News Update

California PTA offers parents’ recommendations for reopening schools safely

The California State PTA has weighed in Tuesday on school reopenings with a statement of 10 principles for Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature to consider as they negotiate terms to bring students back for in-person instruction.

“It has been almost 330 days since California closed its school campuses and our children are falling behind academically and their mental health is suffering,” said state PTA President Celia Jaffe in asking for the reopening of schools as soon as it is safe to do so.

Most of the recommendations broadly reinforce points made by the California School Boards Association, the Association of California School Administrators, and the California Teachers Association: prioritize teachers for Covid vaccinations; don’t require school districts to use their general funds to pay for safety and health measures, like testing; and target additional funding for reopening to schools with the most disadvantaged students, who will need social emotional support and help with transportation costs. (Newsom agrees and proposes an equity-based funding formula in his proposal for $6.6 billion for reopening schools and providing extended learning opportunities.)

But the document also reflects the perspective of parents on other points:

  • To support the mental health of students, middle schools should not start before 8 a.m. and high schools before 8:30 a.m.
  • School districts must provide parents with opportunities to give their view of school reopening plans and reach out to hear from parents representing a community’s diversity.
  • Districts also should offer after-school programs, summer school and child care programs coordinated with the school day.
  • Parents should be given the choice of returning to school for in-person instruction or remaining in distance learning.

“California’s students are counting on the Legislature and the governor to come up with a realistic school reopening plan that meets the needs of all our school communities,” Jaffe wrote.