updated 6:30pm 7/15/2020
After the proactive move by Folsom Cordova Unified School District to vote for distance-learning model last night, this afternoon – Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools and District Superintendents in the thirteen districts —with support from Doctors Beilenson and Kasirye—have made the determination that schools should resume in August/September 2020 with a Distance Learning model.
The health and safety of teachers and students as well as threat of community spread are the priority behind the determination.
Folsom Cordova Unified School District
“The decision to return to school in a distance learning model was not made lightly,” stated Superintendent, Sarah Koligian. “Prioritizing the health and safety of our students, employees, and their families, in light of the ever-changing health landscape, has remained our cornerstone throughout this process. There is no doubt that our teachers miss their students, and our students miss the social interactions on campus with peers and adults. Our goal is to return to an in-person instructional model, when deemed safe to do so by our state and local health officials. Our administrators and teachers are grateful for the Board’s decision to move forward with distance learning for the start of the school year, allowing the time needed for our professionals to fine-tune this delivery model of instruction.” … COVID19 transmission, infection and hospitalization rates continue to rise in Sacramento County and our communities of Rancho Cordova and Folsom. This rise coupled with limited testing capacity and a prioritization of health and safety for students, their families and our employees were considered when making this critical decision.
Sacramento City Unified School District :
Sacramento City Unified School District announced today that students will begin the school year on September 3 with a full distance learning program…While the district hoped and planned to offer students the options to choose between in-person and distance learning, we noted in our Health & Safety Requirements that public health conditions and recommendations by state and county officials could require a shift to a full distance learning scenario. While COVID-19 cases are spiking in California, a delayed time lag exists between testing and receiving test results, and widespread contact tracing remains inefficient. Given these factors and based on the recommendation of the Sacramento County Department of Public Health, the district has determined that the semester will start with students participating in school remotely.
San Juan Unified
San Juan Unified will continue to follow the guidance of health officials. The 2020-2021 school year will begin by offering families the options of a strengthened distance learning instructional model or TK-8 homeschool / 9-12 independent study… Anticipating rapidly changing circumstances, district and school staff have worked to develop a range of instructional models that provide families with multiple options as health guidance and orders change in response to local conditions. The board will discuss and consider approval of the range of learning models to be offered as local health conditions improve. On one side of the range, families will have the choice of strengthened distance learning, 9-12 independent study or TK-8 homeschool during times when local health conditions do not support greater school openings. In the middle of the continuum, the option for modified in-person learning is added providing students with two days per week of on campus instruction in limited class sizes paired with three days of remote learning each week. On the other end of the continuum, the option for schools to resume full in-person learning five days a week is added though significant safety modifications may still be in place.
Twin Rivers announcement:
The start of a new school year is always a special time for our Twin Rivers school community. However, this fall will be unlike any in the history of our district. …one thing is clear based on the latest public health information—the coronavirus is not under control with infection rates climbing sharply around the state, including Sacramento County. Therefore, we are starting the 2020-2021 school year in an online/virtual teaching and learning environment. All classes will be held virtually. There will be no in-person classes when school opens August 18, as previously scheduled. Keeping our students and staff safe is our main priority.
