SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - Sacramento County Public Health (SCPH) noticed all schools (TK-12), both public and private, with a Public Health Order for Schools that all schools in Sacramento County must utilize a distance learning model, until further notice. 

Schools may not conduct instruction or otherwise operate as a “day care,” “child care,” “camp,” or any other allowable activity. Students are not permitted on school campuses or to otherwise engage in in-person school activities, except as specifically noted below:

Emergency Mental Health Counseling – If emergency in-person mental health counseling is deemed necessary, in lieu of virtual settings, it may be conducted on an individual (1:1) basis; initial English Language Learner Assessments – May occur in-person on campus and conducted on an individual (1:1) basis unless group settings are legally required, in which case the groups should be the smallest size possible; Special Education Assessments – May occur in-person on campus on an individual (1:1) basis as required by state and federal regulations.

The Order provides clarification that all schools must not conduct in-person instruction while the County is on the State’s Monitoring List. The State requires counties on the Monitoring List be removed for a period of at least 14 consecutive days in order for the Public Health Officer to consider in-person instruction for grades 7 - 12. The State has provided guidance that allows local health officers to grant waivers for elementary schools to conduct in-person instruction, but Public Health will hold off on the consideration of these waivers until the data shows evidence that the transmission of COVID-19 is slowing. It is anticipated that waivers could be considered no sooner than mid-September.

Along with the Order, schools received a letter from the Sacramento County Health Officer and a document with answers to frequently asked questions for schools"‹.

Sacramento County Public Health understands the difficulty this creates for students, teachers, staff, and families. However, these restrictions are in place to limit the spread of COVID-19 in Sacramento County to help keep our community healthy and safe.