Sacramento schools will stay closed in the fall. Here are answers to parents’ key questions

With the recent announcement that Sacramento County public school students will start the school year online as campuses remain closed, parents across the region are looking for answers on how to handle the next few months.

Here are some common questions that The Sacramento Bee has heard and received, along with answers to help readers prepare for the new school year.

How long will students be expected to do distance learning?

In a virtual press conference on Wednesday where county officials announced the physical closure of schools, Sacramento County Health chief Dr. Peter Beilenson said parents can expect school campuses to remain closed for at least one or two months.

When will it be deemed safe to reopen?

The COVID-19 test positivity rate in the county will have to turn around and be on a sustained downward trend. Same with the number of hospitalizations. And county officials will have to feel confident that they can do adequate group testing for schools when a coronavirus case pops up.

On Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom said schools can physically open for in-person education when their county has been off the monitoring list for 14 consecutive days. Counties that are currently on that monitoring list include Sacramento, Yolo and Placer.

In the last couple of weeks, lacking adequate federal government testing support, state and local officials have been struggling to get enough testing materials and lab support from private companies to process tests in a timely fashion.

How will distance learning look different than the spring?

Teachers are hopeful now that they have more time to prepare for classes and lessons, and have better access to technology and resources.

Some Sacramento City Unified teachers who are tech-savvy are offering their time to assist other teachers who may need help on the tech-side of distance learning. Twin Rivers Unified has electric buses that provide internet for surrounding neighborhoods

School officials across the region said that there will be more live instruction and one-on-one assistance, particularly for the most vulnerable students. Principals can be expected to pop into Zoom meetings the way they pop into classrooms on campus and observe how things are running. Sacramento City Unified, for example, plans to focus on the depth of instruction; not the pace.

Will there be exceptions for special education students, English language learners or other vulnerable communities?

Sacramento County Superintendent David Gordon said there will be very few exceptions to the physical closures of schools. It sounds like this will be made on a case-by-case scenario. It may depend on how many cases there are in the county, and how well staff and students can practice social distancing and wear masks.

Can I move my child to a private school that wants to continue in-person classes?

Newsom’s announcement on Friday included mandates for private schools.

And if their March actions were any indication, private schools were likely to return to distance learning as well. At the time of the County Office of Education’s announcement to return to distance learning, Beilenson said he had not been asked to give guidance on private schools yet, but he said he would give the same the guidance he gave to public schools.

Local Catholic school leaders met with Beilenson to discuss their options. And a handful of other Sacramento-area private schools have announced physical campus closures for the fall since SCOE’s announcement. With Newsom’s announcement, all schools will begin the year with distance learning.

What is being done to ensure students with IEPs and 504 plans receive services they are entitled to?

Some school districts stated their distance learning programs will have a strong focus on students who need additional services. This includes break-out sessions, one-on-one time with a teacher, and additional services. During Thursday’s Sacramento City Unified board meeting, the chief academic officer repeatedly reminded parents to hold district officials and teachers accountable. Students are protected with IEPs and 504 plans, and they must be served accordingly.

What are companies doing to help parents working from home free up time to teach and monitor their kids?

Aside from allowing parents (and other employees) to work from home, many Sacramento-area companies are giving parents paid time to assist their children with distance learning. Some companies are allowing parents to work with their children about one or two hours a day, and are providing more flexibility in their schedules. There are a lot of options, and parents can bring these ideas to management.

Some parents work 10 hours a day with children at home. What about those who don’t have childcare?

There are many parents creating something they are referring to as “Pandemic Pods.” These groups range from providing emotional support for parents to actual nanny sharing. Some parents plan to hire help, like a former teacher or babysitter who comes to a family’s home and monitors distance learning for a child and their friends.

Obviously, this works for people who can afford it, and it could further exasperate the divide between the haves and have-nots. This is not what districts intended with distance learning, because they always strive for equity.

Teachers do plan on providing one-on-one meetings with students, so parents should try scheduling those during times when they are not working so they can monitor the sessions. This is a great time to put older siblings to work and have them monitor, assist, and even tutor children. All hands on deck.

This story was originally published July 18, 2020 at 5:00 AM.