Reopening bill passed —incentive for schools
SACRAMENTO — The Legislature overwhelmingly passed a plan Thursday to push shuttered schools to reopen in the coming weeks by offering them financial incentives, even as lawmakers complained it would not do enough to get California students back into the classroom during the coronavirus pandemic.
The measure, a deal with Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday after months of negotiations, would provide a total $2 billion to school districts that resume at least some inperson instruction by March 31. But it does not mandate reopening, an approach supporters said was necessary for communities still afraid to send their children back.
“You can see everyone’s divided on the issue, but this is as good as it gets in this moment,” said state Sen. Susan Rubio, DBaldwin Park (Los Angeles County), reflecting the frustration with which many lawmakers voted for the bill — the most significant step the state has taken to reopen schools after a year of distance learning.
The Senate approved the bill, AB86, 360 and it passed the Assembly 724, with reluctant Republicans largely joining Democrats. Newsom has indicated he will sign the measure Friday.
To receive the money, schools in counties with fewer than 25 new daily coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents would have to bring back students in transitional kindergarten through second grade, along with foster youth, English language learners and other vulnerable students in all grades. If they have not reopened by April 1, schools would lose a portion of their share of the $2 billion every day they remain closed.
But as case rates rapidly drop below 7 per 100,000 residents in many places, counties such as San Francisco are entering the state’s red tier, the secondmostrestrictive for reopening. Schools in those counties would need to reopen for all elementary grades and at least one additional grade in middle or high school, as well as for students with special needs, to receive the state money.
Students would have the option to return or continue with remote instruction. The bill also includes $4.6 billion to help districts make up for lost learning.
Earlier Thursday, the Newsom administration unveiled a new vaccine system that would make it easier for counties to move into the red tier. Some lawmakers protested that it was unfair for the governor to change the criteria for their communities just before the Legislature voted on the school reopening plan.
“It’s a little dishonest, what’s happening,” said Assembly Member Lorena Gonzalez, DSan Diego.
Others criticized the bill for not being more forceful, particularly because many districts are still negotiating with their employee unions on timelines and safety requirements.
“I believe with or without this bill, school districts that want to reopen will and school districts that don’t want to reopen won’t,” Senate Republican leader Scott Wilk of Santa Clarita (Los Angeles County) said before voting for the plan.