Santa Cruz County schools to require distance learning only at start of school year

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION) The Santa Cruz County Office of Education and Santa Cruz County school districts issued a joint statement Monday announcing that schools in the county will require distance learning only as they reopen.

The schools said they came to the decision because Santa Cruz County has met the criteria to be added to the California Department of Public Health's COVID-19 monitoring list as of Monday, but it has not been officially added yet. The state health department has not notified the county about being added, but the county health officer expects to be notified in about a week.

Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered all counties on the monitoring list to offer distance learning only until they are off the monitoring list for 14 consecutive days. Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties are already on the monitoring list.

The distance learning model will apply to all K-12 schools, whether public or private. The Office of Education said that when it is off the monitoring list for the required amount of time, schools will begin to transition to in-person learning.

In the statement, the Office of Education said schools will continue to provide free meal and grocery programs, support services and free or reduced-cost internet connection.

Read the full reopening framework below.