Some elementary schools approved for in-person learning by California Department of Public Health

California schools have been closed to in-person learning since mid-March, when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit the state.

The aim of these closures was to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 between students, staff and faculty. However, as the fall semester begins, the state has decided to allow some schools to reopen with modifications.

Earlier this month, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced the COVID-19 and Reopening In-Person Learning Framework.

The framework allows elementary schools within counties that were on the state's county monitoring list to apply for a waiver from their local health officer to open for in-person instruction.

The local health officer then reviews the application and reopening plan and confers with the state's public health department to decide whether to grant or deny the waiver.

Numerous schools statewide have applied and been granted waivers by the state's public health department, this includes schools in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

In San Luis Obispo County, elementary schools that have been granted waivers by the California Health Department include: San Luis Obispo Classical Academy, Christ Classical Homeschool Cooperative, Old Mission School, St. Patrick School, St. Rose School, Trinity Lutheran School, Montessori Children's, Children's House Montessori, Valley View Adventist, North County Christian, Templeton Hills Adventist, Coastal Christina and Wishing Well School.

In Santa Barbara County, Waldorf School – Santa Barbara, Laguna Blanca School, The Knox School of Santa Barbara and The Howard School Carpinteria were granted waivers for in-person learning by the state's health department.

In Ventura County, Conejo Adventist Elementary, Pleasant Valley Christian School, St. Patrick's Day Episcopal School, Carden Conejo and Bethany Christian all were approved for waivers.

As of Friday, 332 elementary schools have applied for waivers and been reviewed for permission by the state's health department.

More information on the state's waiver process can be found here.

For more information and a full list of schools across the state who have had their applications reviewed by the California Public Health Department, click here.