SACRAMENTO, Calif — The new school year is just around the corner for the majority of students, teachers and parents in the Greater Sacramento region.
Across the nation, schools are deciding whether to return fully on-campus, fully online or a combination of the two. Some parents are opting to home school their children.
Meanwhile, across the Sacramento region to the San Joaquin Valley, schools are starting to release their education plans for the coming year.
Sacramento County Office of Education
All 13 school districts in Sacramento County will begin the 2020-21 school year with distance learning.
In a joint statement with the Sacramento County Department of Health Services, David Gordon, Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools, said because of an "inability of the current testing system to support sufficient timely return of test results" it has been determined that school districts within Sacramento County will begin the year under a distance learning model.
The Sacramento County districts that will start with the distance learning model are:
- Arcohe Union School District (K–8)
- Center Joint Unified School District (K–12)
- Elk Grove Unified School District (K–12)
- Elverta Joint School District (K–8)
- Folsom Cordova Unified School District (K–12)
- Galt Joint Union Elementary School District (K–8)
- Galt Joint Union High School District (9–12)
- Natomas Unified School District (K–12)
- River Delta Unified School District (K–12)
- Robla School District (K–6)
- Sacramento City Unified School District (K–12)
- San Juan Unified School District (K–12)
- Twin Rivers Unified School District (K–12)
Stockton Unified School District
Stockton Unified School District, under the guidance of the San Joaquin County Office of Education, plans to start school for 2020-2021 with 100% fully-distanced learning.
Lodi Unified School District
Lodi Unified School District decided July 14 to have classes 100% online with a distanced-learning model. The decision came after the San Joaquin County Office of Education recommended a distanced-learning model for schools.
Modesto City Schools
Starting Aug. 10, Modesto City Schools are to start with virtual learning with two options; an "online independent study program with weekly teacher check-ins, or distance learning with a classroom teacher and required daily attendance checks, assignments and grading." However, childcare and early childhood education will remain open and in-person.
Turlock Unified School District
Turlock Unified School District schools will begin school 100% online on Aug. 12. The district added that it may support a hybrid learning model as well.
Patterson Joint Unified School District
Patterson Joint Unified School District's Superintendent, Philip Alfano, is opting out of the virtual classroom approach and instead chose to push the school year back a month. Alfano said distanced learning was a more significant strain on the community than pushing the school year to start in September.
Washington Unified School District
Washington Unified School District plans to start the school year under a fully virtual learning model in August. The district plans to introduce in-person education when the rate of new coronavirus cases lowers.
Los Rios Community College District
The fall schedule has been available since May 8 and, Gabe Ross, a spokesperson for Los Rios Community College District, said the campus would have the majority of the classes entirely online. A select few classes will be on-campus and in-person, and the school is still working to finalize that list. Classes start on Aug. 22.
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