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A Closure Loophole For Elementary Schools? How Officials Can Apply For A Waiver
In a July 24 news conference, Gov. Newsom discussed the reasoning behind the waivers for elementary schools. (Screenshot via Facebook)
When California announced that schools in counties on the state’s COVID-19 watch list won’t be able to reopen, there was this footnote: There will be a waiver process for interested elementary schools.
“It’s challenging for our youngest students: preschoolers, kindergarteners, even up through third grade,” said California Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly in explaining the reasoning behind the decision.
To request a waiver, districts, charter schools, and private schools will have to go through their county health officer.
And according to the Orange County Health Care Agency, so far most of the schools that have expressed an interest there have been private schools.
One example: TVT Community Day School in Irvine, where Head of School Jeff Davis told us:
“The county and the state are looking for schools who are implementing protocols based on … proven research that can keep the students and faculties safe. I challenge anybody to find a school that has done more work in this area than TVT Community Day School.”
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READ OUR REPORT ON THE WAIVER PROCESS IN LA AND ORANGE COUNTIES:
We will continue to report on these waivers, and which schools do – and don’t – obtain one. If your school or district is considering applying for one of these waivers, please reach out to reporter Carla Javier.
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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