Possible Orange County Back to School Recommendations

Parents/Guardians of Students in Orange County Public Schools,

The CDC has  posted the following on their website concerning school reopenings.
Parents are not surprisingly worried about the safety of their children at school in the aftermath of COVID-19.  The best available evidence indicates if children become infected, they are a lot less likely to suffer severe symptoms.[1],[2],[3] Death rates among school-aged children are much lower than among adults. 

However, the health-related risks attributed to closed schools include lower rates of immunizations, higher rates of undetected child abuse and neglect, social, emotional, and behavioral health, economic well-being, and academic achievement of children, in both the short- and long-term, are well-known and significant. 

Moreover, the lack of in-person educational options disproportionately harms low-income and minority children and those living with disabilities.  The students in this category are a great deal less likely to be able to obtain private teaching and care.

Governor Gavin Newsom had given his school reopening rules but also noted that there are exemptions.
In a statement, Governor Gavin Newsom’s office noted that “There is a single exception. Local health officers may grant a waiver to allow elementary schools to reopen in-person instruction if the waiver is requested by the district superintendent, in consultation with labor, parents and community-based organizations.

When considering a waiver request, the local health officer must consider local data and consult with the California Department of Public Health."As part of the planning process, we gathered feedback from families about their preferred way to return to school. A survey completed in mid-June showed that 43% of parents prefer a return to in-person instruction; 34% prefer 100% digital learning; and 23% prefer an option that combines in-person instruction with digital learning.


If you have the choice for your student(s), please think carefully about what digital learning and in-person instruction will be like, and which might best for your child(ren). Review the information below

IN PERSON OPTION
What to expect at school…
•    Families should take temperatures daily before going to school. Anyone with a fever of 100.4 F or higher should not go to school. Students and adults also be screen themselves for breathing disorders like a cough and shortness of breath before going to school every day.
•    Periodic screenings, including unannounced temperature checks, will be performed. Students and staff with COVID-19 symptoms or a temperature of 100.4+ will be quarantined immediately and sent home.
•    All students and employees must stay home if they have COVID-19 symptoms, tested positive, or had close contact with a person with COVID-19 within the last 14 days.
•    Frequent hand washing and bringing hand sanitizer from home is recommended.
•    Cleaning/disinfecting of surfaces, frequently-touch objects, and facilities will be carried out more often.
•    Buses will be cleaned/disinfected after morning/afternoon routes.
•    The use of masks will be required. However, the wearing of masks will not be enforced for those who can't.
•    Students are discouraged from sharing books, materials, supplies, or equipment, including devices and equipment used for athletics/PE.
•    Water fountains will be sealed. Students are encouraged to bring water from home.

 DIGITAL LEARNING OPTION
•    Students who are in digital learning will have the same expectations as those attending in-school in terms of attendance, grading, and participation.
•    In general, digital learning will follow the same teaching hours as the in-person school day.

•    Students will need to have dependable internet and devices. Sharing a device is not advised since multiple students in a family would have digital lessons at the same time during the school day.

References

 1.   Zhen-Dong Y, Gao-Jun Z, Run-Ming J, et al. Clinical and transmission dynamics characteristics of 406 children with coronavirus disease 2019 in China: A review [published online ahead of print, 2020 Apr 28]. J Infect. 2020;S0163-4453(20)30241-3. doi:10.1016/j.jinf.2020.04.030
2.    Choi S-H, Kim HW, Kang J-M, et al. Epidemiology and clinical features of coronavirus disease 2019 in children. Clinical and experimental pediatrics 2020;63(4):125-32. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.3345/cep.2020.00535external icon
 3.   Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Children — United States, February 12–April 2, 2020. Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020;69:422–426.