Santa Clara Unified reopening underway
The Santa Clara Unified School District welcomed students back to campus for in-person instruction this Monday, March 29 making it among the first school districts in Santa Clara County to reopen campuses to students.
In December 2020, the District outlined their Phase 2 Reopening Plan which included a hybrid approach of in-person support and distance learning. The approved plan required Santa Clara County to enter the Orange Tier before students could be welcomed back on campus.
With the County entering the Orange Tier on March 24, SCUSD welcomed 1st and 2nd graders back to campus on Monday as well as 6th and 9th graders and students from all grades of alternative schools back to campus on Tuesday.
In a video posted to the SCUSD Facebook page, Buchser Middle School teacher Mr. Erickson stated; “I cannot wait to have you guys back in class. I’m looking forward to it. I’m getting my classroom all set up. I am so glad I don’t have to be sitting at that computer anymore. I get to be standing here talking to you guys in person live with actual bodies in front of me. I cannot wait. I’m fired up. I’ll see you here.”
With the Phase 2 Reopening Plan, only selected groups of students are invited to attend some in-person classes. The prioritized groups include students struggling under distance learning and students with disabilities.
Students attending in-person instruction will continue returning over the next two weeks. The timeline for in-person instruction by date can be found below:
- Monday, March 29 – 1st and 2nd Grade
- Tuesday, March 30 – 6th and 9th Grade, all grades of alternative schools
- Thursday, April 1 – PreK, TK and Kindergarden
- Monday, April 5 – 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade
- Tuesday, April 6 – 7th, 8th, 10th, 11th and 12th
For the 2021-2021 school year, SCUSD has committed to a full school opening in August. All students will attend full school days five days a week.
For more information on the Santa Clara Unified School District reopening plan, click here.
Cupertino Unified School District Begins Hybrid Instruction April 5
The Cupertino Union School District will reopen on April 5 for hybrid instruction on all 25 campuses, according to a statement released Wednesday. The District serves just over 15,600 students across six cities, representing 19 elementary schools, one K-8 school and five middle schools.
Approximately half of CUSD students have chosen to return in-person, and the other half will remain in distance learning for the balance of the school year; ratios of distance to onsite learning vary on each campus.
The CUSD hybrid model begins with two days of on-campus instruction starting April 5, and expands to four days per week on April 26 for elementary students and on May 3 for middle school students. Teachers will provide concurrent instruction for distance and hybrid students.
Schools are required to adhere to the California Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 and Reopening in-Person Instruction Framework. Modifications for campus instruction include implementing distancing inside and outside the classroom, ensuring sufficient ventilation, promoting health hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting, self-screening for symptoms and exposure, and instituting measure to be taken in the case of a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19.
The District reopening plan, frequently asked questions and other document are available on the District’s website, here. The District expects students to return to full-day on-campus instruction in the fall.