A growing number of Orange County school districts are developing plans to offer in-person learning five days a week. The extended instruction models come on the heels of updated state guidance, including more relaxed physical distancing guidelines as well as a decline in the number of COVID-19 cases across the county.
Officials from the Brea Olinda, Placentia-Yorba Linda, Newport-Mesa, Ocean View, Saddleback Valley and Tustin school districts are among those that notified families of their intent to bring students back to school for greater amounts of time next month after spring break. A virtual learning option will remain available for all students.
While more OC districts are extending in-person learning, a number of districts such as Buena Park, Cypress and Irvine Unified have been offering a more traditional, five-day model since September and October.
Additional information on instructional models offered by each district can be found on their respective websites.
And here are some other top stories we are tracking this week.
- Santa Ana Unified School District officials announced that students will remain in a distance learning model through the remainder of the 2020-21 school year.
- Some parents in the Capistrano Unified School District are voicing their support for students to return to an in-person, full-time schedule again, the Capistrano Dispatch reports.
- State public health officials clarified this week that sideline cheer is an allowable sport under the state’s youth and adult recreational sports guidelines.
- In related news, California health officials said that bands and drumlines were also allowed to attend youth sporting events.
- In alignment with new federal guidance, state health officials now recommend a minimum of 3 feet of space between students seated in a classroom rather than the previous rule of 6 feet.
- Nine Orange County district-level staff members were recognized this week as the county’s classified employees of the year.
- To help local students and families buffer the effects of the pandemic, Western Youth Services has partnered with the Orange County Department of Education and CHOC to develop a free, online mental health toolbox packed with self-paced trainings, apps and resources.
- After a year of operating almost entirely online, California’s community colleges are likely to offer more in-person instruction and activities this fall, while many classes will still be offered remotely.
- A total of 616 students have been nominated by teachers and private instructors from 72 Orange County high schools and arts organizations for The Orange County Register’s Artist of the Year program.
- Governor Gavin Newsom this week announced that all Californians who are at least 50 years old will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination starting April 1, and two weeks later, every adult in the state will be permitted to receive a vaccine
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