SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - Sacramento County has officially reached the red tier of the state’s COVID-19 risk assessment system. This means that starting the week of March 22, students in grades TK-12 have the option to return to in-person learning in a hybrid format. Students in early childhood education programs (infant/toddler and preschool) have the option to return to in-person learning starting April 5.

“Our staff have been preparing for the return of our students and staff to classrooms,” said Superintendent Kent Kern. “We have put many safety measures in place to protect everyone’s health and are excited to have finally reached the point where we can safely return to on campus learning.” 

Students choosing to return to in-person learning will be served in a hybrid model to meet state capacity restrictions. Students will be assigned to groups A or B. On Mondays and Tuesdays, group A will attend in-person in the morning while group B and those who remain in distance learning will receive remote instruction in the afternoon. On Thursdays and Fridays, the schedule repeats but with group B attending in-person in the morning. Families choosing to remain in distance learning will be assigned to group C. 

Families wanting to change their student’s selection between the in-person model and distance learning, homeschool or independent study should contact their school office as soon as possible. While schools will attempt to honor family requests, limited space may be available preventing a move between models. 

The district has developed a welcome packet for families, which includes reminders on safety practices as well as guidance on safety rules and policies put in place specific to the pandemic. Schools will also be sharing school site-specific information, such as daily schedules and drop-off/pick-up procedures with families in the coming days. We ask that families review these documents and reach out to their school office with any questions.

Several plans have been put in place to ensure the safe return of our students and staff onto campus. The latest version of the San Juan Unified COVID Safety Plan is now posted at www.sanjuan.edu/covidsafetyplans. Site-specific safety plans can be found on each school’s website. 

We recognize that a return to in-person learning is a big change for our students and school campuses will look very different. Families are invited to view a video that highlights some of the changes students will see around campus. We encourage families to have a conversation with their students about the extra safety measures that have been implemented, such as the use of face coverings and physical distancing, to protect students and staff as they return to campus. 

Additionally, planning is already underway at our school sites to offer orientations for our students, especially for new students and those students at the transition years such as kindergarten, entering middle school and our high school freshmen. Student orientations will either be held virtually or in-person, depending on the school community’s needs. In addition, virtual parent orientations will be held to inform parents of the safety measures that will be in place at our schools.