COVID K-12 Archives

California lawmakers urge more help for schools, businesses in budget talks with Newsom

by John Myers June 1, 2021December 17, 2023

The $267-billion plan largely aligns with Gov. Newsom’s proposal. But it adds substantial funding to help those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 11: Jesenia (cq) Chavez is a kindergarten and first-grade teacher at UCLA Community School in Los Angeles. She says it's been difficult teaching some students in-person and some on Zoom. Photographed at UCLA Community School on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 in Los Angeles, CA. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Health & Wellness

The pandemic magnified the student mental health crisis — and teachers are struggling to face it

by Laura Newberry May 31, 2021December 17, 2023

A long-simmering crisis of mental health struggles among students has been magnified by the pandemic, and most teachers are not adequately prepared to deal with it as campuses reopen.

Police respond to the scene where a man was shot in Watsonville on Thursday night.

Health & Wellness

Homicides surge in California amid COVID shutdowns of schools, youth programs

by Phillip Reese May 17, 2021December 17, 2023

California endured a brutal spike in homicides in 2020 across large swaths of the state, registering the largest year-over-year increase in victims in three decades. Experts cite as one significant factor a rise in gang violence fueled by pandemic shutdowns of schools, sports leagues and programs for at-risk youth.

K-12 Education

Missing kindergarteners drive largest drop in 20 years in California’s K-12 enrollment

by KAREN D'SOUZA, John Fensterwald / EdSource and DANIEL J. WILLIS April 23, 2021

Charter schools experienced an increase in enrollment

Brandon Cobb (thumbs up), son of Brynn Cobb (in hat) gets vaccinated Tuesday.

Health & Wellness

School vaccine clinics target Santa Cruz County students 16 & up — with aim to inoculate all 6,000 of them

by Nick Ibarra April 20, 2021December 17, 2023

On Tuesday, students from several schools flocked to Scotts Valley High to get their first shots through a partnership between the Santa Cruz County Office of Education and Dignity Health. Another student vaccine clinic is set for Wednesday at Pajaro Valley High School.

Health & Wellness

Parents in L.A. say their children have been ‘substantially hurt’ by school closures, survey finds

by Nina Agrawal April 19, 2021December 17, 2023

An annual survey about quality of life revealed stark differences by socioeconomic status, telling a “tale of two L.A.s.”

Don Lundy picks up his kindergarten grandkids from Gault Elementary School in Santa Cruz

Health & Wellness

Change of course: Many Santa Cruz County schools to allow full-time return to classrooms in matter of days

by Nick Ibarra April 8, 2021December 17, 2023

A number of Santa Cruz County school districts are preparing to allow elementary students back into classrooms five days a week later this month — and at least two are planning to fully reopen secondary schools. The county’s largest district, Pajaro Valley Unified, remains the biggest asterisk.

Education

In an unusual admissions year, California’s selective universities more closely evaluate students

by Ashley A. Smith and Larry Gordon April 6, 2021December 17, 2023

And saw a record number of diverse applicants without requiring SAT or ACT scores for admittance

First grade teacher Lacie Wall welcomed students back to her classroom at Gault Elementary on Monday.

K-12 Education

How much aid is your district getting? Range for Santa Cruz County schools goes from $1K to $5K per student

by Nick Ibarra April 5, 2021

Santa Cruz County schools can expect to get about $166 million in combined pandemic aid from federal and state sources, according to a Lookout analysis of countywide data. The amount of funds flowing into each district on a per student basis ranges significantly because of funding formulas that prioritize districts with low-income and high-need students.