which is annoying,” she said.
Dan Levin contributed reporting from New York.Dan Levin contributed reporting from New York.