California schools to remain closed for the rest of the school year

(KION) State Superintendent Tony Thurmond announced that California schools will remain closed for the rest of the school year due to coronavirus concerns.

“Due to the current safety concerns and needs for ongoing social distancing, it currently appears that our students will not be able to return to school campuses before the end of the school year. In order to allow schools to plan accordingly, and to ensure that learning still occurs until the end of the school year, we are suggesting that schools plan and prepare to have their curriculum carried out through a distance learning model. This is in no way to suggest that school is over for the year, but rather we should put all efforts into strengthening our delivery of education through distance learning," Thurmond wrote in a statement.

Thurmond said the Department of Education is doing everything it can to support schools and has been providing webinars. One being held this week is expected to focus on helping students with disabilities while doing distance learning.

The Department of Education will also be releasing guidance this week to address concerns from high school students about grading and graduation requirements. Thurmond also said it sent out a survey to every district in the state to find technology gaps and make sure the students have access to technology needed for distance learning.

On Tuesday, Monterey County announced that public schools in the county would stay closed for the rest of the school year.