Photo: Gabrielle Lurie/San Francisco Chronicle/Polaris
Fourth-grade teacher Mr. Peter Wilson teaches a zoom class from his empty classroom at Sankofa Academy on the first day of school on Aug. 10 in Oakland.
Photo: Gabrielle Lurie/San Francisco Chronicle/Polaris
Fourth-grade teacher Mr. Peter Wilson teaches a zoom class from his empty classroom at Sankofa Academy on the first day of school on Aug. 10 in Oakland.
EdSource staff
August 30, 2020
18 Comments
Updated August 31.

Scroll down to view the many guidance documents issued by the California Dept. of Public Health (CDPH), the California Dept. of Education (CDE), county offices of education and other agencies and organizations — and find the one that best meets your needs.

We will continue to update this page. If you have guidance for a district or county not included below, or other documents you think we should list in this place, please be sure to email us.

Statewide guidance:

County offices of education:

Guidance from national organizations:

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  1. Jackie Umstead 3 years ago3 years ago

    I have a special needs child and he absolutely needs to have in person classes. I think all students whose parents agree, and teachers willing to open schools or classes should be allowed too. If they don’t want to, fine! But let the ones who do want to, be allowed to make their own choice!

  2. Jennifer A Mcrae 3 years ago3 years ago

    It would be great is you could compile a statewide list of district reopening plans, or just if they plan a distance or hybrid model.

  3. David 3 years ago3 years ago

    I have been a high school teacher for 35 years. I always look forward to a new school year, but this year is different. I am scared for our students, my coworkers, my family, and myself. This can be 'life or death' for me at my age and with current health issues. It seems like all of a sudden this is a rush to reopen schools which is not wise. … Read More

    I have been a high school teacher for 35 years. I always look forward to a new school year, but this year is different. I am scared for our students, my coworkers, my family, and myself. This can be ‘life or death’ for me at my age and with current health issues. It seems like all of a sudden this is a rush to reopen schools which is not wise.

    In a ‘perfect world’ in-person instruction is best; however, we are in the middle of a pandemic and I would hope the priority is saving lives. We live in a world of technology and “distance learning,” while not ideal, can be structured to keep students & staff accountable and is “safe.” Until there is an effective vaccine or medical treatments, sending our students and staff back into classrooms where the spread from just one infected student changing class periods and interacting with numerous others is a horrible situation waiting to happen.

  4. stephanie castillo 3 years ago3 years ago

    I am an educator and a parent of a high school student. I want my child to GO TO SCHOOL IN PERSON, as there is no substitute for in-class learning! I want to go back to my own classroom as well. I do not feel that my health is in any danger & I feel that this whole “pandemic” has been overblown. Let’s get back to school!!

    Replies

    • Adam Hampton 3 years ago3 years ago

      Fortunately, the rest of us can rely on our County Departments of Public Health to guide school re-opening, rather than anyone's 'feelings'. Good luck with those though. COVID-19 does not care what you or I think, feel, or want. It does not respect timelines or seasons. It kills people. It maims survivors and clots organs. Scientists are still discovering its impacts on humans. It doesn't care whether you prefer a … Read More

      Fortunately, the rest of us can rely on our County Departments of Public Health to guide school re-opening, rather than anyone’s ‘feelings’. Good luck with those though.

      COVID-19 does not care what you or I think, feel, or want. It does not respect timelines or seasons. It kills people. It maims survivors and clots organs. Scientists are still discovering its impacts on humans. It doesn’t care whether you prefer a ‘hybrid’, ‘distance’, or ‘in-person’ learning platform. This virus will define our times and us through our reaction or lack thereof.

  5. Erin Wascher 3 years ago3 years ago

    I’ve not seen one district propose re-opening options that offer students and parents stronger consistency, like a 1 week in the classroom, 1 week at home learning split. Are you aware of any districts that have considered that and what are people’s thoughts on that? Seems like this would offer a safer and more consistent learning platform for students, and be more productive for parents juggling a variety of complexities.

  6. Suzanne Dempsey 3 years ago3 years ago

    Could you please post the plan from Ventura County? It is not easily obtained or found. My understanding is that it was just finalized. As a teacher for almost 40 years, this information is vital to public schoolteachers in our county. Thanks

    Replies

  7. Michael patras 3 years ago3 years ago

    I’m not sending my child to school without a proven vaccine.
    I do not trust them, all they think about is money and politics.

  8. Robert Whitney 3 years ago3 years ago

    Have published guidelines changed mandating masks on students in classrooms?

  10. Daniel Kekai 3 years ago3 years ago

    Why are public schools planning to reopen? Take a good look at the data after California reopened. Are you willing to risk the lives of students across California?

    Schools should be planning on the entire year with remote learning. There is no way school districts can open schools safely.

    Replies

    • beverly jitosho 3 years ago3 years ago

      Please post the latest information as to how the students are separated by bubble/ or age group- Kindergarten and Pre-K indergarten.

  11. Jessica G 3 years ago3 years ago

    Additional resource: Summer provides an opportunity to offer extra learning time and rich experiences to those students who need it most. This brief developed by ACSA and Partnership for Children and Youth provides school and district leaders with background and resources to inform planning for summer in the COVID context, using lessons learned over time and considering the urgent needs of students across the state. Given that schools and learning will look and feel different in the … Read More

    Additional resource:
    Summer provides an opportunity to offer extra learning time and rich experiences to those students who need it most.

    This brief developed by ACSA and Partnership for Children and Youth provides school and district leaders with background and resources to inform planning for summer in the COVID context, using lessons learned over time and considering the urgent needs of students across the state. Given that schools and learning will look and feel different in the fall (as it does typically in summer programming), many of the strategies, considerations and scenarios below can also be applied to the reopening planning process.

  12. Lindsey 3 years ago3 years ago

    Please cover the details of the education budget trailer bill and how it might affect school reopening plans.

    Replies

    • Smita Patel 3 years ago3 years ago

      Hi Lindsey, We will most definitely continue to cover how the final state budget and trailer bills will affect school reopening plans. You can find our latest budget stories on our home page. This page is intended to collect the guidance documents for reopening issued by the state, county offices and other agencies. We will post updates and amendments as soon as we see them, but if you know of changes to the guidance for … Read More

      Hi Lindsey,
      We will most definitely continue to cover how the final state budget and trailer bills will affect school reopening plans. You can find our latest budget stories on our home page. This page is intended to collect the guidance documents for reopening issued by the state, county offices and other agencies. We will post updates and amendments as soon as we see them, but if you know of changes to the guidance for any school districts, we’d appreciate a heads up. You can reach us at source@edsource.org. Thanks!

  13. Smita Patel 3 years ago3 years ago

    Hi Irene, We are publishing official guidance documents only as we felt it would be helpful for readers to be able to see what the thinking is in different parts of California and from different agencies. But you are correct that plans will continue to evolve. We have included the issue date so readers have that context and our request to you and all our readers is to let us know if you see anything … Read More

    Hi Irene,
    We are publishing official guidance documents only as we felt it would be helpful for readers to be able to see what the thinking is in different parts of California and from different agencies. But you are correct that plans will continue to evolve. We have included the issue date so readers have that context and our request to you and all our readers is to let us know if you see anything that is out of date or needs to be corrected.

  14. Irene Scully 3 years ago3 years ago

    Please please don’t list information unless it is current. Something written in the beginning of June or even April has nothing to do with what is going forward as of today or even earlier this week!