Following the release of new state guidelines announced today by Governor Gavin Newsom, all Ventura County school districts and charter schools will begin the new school year using distance learning without bringing students back to their campuses. The new guidance comes a day after most Ventura County schools had already committed to beginning the year with distance learning in support of the effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
According to the new state guidance, schools cannot reopen their campuses until the county in which they are located has been off the state’s COVID-19 monitoring list for 14 consecutive days.** Ventura County is one of 32 California counties currently on the list. The guidance applies to both public and private schools.
“We appreciate this confirmation from the Governor that bringing students back to campus in our current environment is too great of a risk to take,” said Ventura County Superintendent of Schools Stan Mantooth. “We know that distance learning can never fully substitute for the exchange of knowledge and social support that takes place in schools, but it is the most prudent way for us to provide education while the coronavirus continues to surge in Ventura County.”
Local schools are now focused on optimizing their plans to deliver high-quality distance learning. Since school campuses abruptly closed in March, local educators have been refining their distance learning offerings based on extensive feedback from students, parents and teachers. They’ve also been working to ensure that all students who need it have access to computers and connections to the internet. The Ventura County Office of Education is collaborating with school districts on curriculum development and technology support to maximize the effectiveness of distance learning for local students. Most Ventura County school districts intend to continue providing school meals while campuses are closed.
Ventura County school districts and charter schools will be providing additional details about their plans for the new school year to their communities. A list of school district websites is available here and a list of local charter school websites is available here.
For the latest updates on the impact of the coronavirus on Ventura County public schools, including distance learning resources and information about meal service and child care, please visit the Ventura County Office of Education website at www.vcoe.org.
All Ventura County school districts and charter schools will begin the 2020-2021 school year with only distance learning.
VENTURA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Briggs School District
Conejo Valley Unified School District
Fillmore Unified School District
Hueneme Elementary School District
Las Virgenes Unified School District *
Mesa Union School District
Moorpark Unified School District
Mupu Elementary School District
Oak Park Unified School District
Ocean View School District
Ojai Unified School District
Oxnard School District (K-8)
Oxnard Union High School District
Pleasant Valley School District
Rio School District
Santa Clara Elementary School District
Santa Paula Unified School District
Simi Valley Unified School District
Somis Union School District
Ventura County Office of Education
Ventura Unified School District
VENTURA COUNTY CHARTER SCHOOLS
Architecture, Construction & Engineering Charter High School
Bridges Charter School
Camarillo Academy of Progressive Education
Golden Valley Charter School
Ivy Tech Charter School
Meadows Arts and Technology Elementary School
River Oaks Academy
University Preparation Charter School
Valley Oak Charter School
Ventura Charter School
Vista Real Charter High School
* Las Virgenes Unified School District is based in Los Angeles County, but serves a portion of Ventura County.
About the Ventura County Office of Education
The Ventura County Office of Education provides a broad array of fiscal, training and technology support services to local school districts, helping to maintain and improve lifelong educational opportunities for children, educators and community members. VCOE also operates schools that serve students with severe disabilities and behavioral issues, provides career education courses, and coordinates countywide academic competitions including Mock Trial and the Ventura County Science Fair. Learn more at: www.vcoe.org.
**County by county data monitoring of elevated disease transmission, increasing hospitalization and limited hospital capacity at www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/COVID19CountyDataTable.aspx
