Governor says schools could reopen on schedule if coronavirus spike is reversed, but schools must ensure students are learning if instruction is remote 

Gov. Newsom said he’s not worried about President Trump’s tweets threatening to withhold money from states that don’t push schools to reopen quickly.  Schools could still reopen  according to each district’s schedule if spikes in coronavirus cases can be reversed by people wearing masks, maintaining physical distancing and washing hands often, he said during his daily news briefing.

Ultimately, Newsom said it’s up to county public health and education officials to decide if it’s safe for schools to open next month. However, even if schools decide to start the new school year with distance learning, they must ensure that students are being educated, he said, referring to language in the state budget.

He said the state budget provides $5 billion to schools to address learning loss and to reopen safely, and added that he is working closely with the state superintendent of public instruction and other officials to ensure that school leaders understand the state’s expectations.

“We’ll be sharing a lot more on this topic over the course of the next days and weeks,” he said.

Newsom also noted that the state has provided a two-months’ supply of personal protective equipment – including masks, face shields and gowns – to every school in the state, as well as supplies for “deep sanitization.”