Remember a few weeks ago when Gov. Gavin Newsom said schools likely wouldn’t reopen before summer? Well, it looks as if that’s going to be the case.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond told county education officials in a letter Tuesday it “currently appears students will not be able to return … before the end of the school year.” He added, “It is unsafe for our students to be served on school campuses at this time,” emphasizing that schools should focus instead on distance learning.
Although Thurmond didn’t issue an official directive, his guidance will likely push many school districts to close their doors for the school year.
Troy Flint, spokesman for the California School Boards Association: “I think a lot of school districts and certain county superintendents have been leaning in this direction but have been waiting on something more definitive from the state to give them security in making this decision.”
Still, California schools will continue to offer instruction online. “This is in no way to suggest that school is over for the year,” Thurmond wrote. (Some other states, however, have stopped offering instruction entirely.) Many California schools are hammering out plans for online learning — but it remains a challenge.
CALMatters’ Richard Cano has reported that with the coronavirus pandemic raging and 99% of schools likely closed through summer, state education authorities are urging families to do their best with online classes, PBS and homeschooling.
California colleges are also reeling from coronavirus closures. Some have instituted pass/fail grading to account for disruptions, but some students worry the policy could adversely impact graduate school applications. Community college students are also concerned that taking classes pass/fail could affect their ability to transfer to four-year universities.
UC Berkeley student Vanessa Arredondo reports via CalMatters’ College Journalism Network that The coronavirus is disrupting college grading in California, as students stressed out from sheltering in place and transitioning to online classes push for schools to adopt flexible grading policies that account for the upheaval in their school year.
Other CA coronavirus updates
Did you know we’re now on Day 69 of coronavirus coverage in California? Days and events can seem to blend together.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday a new state hotline that people — particularly older, isolated Californians — can call for local non-medical services, such as food delivery and mental health care. The number is 833-544-2374.
After calling on retired doctors and medical students to help with the surge of coronavirus cases, Newsom also said Tuesday that 25,000 licensed health care providers have applied to join the California Health Corps.
The Bottom Line: As of 10 p.m. Tuesday night, California had 8,548 confirmed coronavirus cases and 181 deaths from the virus, according to a Los Angeles Times tracker. (These numbers are different from those of the state Department of Public Health, which are updated less often.)
