Covid testing

January 20, 2022

Teaching during a Covid surge

As some districts run out of substitutes to step in for sick and quarantined staff, teachers and students demand more Covid testing and better masks.

EdSource staff

October 15, 2021

Could new Covid testing and vaccine mandates make school staffing shortages in California worse?

School superintendents, already dealing with severe staff shortages, are concerned that testing and vaccine mandates could make matters worse.

Diana Lambert

September 15, 2021

‘Pool testing’ to combat Covid on campus grows popular in California schools

Testing up to 25 asymptomatic students and staff together can save time and money in some scenarios, with minimal disruption to instruction.

Carolyn Jones

September 7, 2021

Covid testing was supposed to keep schools safe. What happened?

Covid test shortages and inconsistent protocols at schools are leaving California parents confused and frustrated.

Carolyn Jones

August 11, 2021

California requires ​​vaccinations or weekly Covid tests for all school staff

Teachers' and classified staff unions support governor's decision to require vaccinations or regular testing for school employees.

Ali Tadayon And Carolyn Jones

August 5, 2021

Why some schools are mandating Covid tests while others aren’t

Community infection rates are a big factor in schools' Covid safety plans as they prepare to reopen campuses in the fall.

Carolyn Jones

July 23, 2021

California K-12 Covid safety practices for the new school year | Q&A

K-12 districts have guidance on how to safely reopen campuses when California schools resume in the fall. Here's what you need to know.

Ali Tadayon

April 26, 2021

California is offering no-cost rapid Covid testing and staff training to schools  

The state bought 5 million test kits, which can produce results in 15 minutes, and will provide them at no charge and teach how to use them.

John Fensterwald

February 19, 2021

California legislators issue their conditions for reopening schools — without governor’s backing

Lawmakers would offer $2 billion to bring back elementary school students after April 15; Newsom favors a speedier timetable.

John Fensterwald

January 29, 2021

All aspects of his return-to-school plan are negotiable, Gov. Newsom tells superintendents

Declining rates of Covid add urgency to reach a deal with legislators to reopen schools for young children and struggling students, he says.

John Fensterwald

January 15, 2021

Safe or unsafe to reopen schools now? Contrasting views from a superintendent and a physician

Fresno Supt. Bob Nelson explains urban districts' opposition to Gov. Newsom's reopening plan while Dr. Jeanne Noble of UCSF says it's safe to return to schools by Feb. 1

EdSource staff

January 7, 2021

Large urban districts object to Gov. Newsom’s school reopening plan

The districts, which include Los Angeles and San Diego, say they’d get no funding for high rates of Covid they can’t control and want the state to cover the full costs of testing.

John Fensterwald

December 30, 2020

Responses of cheer and doubt to Gov. Newsom’s plan for in-person instruction

Superintendents welcome any state help to get students back in the classroom, but massive testing and other conditions may give some districts second thoughts.

John Fensterwald