The number of California children diagnosed with COVID-19 during the omicron variant surge has skyrocketed, challenging earlier notions that the coronavirus largely bypassed children. Child vaccination rates are relatively low, and children who contract COVID-19 could be at increased risk for rare conditions and type 1, type 2, and other types of diabetes.

This research synthesis summarizes findings from international studies on the health and transmission rates of early childhood and elementary-age students. These students contract the virus at lower rates and have less severe symptoms.

This press release explains the new California public health order for all k-12 public school staff, who must either provide proof of vaccination or submit to weekly testing.

With roughly 7.2 million students and staff heading into and returning from spring break, California has distributed more than 14.3 million COVID-19 at-home tests to schools for students and staff to help minimize the spread of COVID-19.

This PDF provides a series of decision trees in use by San Diego County for their symptom screening and quarantine protocols that can be used as a model for other districts as well. It also lists appropriate test types and requirements to return to school.

This study of seven California school districts identifies several themes and practices that aided their pandemic response. As the pandemic wore on, districts’ initial efforts expanded to address student and staff mental health, student engagement in online learning, adjustments of grading and graduation policies, and targeted services for students with high needs. Districts described proactive and consistent communication, efforts to build close ties with their local communities, and relationships within the district office and with County Offices of Education as among those that were particularly helpful.

California’s $2.7 billion COVID-19 Emergency Response Package aims to bolster testing capacity, accelerate vaccination and booster efforts, support frontline healthcare workers, strengthen the health care system, expand contact tracing, and provide accurate information.

To address the national surge in COVID-19 cases driven by the Omicron variant, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order allowing temporary certificates to be issued to substitute teachers who do not have credentials. The order, which is in effect until March 31, also extends the length of time substitute teachers can be assigned to a class and allows more flexibility for retired teachers to work as substitutes.

This webinar addresses how to use funding for literacy programs, student mental health and wellness, outdoor education programming, rapid COVID-19 testing, and more.

This study of 85 San Francisco community learning hubs, which were established to facilitate remote learning during building closures, found that multiple mitigation policies prevented most COVID-19 infection.

This research brief summarizes successful mitigation strategies across five California school districts during fall 2021. Strategies include universal testing, test-to-stay quarantine policies, and school-based vaccination clinics.

This webpage includes links to several documents in both English and Spanish to support school staff, including decision trees and flyers that explain contact tracing procedures.

This resource includes video resources, developed in partnership with UCSF and UCLA, that will help schools implement safety guidance.