CA Superintendent of Schools: Individual districts will determine when to reopen

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The State Superintendent of Public Schools said the reopening of schools will likely be staggered.

During a Facebook Live media event on Wednesday, Tony Thurmond said each school district will decide when it's safe to reopen.

"We are not anticipating a common opening across school districts or a mandate for when school districts open," he said.

He said students and staff will likely wear masks when schools do open and shift learning would help create small class sizes while maintaining physical distancing.

"We know that having shifts where students may come in a morning shift and then another group of students may come in an afternoon shift may accommodate the need to have much smaller class sizes," Thurmond said.

He said some districts may choose to open in a hybrid model, which uses distance learning and in-class instruction.

The State Department of Education is working with health experts to provide guidance on safety measures for staff and students.

The state is continuing to address the digital divide and get technology needed to students who don't have easy access to a computer and internet.