California public schools could receive $ 6.6 billion from the state legislature if they return to face-to-face education by the end of March, according to a new agreement announced on Monday between Governor Gavin Newsom and the state’s legislative leaders.
California, the most populous state in the United States, has 1,037 public school districts, more than 6.1 million students and about 319,000 teachers.
Most classes in public schools have not been in person since March last year because of the coronavirus. Many districts have struggled to reach agreements with teacher unions on the best way to return students and staff to classrooms.
Assistant Principal Janette Van Gelderen, on the left, welcomes students from Newhall Elementary in Santa Clarita, California, on February 25. California public schools could receive $ 6.6 billion from the state legislature if they return to face-to-face education by the end of March, according to a new agreement announced Monday between Governor Gavin Newsom and state legislative leaders. (AP)
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Newsom, who may face a revocation election later this year spurred on by his treatment of the coronavirus, is at odds with legislative leaders on how best to encourage school districts to return students to classrooms. California cannot order schools to return to face-to-face education, but state officials can offer a lot of money to those who do.
The agreement sets aside $ 6.6 billion for schools that return to optional education in person by March 31. The bill is an agreement between Newsom, Pro Tempore State Senate President Toni Atkins and Assembly President Anthony Rendon, all Democrats. It was confirmed by the Atkins office. Newsom’s office has scheduled a formal announcement for late Monday morning.
The details of the plan are complicated and have been confirmed by two state officials with knowledge of the plan who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about it publicly.
California counties are divided into different levels of coronavirus infection, with each level having specific rules on how businesses and other public spaces can operate during the pandemic.
To qualify for this new money, school districts in regions that fall under the most restrictive level – known as the purple layer – must return to face-to-face instruction at least until the second grade, officials said.
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Districts should also have face-to-face classes for special student populations in all grades, officials said, including disabled people, foster youth, homeless people, English students, students without access to technology and students at risk of abuse and neglect.
Districts at the next highest level, the red level, are expected to return to face-to-face instruction for all grades of elementary school, in addition to at least one grade of elementary and high school, officials said.
The money will be distributed through the normal method of financing that provides local districts with state money, officials said, which would guarantee more money for schools that primarily serve low-income students. In addition, officials said the districts would receive an additional $ 1,000 for each homeless student they had.
To get the money, districts must meet the requirements by March 31, officials said. As of April 1, for each day of instruction in school districts that do not meet the requirements, the amount of money they can receive will drop by 1%, officials said.
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The bill does not require all students and staff to be vaccinated before returning to the classroom. And it would not be necessary for districts to obtain approval from teachers’ unions before returning, officials said.
Officials said the test is mandatory for schools in the purple belt. But school districts that have already reopened or have plans to reopen in March would be exempt from testing requirements, officials said.