We Support Full-Time In-Person Learning

The following letter was sent to the San Juan Unified School District Board of Education.

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San Juan Parents Assoc - Support - InPer.

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May 4, 2021 Dear President Villescaz and Members of the Board,

On behalf of the San Juan Parents Association, we are writing to express our strong support for an immediate return to full-time in-person learning. The San Juan Parents Association is a parent-led non-profit organization that brings parents together to advocate for the success and well-being of our children. San Juan Parents achieves our mission through education, training, civic engagement, and other political action. To facilitate a return to full-time in-person learning, we specifically request the following: - A resolution by the Board of Education by June 1, 2021 expressing your clear support for a return to full-time in-person learning no later than the August 10, 2021, when teachers and staff report back for the 2021-2022 school year. - A series of virtual or in-person listening sessions where parents have the opportunity to provide their feedback on the distance learning and hybrid distance learning educational models the district has utilized this year. As a part of the district presentation, we request a full report on the Fall 2020 Parent Survey results and why the district selected the model that was ultimately implemented, to help us better understand the thought process of such actions. - A formal briefing to the Board of Education prior to June 1, 2021, that outlines the likely structure of our return to full-time, in-person learning. While federal and state guidance will change, we need to have an open conversation about the most likely scenario so we can plan for the new school year. This is particularly important for working families who must arrange for child care, transportation, food/nutrition, and more. A survey demanding parents choose in-person or distance learning for the upcoming year, without advance notice of the expected model, is unacceptable. The San Juan Parents Association strong support for full-time in-person instruction is founded in what we have learned over the past year. Today, we have a better understanding of COVID-19, how it is transmitted, and how we can proceed with activities of daily living in a safe manner with appropriate mitigation measures in place. According to the California Department of Public Health:

Resuming in-person instruction is critical for kids, families, and communities throughout

the state, and there is growing evidence that the right precautions can effectively stop the spread of COVID-19 in schools—especially in elementary schools.” (California Department of Public Health, 2021) “In studies of open schools in America and around the world, children do not seem to be major sources of transmission—either to each other or to adults. In fact, the greatest risk in school settings comes from adults transmitting it to other adults, often in settings like breakrooms where we sometimes let down our guard. One study in Australia of 10 early childhood centers and 15 schools (>6000 people) found low rates in the schools overall (1.2%), and an adult-to-adult transmission rate almost 15 times higher than child-to-child transmission… “Even in communities with many COVID cases, we do not see many outbreaks in schools. That's because the right precautions can stop outbreaks before they start. Evidence shows that schools with the right mitigation strategies have been able to prevent in-school transmission among students and staff.” (California Department of Public Health, 2020) Confirming the veracity of these statements, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Feb. 12, 2021 their framework to safely reopen schools. The CDC and California Department of Public Health announced March 19, 2021 that the guidelines had been further updated to allow three feet of distance between students in classrooms. The negative impact of distance learning on the success and well-being of students is the driving force behind parents support for a return to full-time in-person learning. “While California has made great strides in distance learning—and this option will remain for parents and students who choose it and for those whose health status does not allow them to return to school in the near term—remote learning is still very challenging for many students and their caregivers. In a recent survey by the Alliance for Children's Rights, 42% of caregivers reported that they are not comfortable supporting youth in their care with technology needs, and 39% of caregivers reported that they are not comfortable providing academic support to the youth in their care during distance learning.” (California Department of Public Health, 2020) According to a March 23, 2021 article in the Sacramento Bee titled “Child abuse cases drop in Sacramento County. Why COVID may have led to fewer reports:” “The trend in child abuse comes on the heels of an explosion in domestic violence cases in the region, with a 58% increase in violent incidents last year. Like adult domestic violence victims, the pandemic has left many children isolated as a result of school closures, loss of sporting and extracurricular activities, and fewer interactions with people outside their immediate family.” In San Juan Unified School District, the evidence is clear that vulnerable students have been hardest hit by distance learning models. According to data reported to the Board of Education in February: - There has been a 353 percent increase in Extreme Chronic Absenteeism among students who come from low-income families compared to last year; - There has been a 327 percent increase in Extreme Chronic Absenteeism among students experiencing homelessness; - Academically, high school students from low-income families with 4 or more “F” grades has increased by 325 percent. For English Learners, it has increased by 420 percent compared to last year. - Middle School students from low-income families and English Learnings have seen 480 percent and 400 percent increases in 4 or more “F” grades. Parents recognize these disparities and largely support a safe return to full-time in-person learning. In April 2021, eager to better understand parent opinion on the matter, a community survey was launched on social media asking one question: “Do you support the immediate safe reopening of San Juan Unified School District schools as permitted by the Centers for Disease Control and the California Department of Public Health?” 775 parents, teachers, and students responded to the survey within 72 hours with 95% supporting the immediate safe reopening of schools as permitted by the CDC and CDPH. In conclusion, there is a clear and compelling case for an immediate return to full-time in-person learning. As such, we respectfully request the Board of Education take action to adopt a resolution by June 1, 2021 expressing your clear support for a return to full-time in-person learning by August 10, 2021; host a series of virtual or in-person listening sessions to hear parent feedback on distance learning; request a formal briefing from the Superintendent prior to June 1, 2021 that outlines the likely structure of our return to full-time, in-person learning. If you have any questions or comments regarding our position please feel free to contact Ben Avey directly at ben@sanjuanparents.org. Sincerely,

Ben Avey

Parent Advocate

Katie Reid

Parent Advocate

Kevin Jones

Parent Advocate

Nicole McKane

Parent Advocate

Thomas Reid

Parent Advocate

Krissie Jones

Parent Advocate

Kyla Avey

Parent Advocate

Peter McKane

Parent Advocate