October 30, 2020

What history and civics teacher wouldn’t relish teaching the Biden-Trump presidential election? Apparently many in California.

This week, Devin Hess, an academic coordinator for the UC Berkeley History-Social Science Project, elaborates on what podcast cohost John Fensterwald found in EdSource article this week: There are many reasons why some teachers are choosing to teach the election process but not the issues dividing voters and candidates in the polarizing presidential race.

Also, with new EdSource data showing more districts are returning to in-person instruction or considering it, we speak with Capistrano Unified Superintendent Kirsten Vital on how the state’s 7th largest district is offering a full-day program for K-5 students, split between regular instruction inside school and additional time under tents.

And El Dorado County Superintendent Ed Manansala talks about how a district-county partnership solved the coronavirus testing and contact tracing dilemma, enabling students in the county’s 15 districts to return to school.

For background on this issue, check out the following: