California Department of Education releases guidance for reopening schools

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) Hallways and desks are empty as some schools wrap up their final week before Summer break. "Some of the students have been dying to come back. They call and text our teachers to tell them they can't wait to come back to school," said Alisal Community School Principal, Elizabeth Armenta.

Staff at Alisal Community School met, Monday, to figure out how to welcome kids back safely. It's a plan every California school is trying to assemble as the California Department of Education releases new guidelines for reopening.

"Our guidance anticipates that many of our districts will provide a hybrid model. This means there will be some students on campus for in-class instruction and there will be some students that continue to participate in distance learning," said California Superintendent of Schools, Tony Thurmond.

When schools reopen, the state asks that a minimum six of feet distance is kept between students at all times. Schools must decided whether their campus size can accommodate this recommendation.

"We don't have enough classrooms to practice social distancing. Right now, we are planning on having half of the kids attend each day," said Alisal Union School District Superintendent, Jim Koenig.

The state has identified four learning models that schools may follow in Fall 2020:

• Two day rotation blended learning
  • Students engage in in-person learning two days a week based on grade level
  • Other days spent learning outside the classroom
• A/B week blended learning model
  • Half of student population attends school in-person, other half attends schools online
  • Groups rotate every other week
• Looping structure
  • Grades TK-8 are assigned the same teacher/class for more than one year
• Early/late staggered schedules
  • Start and dismissal times staggered throughout day by grade level to limit congregation

The state recommends that students wear masks, have their temperature taken before entering the building and washing their hands regularly. Physical distancing is to be enforced. not just in the classroom, but in the cafeteria, on the playground and bus.

State officials remind parents that every schools' reopening will look different.