Governor Newsom Promises Funding To Resume In-Person Schooling

California Governor Gavin Newsom encouraged schools to resume in-person education in the new year.

On Wednesday, December 30, Newsom announced that he intends to allocate $2 billion of state aid to promote coronavirus testing, increased ventilation of classrooms, and personal protective equipment for schools that reopen.

"As a father of four, I know firsthand what parents, educators, and pediatricians continue to say: in-person is the best setting to meet not only the learning needs but the mental health and social-emotional needs of our kids," said Newsom in a statement.

Throughout the pandemic, districts and parents bumped heads as they attempted to navigate public education in these unprecedented times.

Newsom encouraged starting in-person instruction for the youngest students in the schooling system.

The governor's proposal calls for a phased approach that prioritizes those in kindergarten through second grade, children with disabilities, and those who have limited access to technology at home.

The proposed budget which Newsom will present next month will include a push for safety measures.

Those measures include frequent testing for all students and staff with weekly testing in areas with a high risk of virus transmission. He also backed making school staff a priority for vaccinations.

The state will also launch a website where parents and students can view their school's reopening status, state funding, and any outbreaks in their school. There will also be a feature that allows parents and educators to report any problems or concerns.

The news of this proposal comes as COVID-19 cases continue to surge throughout California.

Newsom recently extended regional stay-at-home orders for Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley.

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