SAN JOSE, CA – In partnership with the Santa Clara County Public Health Department, the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) today announced recommended guidance for schools’ county-wide recovery and reopening this fall. The Stronger Together Recovery and Reopening for Santa Clara County Schools resources provide preliminary guidance and considerations to inform local decision making around school reopening and to support stakeholder engagement in the community.
The County Office of Education and districts across Santa Clara County are working in close partnership to develop deliberative and responsible guidance for local schools as they plan for the opening of school. The County Office of Education and local schools are eager to see schools reopen with in-person instruction with the appropriate mixture of face-to-face and distance learning that prioritizes student safety while also considering the learning needs of students and the needs of parents and our broader community.
“This planning process requires thoughtful, intentional, and deliberate efforts on the part of school leaders to create the conditions for schools to reopen safely. At the same time, the challenge to provide for the physical, social, and academic needs of students will be critical in this new environment,” said Santa Clara County Superintendent, Dr. Mary Ann Dewan. “As the planning process becomes quite detailed and nuanced, it is necessary to hold on to some guiding principles as teams engage in this work that will center on protecting the safety and health of students, staff and families.”
The Stronger Together Resources, that include a guide, FAQs, an action planning template, and other elements important to the process of reopening schools, can be found on the SCCOE Stronger Together webpage, and will continue to be updated for all schools as new information becomes available.
In addition to the Stronger Together Resources, last week SCCOE announced a survey provided for parents throughout the county that is intended to gauge their experiences with distance learning and needs and concerns regarding school reopening. The topics addressed in the survey include among others, how parents have received and accessed information during school closures, perspectives about the eventual reopening of physical school buildings, and their experiences with distance learning. The survey data will assist schools and the County Office of Education with their planning process for the fall. The survey will be open until Friday, June 12.
“We are all eager to have answers so that families across the county can make plans,” said Dr. Dewan. "An announcement with an update of how schools may open in the fall is anticipated by Wednesday, July 1st. Updates will be shared regularly over the summer.”
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About the Santa Clara County Office of Education
Working collaboratively with school and community partners, the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE) is a regional service agency that provides instructional, business, and technology services to the 31 school districts of Santa Clara County. The County Office of Education directly serves students through special education programs, alternative schools, Head Start and State Preschool programs, migrant education, and Opportunity Youth Academy. The SCCOE also provides academic and fiscal oversight and monitoring to districts in addition to the 22 Santa Clara County Board of Education authorized charter schools.