Says Santa Cruz Public Health Officer Gail Newel: “I really think that a mask mandate is not going to increase mask-wearing in our county. I am open to hearing otherwise.” That was one topic of discussion when she sat down with Santa Cruz County Supervisor Zach Friend on Friday.
COVID K-12
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Gov. Newsom orders school employees to get vaccinated or be tested regularly
School employees must either be vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit to a regular test proving they are not infected with the coronavirus under an order from Newsom.
Posted inK-12 Education
Delta variant is sucking the joy out of back-to-school 2021
Instead of a back-to-normal back-to-school, the coronavirus casts new shadows over the return to full-time, in-person schooling. A particularly troubling issue for parents in Santa Cruz County and beyond is that children under 12 are not yet eligible for a vaccine.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
‘Second nature’: By now, the new state school mask rule doesn’t faze many students
In August, K-12 students will return to school. For many districts, summer school has provided a preview of classroom life with mask mandates.
Posted inVaccine Watch
For parents of unvaccinated kids, worsening Delta variant brings alarm, questions
The variant’s ability to spread among the vaccinated is worrisome, experts said, but it shouldn’t preclude kids from heading back to school.
Posted inK-12 Education
Education under cyberattack: California schools face a growing ransomware threat
A ransomware attack — where cybercriminals hold online systems hostage until victims pay a ransom — can have devastating consequences for schools. Experts say the number of attacks against schools in California and across the country are rising as educators try to figure out whether cybersecurity should be a priority.
Posted inEvents, Health & Wellness
Educators grapple with how to enforce California school mask mandate in the fall
After initially mandating a ban on unmasked students on campus, the state is now leaving enforcement decisions up to local officials.
Posted inK-12 Education
In abrupt turnaround, California to let school districts decide how to enforce mask rules
The state rescinded a rule Monday that called for students who refused to wear masks to be barred from campus.
Posted inEducation
How many California kids actually go to college? The state lags in tallying data but a fix may be coming
California high schools say they make students college-ready, but rarely does the public have the data to see if students actually made it to college and thrived. California lags the nation in public data that shows how students move from school to college and the workforce. A statewide fix is on the horizon.
Posted inEducation
These eight Cal State schools are giving students iPads in an effort to cut barriers to college enrollment
The tech initiative at eight Cal State campuses will benefit up to 35,000 students in the fall. The Cal State campuses of Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Channel Islands, Fresno, Humboldt, Maritime Academy, Northridge and San Marcos volunteered to be part of the first phase.