OCDE Education in the News

Friday, October 8, 2021

LOS ANGELES TIMES

Who can can opt out of school COVID vaccine mandate? Lawmakers eye crackdown

When Gov. Gavin Newsom said last week that California would require students to be vaccinated against COVID-19, a critical caveat was tucked within the nation-leading announcement: Parents can opt their children out of inoculation based on personal beliefs.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-10-07/questions-over-who-can-opt-out-california-school-covid-19-vaccine-mandate

VOICE OF SAN DIEGO

Vax Rates for Teachers Vary Widely Across the County

The San Diego County Office of Education is not tracking how many employees are vaccinated at each of the 42 school districts in the county. So we reached out to the ten largest districts to see what percentage of employees are fully vaccinated. Six districts responded and among those four had vaccination rates above 70 percent.

https://www.voiceofsandiego.org/newsletters/morning-report/morning-report-vax-rates-for-teachers-vary-widely-across-the-county/

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

S.F. school board faces more legal costs with appeal of lawsuit over mural decision

The San Francisco school board will appeal a Superior Court judge’s ruling involving the district’s effort to cover a controversial mural, continuing to pay outside counsel to fight the legal battle despite the school system’s perilous financial situation.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/S-F-school-board-faces-more-legal-costs-with-16517552.php

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SUN

$1 million in state budget makes Rialto school district healing garden possible

"This will be a place where the community can come and relax and learn more about the environment," board member says.

https://www.sbsun.com/2021/10/07/1-million-in-state-budget-makes-rialto-school-district-healing-garden-possible/

EDSOURCE

California independent study sparks equity concerns for students with disabilities

California’s independent study framework shuts out thousands of disabled students who need special in-person services to learn, according to a civil rights complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Justice. The class-action complaint alleges that students at high risk of Covid, such as those with immune disorders, weakened lungs or an inability to wear a mask, cannot attend in-person school for safety reasons, yet districts aren’t providing the assistance those students need in order to participate in independent study.

https://edsource.org/2021/independent-study-excludes-california-students-with-disabilities-complaint-alleges/662137

Governor’s council to focus on teaching California students about Holocaust

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has launched the Governor’s Council on Holocaust and Genocide Education. The council will host seminars, develop a speakers bureau and identify resources to teach California students about the Holocaust and other acts of genocide, as wells as how to respond to anti-Semitism and bigotry, according to a press release from the governor’s office.

https://edsource.org/news-updates#governor-8217-s-council-to-focus-on-teaching-california-students-about-holocaust

MODESTO BEE

Turlock Unified approves gender-neutral dress code policy crafted with student input

Trustees for Turlock Unified School District approved a new, gender-neutral dress code Tuesday evening designed to make school clothing rules more equitable. The policy marks the first time school officials sought student input on a dress code.

https://www.modbee.com/news/local/education/article254839212.html#storylink=mainstage_lead

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY TRIBUNE

El Monte Union High School District mandates coronavirus vaccines for eligible on-campus students

Board of education members for El Monte Union High School District on Wednesday night voted 5-0 for a coronavirus vaccine mandate that will require student-athletes to be vaccinated by Nov. 19, all other eligible on-campus students by Jan. 3.

https://www.sgvtribune.com/2021/10/07/el-monte-union-high-school-district-mandates-coronavirus-vaccines-for-eligible-on-campus-students/

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