By Michael Hernandez
SACRAMENTO—Governor Gavin Newsom’s Plan for Learning and Safe Schools released Friday (July 17) currently will shut down schools in 32 counties (including every Ventura County district) and force parents to continue their children in distance learning programs unless they homeschool (see https://www.publicschoolexit.com/.) The Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) reports that millions of parents are keeping their children home not because of COVID-19 but because of the response to the virus. (See link to article on Back To School? ‘No Thanks’ say millions of parents at: https://fee.org/articles/back-to-school-no-thanks-say-millions-of-new-homeschooling-parents/.)
The Governor’s Plan claims that “rigorous instruction for students” will continue even when “schools are physically closed” and “in California, health data will determine when a school can be physically open–and when it must close–but learning should never stop” because “learning is non-negotiable.”
According to the released plan, “decisions to open in-person will be determined by local data that the public can track on a daily basis” and those schools in counties that are able to reopen “will implement precautions, including a requirement that students in the third grade and above wear masks.”
The Governor’s Plan centers on five key areas:
- Safe in-person school based on local health data.
- Strong mask requirements for anyone in the school.
- Physically distancing requirements and other adaptations.
- Regular testing and dedicated contact tracing for outbreaks at schools.
- Rigorous distance learning.
(Editor’s Note: To read the complete 19-page Schools and School-Based Programs COVID-19 Guidance Report released by the California Department of Public Health:
https://files.covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-schools.pdf.)
California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond last Wednesday commended school districts across California for making student, teacher, and staff health and safety the foremost priority as they formalized plans for resuming learning this fall.
“Everyone shares the desire to reopen schools and agrees that the best place for children to learn and thrive is in the classroom connected with caring teachers and staff. We also understand that schools are more than a place of learning: They provide critical necessities like meals, relationships with caring adults, and support for working parents. But we can only open schools if it is safe to do so.
“As the largest educational agency in the country, our stance has been consistent during this pandemic: Science, data, and safety must guide any decision about reopening a school. The health and safety of our students and staff is too important to risk.”
According to Governor Newsom, schools will only be allowed to reopen in counties that have been off the state’s monitoring list for at least 14 days. They are placed on the sate list based o COVID-19 transmission and fatality rates.
The Citizens Journal reported on July 17th that all Ventura County schools and charter schools would begin the fall school year with only distance learning only according to Ventura County Superintendent of Schools Stan Mantooth. The district impacts all 20 school districts in the county as well as 11 charter schools. “We know that distance learning can never fully substitute for the exchange of knowledge and social support that takes place in schools, but it is the most prudent way for us to provide education while the coronavirus continues to surge in Ventura County.”
(Editor’s Note: To see the July 17 Citizens Journal story on schools in Ventura County go to: https://www.citizensjournal.us/all-ventura-county-schools-to-begin-new-year-with-only-distance-learning/.)
According to Conejo Valley Unified School District Trustee Sandee Everett: “There is a single exception. Local health officers may grant a waiver to allow elementary schools to reopen in-person instruction if the waiver is requested by the district superintendent, in consultation with labor, parents, and community-based organizations. When considering a waiver request, the local health officer must consider local data and consult with the California Department of Public Health.”
President Trump seeks to have in-person schools reopen in fall
President Donald J. Trump announced on July 7th that he wanted the nation’s schools to reopen and that his administration would be “putting a lot of pressure” on US governors to reopen public school in the fall. “Everybody wants it. The moms want it. The dads want it. The kids want it. It’s time to do it…Virtual learning has proven to be TERRIBLE compared” to going to class in person, and it’s “not even close.”
“For children with disabilities, without access to technology or homes that are not a safe place, the situation can be even worse,” said First Lady Melania Trump. “Children’s mental health and social development must be as much of a priority as physical health.”
“Schools connect students with peers and mentors, channel youthful energy into productive pursuits, teach essential academic skills and knowledge, and give overwhelmed parents room to breathe and work,” said a spokesperson for the American Enterprise Institute.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued warning that there are intellectual and mental consequences of online learning. “All policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having student physically peasant in school,” the AAP wrote last month.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos vowed to have schools reopen nationwide for in-person classes saying that it can be done in a safe manner amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “Parents are expecting that this fall, their kids are going to have full-time experience with their learning, and we need to follow through on that promise,” said DeVos on July 12. “They’ve fallen behind this spring. We need to ensure they’re back in a classroom situation wherever possible and whenever possible, and fully functioning, fully learning.” DeVos noted that mental, emotional, and social issues have arisen among children “who are stuck at home.”
The Trump administration is threatening to withhold federal funding to schools that don’t reopen in-person in the fall. According to DeVos, “If schools aren’t gong to reopen and not fulfill that promise they shouldn’t get the funds…(we should) give it to the families to decide to go to a school that is going to meet that promise.”
Meanwhile, the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) stated today that teachers unions are demanding that States restrict learning opportunities and gave the example of Oregon Governor Kate Brown who closed all schools including charter schools offering virtual learning.
Executive Director Jordan Sekulow says their nonprofit will provide free legal services to parents who believe their children are being denied access to free public education because of challenges of being able to access distance learning (with equal education for everyone guaranteed under the 14th Amendment).
Already, in the past week, almost 700 new clients from 22 states have contacted them to represent their children with school districts. Sekulow has appeared the last two Sundays on Steve Hilton’s The Next Revolution on the Fox News Channel. The ACLJ launched a School Choice Initiative four weeks ago with a petition signed by 71,000 individuals. (Editor’s Note: To sign the petition go to: https://aclj.org/school-choice/demand-school-choice–give-every-child-equality-of-opportunity-and-justice.)
The ACLJ reports that of the $620 billion spent nationwide on K-12 education with $68 billion coming from the federal government and $23 billion under Title 1 which some remember as the “No Child Left Behind” federal funding as part of the Elementary Secondary Education Act (ESEA) which can be made more local friendly through proposed legislation such at the A+ Act or by administrative regulations.
Harry Hutchison, an ACLJ lawyer stated today: “Public schools, led by progressive politicians, Boards of Education, and left-wing teachers’ union leaders, continue to fail and thus yield poorer and poorer outcomes in terms of safety, graduation rates, and parental satisfaction than schools of Choice. This pattern has been exacerbated by the Coronavirus pandemic.
“As school districts decline to reopen, teachers’ unions, apparently fearful of competition, have responded by demanding that states shutdown virtual learning opportunities.”
Los Angeles Teachers Union demands $250 million to reopen schools;
COVID-19 vaccine or cure; Defunding Police; Free Housing to anyone
The United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA)–the union representing teachers of the 600,000 students in 1,000 schools states that the “total additional expenses to restart physical schools could be nearly $250 million.
UTLA seeks from the federal government: an emergency bailout, increased Title 1 funding, increased Individuals With Disabilities Education funding, and Medicare for All funding. From the state: government: passage of the proposed property tax increase already on the November ballot, along with a “Wealth Tax” of one percent a year, and a “Millionaire Tax” of up to 3 percent surtax of high-income Californians. Locally: UTLA wants to “Defund Police,” provide free housing to anyone, 10 additional sick days (beyond the existing 10 sick days employees have); a moratorium on charter schools, and “financial support for undocumented students and families.” The union argues that Los Angeles should not reopen until a COVID-19 vaccine or cure is available.
(Editor’s Note: To see story go to Citizens Journal link at: https://www.citizensjournal.us/l-a-teachers-union-give-us-250-million-or-keep-schools-closed/. To see the 17-page July report released by UTLA called: “The Same Storm, but Different Boats: The Safe and Equitable Conditions for Starting LAUSD in 2020-2021” go to:https://www.utla.net/sites/default/files/samestormdiffboats_final.pdf.)
Michael Hernandez, Co-Founder of the Citizens Journal—Ventura County’s online news service; editor of the History Makers Report and founder of History Makers International—a community nonprofit serving youth and families in Ventura County, is a former Southern California daily newspaper journalist and religion and news editor. He worked 25 years as a middle school teacher in Monrovia and Los Angeles Unified School Districts. Mr. Hernandez can be contacted by email at [email protected].
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