Credit: Al Seib/Los Angeles Times/Polaris
Credit: Al Seib/Los Angeles Times/Polaris
Steven Kellner and Laura Schwalm
May 21, 2021
As a full return to in-person instruction in the fall seems more likely, almost everyone associated with public education is hoping for a return to some semblance of normalcy.
But with the global pandemic revealing long-standing inequities in stark and painful ways, returning to “normal” this fall would be a disservice to students and families, especially to those who experienced the greatest hardships.
Fortunately, unprecedented new federal and state resources (albeit on a one-time basis) allow districts a rare opportunity to invest in their students. School district superintendents across the state now face the challenge: how to focus on what will make a real difference for students and not get lost in the need to spend the money.
Ventura County elementary schools monitoring metrics for reopening
OXNARD, Calif. Schools in California can reopen once COVID-19 case rate falls below a certain number in their respective county. The Ventura County Office of Education says that could happen any day.
Elementary schools could be back in session in Ventura County soon, as case rates keep trending down. Current state guidelines allow elementary schools to reopen for in-person learning once the case rate falls below 25 per 100,000 people.
“I believe we are at the 25 right now,” said Dr. Cesar Morales, Deputy Superintendent for the Ventura County Office of Education. “But nonetheless we have to be at that rate for at least five days for schools to have the flexibility to be able to open if they meet all of those local parameters and conditions.”
Reopening in sight for elementary schools as Ventura County COVID-19 case rate improves Shivani Patel and Tom Kisken, Ventura County Star
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As COVID-19 numbers continue to improve in Ventura County, local elementary schools that are currently closed to in-person learning may soon have an opportunity to reopen for students.
During the pandemic, one of the metrics the state has and continues to track for each county is the adjusted COVID case rate. Once the adjusted case rate falls below 25 cases a day and stays there for five consecutive days, schools offering kindergarten through sixth grade can open.