Calif. mulls July back-to-school plan

Newsom says students face major learning gap

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California schoolchildren could return to their classrooms as soon as late July, though likely with modifications,

Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday as he outlined plans for easing stay-athome orders amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Newsom said no official decisions have been made, but he acknowledged that there have been “learning losses” as parents have sought to teach their kids from home since most schools and classrooms closed in mid-march to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

School districts and families have struggled to adapt to at-home learning, and the deficits have been even greater in homes without technology or where parents are essential workers who are not at home to do home-schooling, he said.

“That learning loss is very real,” Newsom said. “If we can maybe start up the school year a little earlier, maybe we can help close that gap.”

But schools may look radically different than they did before, said Sonia Angell, the state’s public health director.

On Tuesday, Newsom outlined a four-phase plan to gradually reopen the state when hospitalization rates from COVID-19 begin to stabilize.

In the next phase, likely just weeks away, parts of the economy such as retailers and manufacturers will begin operating again, possibly through curbside pickup at stores. Child care and summer schools along with parks, trails and other outdoor spaces may also be allowed to reopen.

Unlike some other states that are already allowing hair and nail salons to operate, California would still require those businesses to wait, Angell said. Concerts and sporting events are even further away, possibly not until there’s a virus treatment.

It wasn’t clear when restaurants may be able to reopen for dine-in services.

As the state considers reopening, Newsom is juggling a state with a split personality. Officials in some rural counties say they’re ready to reopen, while urban centers are wary.

In other developments:

The number of COVID-19 hospital admissions in New York City dipped below 1,000, and military jets soared in tribute overhead. Meanwhile, city schools are adopting a new grading system.

Maine appears to be flattening the coronavirus curve and will begin reopening its economy in phases starting this week, state leaders said Tuesday. Gov. Janet Mills said the state will extend its broad stay-athome order until May 31 but also begin lifting restrictions Friday.

Facing steep budget shortfalls, the state of Oregon has taken its first steps in furloughing workers in order to save money, among the few states in America to do so to date.

The number of COVID-19 cases among inmates in seven Tennessee prisons has jumped to more than 750 as a round of mass testing begins at a Corecivic facility northeast of Nashville, officials said Tuesday.