Last Friday, Governor Newsom provided a boost of confidence to charter schools and traditional district schools that are currently or about to close, issuing an executive order that protects state funding for all public schools in response to COVID-19.
“The needs of California kids must be met regardless of whether their school is open or closed. School districts that choose to close must use state educational dollars to quickly meet the needs of children and families,” Newsom said in a press release.
The continued funding will cover:
- distance learning and high-quality educational opportunities
- school meals for underserved students
- arranged supervision for students during school hours
- pay to school employees
This is an important step in providing a safety net for charter school staff and families who face school closures while making the transition to distance/online learning. Thanks to Gov. Newsom for providing much-needed certainty for students, parents, teachers and principals during a very uncertain time.
UPDATE: Late Monday night, the Legislature essentially passed into law the governor’s executive order. SB 117 will provide $100 million for K-12 schools, ensuring funding during closures and after—even if there’s a drop off in attendance from parents keeping their kids home once school resumes.
