Lawmakers propose new school reopening plan set to begin in mid-April

After Gov. Gavin Newsom’s school reopening proposal was strongly criticized as unrealistic by superintendents of large districts and school employee unions, California legislators announced a new plan Thursday that aims to bring the most vulnerable students back into classrooms by April 15.

Senate Bill 86, dubbed the ““Safe and Open Schools Plan,” proposes $4.6 billion in learning recovery funds and $6 billion in federal reopening aid to begin opening schools to students in the spring. The Sacramento Bee reported that lawmakers hope to pass the bill Monday.

“Science clearly shows schools can reopen safely, and that there is no reason for our children to suffer under indefinite distance learning,” Assembly member Phil Ting said in a tweet Thursday afternoon. “The State Legislature is ready to act, based on this data, so students can return to the classroom no later than April 15.”

The new plan calls on districts to prioritize in-person instruction for certain K-12 students. These include those who are chronically absent from school or lack access to distance learning. It also includes homeless students, students at risk of abuse, foster youth and English Language Learners. The plan also requires counties in the “red tier” to allow schools to offer in-person instruction to all K-6 students. However,  districts can opt out of the program if they choose.

The plan calls for schools to allow families to continue distance learning if they still don’t feel comfortable sending their kids back to school.

The legislation would also require the California Department of Public Health to give priority to school employees serving students in-person in the state’s vaccine distribution system.