SACREMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday confirmed that schools in California won't reopen after state Superintendent Tony Thurmond said students may not be able to return to campus for the remainder of the school year, but classes would remain in session.
The announcement comes a day after the state’s superintendent sent a letter to school districts on saying due to coronavirus safety concerns, it is likely students will not be able to return to school campuses before the end of the school year.
Even though school campuses are closed, that does not mean school is closed for the rest of the year. There is still distance learning going on from home, according to Thurmond.
Tony Thurmond wrote “this in no way suggests school is over for the year, but rather it will continue education through distance learning.”
Gov. Newsom echoed the state’s emphasis on distance learning.
Limited access to home internet for countless of students has cropped up as a major concern among parents and education officials under the statewide closure of schools.
In response to the governors announcement, the Kern County Superintendent of Schools released the following statement:
The prospect of moving the date for school campus closures until the end of the school year is something our collective education community has been weighing very carefully. Based on the Governor’s remarks today, it is clear that school districts will continue education for the remainder of the school year through distance learning, only, and schools will remain physically closed for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year.
Kern County’s 47 school districts and local and state partners are working diligently to continue to implement distance learning and continued nutrition services for students. More clarity will be forthcoming over the next few days.
Newsom announced a partnership with Google to provide 100,000 access points to internet across the state, as well as thousands of Chromebooks to "substantially" mitigate that digital divide.
He said the tech company committed to provide a minimum of three months access to broadband connectivity. Still, more will need to be done, Newsom added.
