As California faces its biggest challenge yet in fending off the coronavirus pandemic, parents are bombarded with all kinds of information about Covid-19 except what we need to know: What is happening statewide in our schools.
Without that data, our students will remain in distance learning rather than returning to the classroom. Schools need a comprehensive statewide dashboard like the one used to track student achievement so administrators and teachers can understand the relative risks and make informed decisions. As a member of a county school board, I have been struck by the dearth of such data.
Coronavirus data such as positivity rate, hospitalizations and the number of available ICU beds help gauge the spread of the disease and the medical facility resources available. It doesn’t tell us what is happening in schools and doesn’t give parents and teachers data about when it is safe to return to in-person classes. As a result, the vast majority of California students remain