California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced in December the Safe Schools for All plan, structured to provide extra support to schools currently operating in person and expand the number of schools resuming in-person classes.
Newsom isolated the rationale to push for reopening from dialogue on COVID-19 case numbers and said classroom learning is “especially important for our youngest kids, those with disabilities, those with limited access to technology at home and those who have struggled more than most with distance learning,” although he maintained distance learning will remain an option for parents.
“I want to emphasize this is about phasing in in-person instruction,” Newsom said, before summarizing a four-part plan that addresses additional school funding, classroom safety and mitigation, oversight and assistance guided by a new cross-agency team, and transparency measures designed to bolster parent-district communication.
The governor proposed a $2 billion budget increase for schools to begin reopening in February. Children in transitional kindergarten, first and second grades would return first with other grade levels phased in afterward.
“These funds will provide approximately $450 per student to school districts offering in-person instruction and will be weighted for districts serving students from low-income families, English learners and foster youth,” Newsom said.
Along with increased funding, state administrators plan to increase support for campus and classroom safety efforts including weekly testing in communities with high rates of transmission, and continued contact tracing through the school portal for outbreak testing.
“Administration is focused on getting students back into the classroom in a way that leads with student and teacher health,” in part to address mental health and social-emotional needs of California students, Newsom said.
Already students and staff are required to wear some form of mask or facial covering on campuses, however the new Safe Schools for All plan recommends surgical masks for school staff and the state announced they will distribute millions of surgical masks to schools at no cost through the plan.
“We are going to be creative in funding to address learning loss,” Newsom said.
