With the start of school fast approaching, districts across the state are scrambling to plan for resuming instruction in the fall. Gov. Gavin Newsom on July 17 mandated that all schools on the state’s watchlist for worrisome coronavirus trends must begin the school year online only rather than in class. Here’s a list of what more than 100 Bay Area districts that have announced plans are doing by county, which we will update:
Santa Clara County
San Jose Unified: Schools will open on Aug. 12 with at-home online learning for at least the first six weeks of the school year through Oct. 2. Plans for a hybrid, partial return to the classroom were thrown into question July 10 when the San Jose Teachers Association said teachers wouldn’t return to class.
Santa Clara Unified: Is surveying parents through July 15 but has announced all students will start the school year in remote, online learning.
Palo Alto Unified: Elementary schools will return to a hybrid schedule with students split into smaller cohorts for in-class instruction three days a week plus online learning. Middle and high schools will be mostly online instruction with opportunities for some small-group instruction on campus.
Milpitas Unified: Plans to begin with 100% distance learning for the first six weeks of the school year starting Aug. 13 and transition to in-person learning later with an online only option.
Morgan Hill Unified: Announced July 15 that district will drop plans to resume in-class learning and begin the school year Aug. 13 with online-only instruction for all grades due to worsening pandemic and teacher and staff concerns.
Gilroy Unified: School board voted unanimously at July 14 meeting to support plant to drop in-class instruction plans and start the school year Aug. 12 with online only instruction for all grades due to growing pandemic and teacher concerns.
Alum Rock Union: Plans call for phasing into on-campus instruction, starting with 90% of students learning online in the fall with gradual return to class as health conditions allow.
Berryessa Union: Board voted July 15 to begin the school year Aug. 17 with all-online instruction, with a possible transition to a hybrid of online and in-class instruction as conditions allow.
Cambrian: Plans in development with July 14 school board meeting.
Cupertino Union: School board meets July 16 to consider updates to proposed model for starting the school year Aug. 13 with online instruction and transitioning to a hybrid blended model when deemed safe.
Campbell Union: School board voted July 15 to start the school year Aug. 20 with online-only instruction and phase in to partial in-class hybrid and then full return to classroom, with more details coming later in the month.
Evergreen: School board voted July 15 to begin the school year Aug. 19 with 100% online “distance” learning and develop a hybrid online and in-class plan to begin in January if conditions warrant.
Franklin-McKinley: Planning a combination of a hybrid schedule with students in class two days a week plus online instruction, with an online-only option.
Lakeside: Plans in development.
Loma Prieta Joint Union: Superintendent announced July 16 plans to start the school year Aug. 13 in a fully remote distance online learning model with hopes of transitioning to a mixed in-person and remote hybrid model eventually full in-person learning when deemed safe.
Los Altos: Plans in development to be approved July 27 cover a range from full in-class or online instruction and blended models for school start Aug. 19.
Los Gatos Union: Announced July 15 that due to worsening pandemic will begin school year Aug. 13 with online-only remote instruction with phased return to in-class learning when deemed safe.
Luther Burbank: Parents surveyed.
Moreland: Planning update to parents in mid-to-late July after further guidance from county.
Mount Pleasant: Reopening plans to be discussed July 14 and at board retreat July 18 for return to school Aug. 18.
Mountain View Whisman: Planing an update in July 16 Zoom meeting.
Oak Grove: Announced July 15 that due to rising cases students will begin the school year Aug. 12 with online-only distance learning until at least Oct. 5, with possible transition to hybrid part in-class, part online instruction through 6th grade.
Orchard: Planning to open school with all students in online instruction transitioning when safe to do so to a hybrid model where most students have two days of on-campus instruction and three days of online learning. Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten students will be on campus four half-days a week.
Saratoga Union: Plans call for offering both five-day on-campus instruction in small cohorts and an all-online option, with a school board vote scheduled July 16.
Sunnyvale: Plans in development following July 8 informational board meeting.
Union: Announced July 14 that all students will begin the school year Aug. 12 in an online-only distance learning model, to be regularly reevaluated for phased return to in-class instruction with priority on youngest students and those needing additional support.
East Side Union High: Announced July 1 that the new school year will begin Aug. 11 with all-online instruction.
Fremont Union High: Plans to release revised plan at July 21 school board meeting for Aug. 17 start of instruction.
Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High: Evaluating alternatives, including resumption of all-online instruction, a phased return to campus and a hybrid online and in-class model with updates expected mid-July for start of instruction Aug. 13.
Campbell Union High: Superintendent recommendation to school board July 16 that all students start the new school year Aug. 12 with online-only distance learning with plans to create opportunities for in-person student support as the semester progresses.
Mountain View-Los Altos High: Plans in development with full online-instruction and hybrid online and in-class options being explored.
Diocese of San Jose: All elementary schools in the Diocese of San Jose will begin the school year with an online distance learning program. The diocese is consulting with local health officials about a waiver that could allow in-person class and if granted would support phased approach to reopening campuses.
Canterbury Christian School: Announced July 30 will open the campus to in-person instruction with enhanced safety measures starting Sept. 9.
Alameda County
Alameda Unified: Plans in development to be considered at July 17 school board meeting but with options for all-online, in-class or a hybrid blend under consideration.
Albany Unified: Plans to be discussed at July 14 school board meeting.
Berkeley: Plans to start the fall school year offering either online-only instruction or a hybrid on and off campus program with parents asked to state a preference.
Castro Valley Unified: Will begin the school year with online-only virtual learning until it is safe to start a hybrid part in-class, part online model, with an alternative for families to continue all-year with online virtual learning.
Dublin Unified: School board July 16 to consider plans to start school year Aug. 13 with online-only learning for at least the first six weeks of instruction.
Emery Unified: Considering a hybrid model with in-person attendance two days a week and remote learning for those at risk from in-person instruction, hopes to update plan by end of July or early August for Aug. 20 school start.
Fremont Unified: Will start the school year with all online learning until Alameda County doesn’t have any new COVID-19 cases for seven straight days.
Hayward Unified: Plans to start school year with all online instruction and transition to a hybrid of limited in-class and online instruction the option for families to continue with online only.
Livermore Valley Joint Unified: Plans in development call for a range of full return to class, all-online and a hybrid of on-campus and online instruction.
Mountain House Elementary: Plans in development.
New Haven Unified: Plans to start school year with fully virtual learning on Aug. 12 and the school board will revisit the decision on Sept. 15, taking into consideration health and safety indicators.
Newark Unified: Plans in development.
Oakland Unified: Will begin school year with at least one month of all online instruction, with students brought back to campus in phases as safety allows.
Piedmont Unified: School board to consider plans July 16 for full online model for start of school Aug. 17.
Pleasanton Unified: School board voted unanimously July 15 to begin school Aug. 11 with online-only instruction for all grades due to worsening pandemic outlook and consider a hybrid partial return of in-class and online instruction later in the year as conditions warrant.
San Leandro Unified: Plans to begin school year Aug. 12 with online-only distance learning.
San Lorenzo Unified: Plans to begin school year with all-online instruction and phase into a hybrid with in-class and online learning in October.
Sunol Glen Unified: Plans to begin school year Aug. 5 with online only distance learning.
Contra Costa County
Acalanes Union High: School board voted unanimously July 15 to start school year Aug. 11 with online-only instruction due to worsening pandemic outlook and revisit possibility of partial return to in-class learning monthly.
Antioch Unified: Plans call for offering the option of starting the school year in full online-only instruction and, if health conditions allow, also the choice of a hybrid of in-class learning combined with online teaching. Webinars for parents scheduled through July 22 with classes starting Sept.1.
Brentwood Union: Will begin school year early, July 28, with online-only instruction.
Byron Union: School board voted July 10 to implement online-only instruction for the school year starting Aug. 10 with more details to come July 15.
Canyon Elementary: School board to consider either hybrid or online distance learning model July 23 for Aug 19 start of instruction.
John Swett Unified: Plans call for hybrid of in-class instruction two days a week for different student cohorts and online instruction, with the possibility of all-online instruction.
Knightsen Elementary: School board has decided to begin the school year with online-only instruction and possibly to reopen under an online and in-class hybrid model when county COVID-19 numbers are more favorable.
Lafayette: Beginning school year Aug. 11 with online only distance learning.
Liberty Union High: School board approved hybrid online and in-class instruction with online-only option and class starting Aug. 10.
Martinez Unified: Plans in development with decision expected July 20.
Moraga: Planning for hybrid online and in-class instruction with decision expected July 21.
Mt. Diablo Unified: School board July 13 signaled unanimous support to start the new school year Aug. 13 primarily with online-only instruction and phasing into classroom environments only when deemed safe. Plans to be finalized July 30.
Oakley Union: School board voted July 6 to start the school year July 29 with online-only instruction until a return to class is safe.
Orinda Union: Plans in development for Aug. 13 school start.
Pittsburg Unified: Beginning school year Aug. 12 with online only distance learning at minimum until Sep 14th.
San Ramon Valley Unified: School board voted July 16 to begin school year Aug. 11 with all online instruction at all grade levels, with hopes of transitioning to some in-class instruction when deemed safe.
Walnut Creek: Plans in development, school board to review July 15.
West Contra Costa Unified: Will start school year Aug. 17 with online-only instruction for most students with return to campus when deemed safe.
San Mateo County
Cabrillo Unified: Plans to start the year with remote learning in mid-August until a partial reopening in September, with details including a start date to the school year to be discussed at the July 23 board meeting.
La Honda Pescadero Unified: N/A
South San Francisco Unified: Pushed back the start of the school year from August 12 to August 17 and will use phased approach toward the reopening of schools with at least three weeks of remote education before transitioning to a second phase where only the district’s “most vulnerable students” receive in-person instruction.
Bayshore Elementary: Planning to reopen with hybrid online and in-class model with option for online-only for Aug. 17 school start.
Belmont Redwood Shores: Announced July 29 due to county being added to coronavirus watchlist it will alter course and implement a full distance learning plan for all students Aug. 19 with plans to re-evaluate offering a hybrid option within 5-6 weeks of the start of school.
Brisbane: Town hall July 14 to go over options.
Burlingame: Plans to begin instruction with online distance learning Aug. 26 with hope of transitioning to hybrid in-person instruction in September if possible.
Hillsborough City: Announced July 29 will begin school year Aug. 24 with remote instruction.
Jefferson Elementary: Will present plans at school board’s July 22 meeting that would give students a choice of a 100% virtual option or starting the year with online instruction with the intention of moving to hybrid instruction including two days of in-person instruction once case numbers go down.
Las Lomitas Elementary: Will start the school year in distance learning for K-8 on Aug. 19.
Menlo Park City: School board voted to to open the school year on Aug. 20, 2020 with remote online learning for all students, with the intent to reassess the health data over the coming weeks and potentially open schools to a hybrid alternating week in-person/at-home model as early as September 8.
Millbrae: Surveying parents.
Pacifica: School board decided July 21 to begin the school year Aug. 19 in online distance learning.
Portola Valley: Recommendation to begin school year in online distance learning Aug. 21 to be considered by school board Aug. 6.
Ravenswood City: Plans to begin school year Aug. 26 with online distance learning and consider October reopening with hybrid part in-class and online instruction with online only option.
Redwood City: School board decided to start the school year Aug. 19 with online distance learning for at least until the end of the first trimester, which typically ends before the Thanksgiving break.
San Bruno Park: School board July 29 approved return for fall Aug. 27 with all students in 100% online distance learning.
San Carlos: School board approved plan July 24 to start the school year Aug. 19 with all students in online distance learning.
San Mateo-Foster City: School board July 16 decided to begin the year Aug. 17 in online distance
learning due to the recent escalation of COVID 19 cases and to continue in that mode
through the October intercession and reevaluate health conditions.
Woodside: Decided July 30 to begin the school year Aug. 20 in online distance learning.
Sequoia Union High: Will begin the school year Aug. 17 with students engaged in online distance learning with traditional letter grades for the first quarter of the fall semester.
San Mateo Union High: Announced July 29 that school will start Aug. 17 with online distance learning for at least the first six weeks and that traditional grades will be given for all classes.
Jefferson Union High: Will start school year Aug. 10 with all online instruction with plan of transitioning after no less than six weeks to hybrid part in-class part online instruction, with online-only option.
Archdiocese of San Francisco: All Archdiocesan elementary schools will begin the school year with an online distance learning program through Sept. 3, with hope that conditions then will allow a return to in-person instruction according to each school’s approved reopening plans.
San Francisco
San Francisco Unified: Superintendent announced July 15 that school will begin Aug. 17 with online-only distance learning with a goal of providing a gradual hybrid approach of in-person and distance learning for some students “when science and data suggest it is safe to do so.”
Archdiocese of San Francisco: All Archdiocesan elementary schools will begin the school year with an online distance learning program through Sept. 3, with hope that conditions then will allow a return to in-person instruction according to each school’s approved reopening plans.
Marin County
Bolinas-Stinson: Reopening plans in development.
Kentfield: Reopening plans in development with a framework to be released July 16 followed by parent survey.
Laguna Joint: The Pre-K-6 school with two classes 11 students and seven families is hoping that they’ll be able to reopen in-class instruction in the fall, but expects to make final decision on Aug. 4.
Lagunitas: Reopening plans in development.
Larkspur-Corte Madera: Due to July 16 recommendation from county health and office of education, plans to start the year Aug. 17 with online-only distance learning with the goal of transitioning to in-person learning “to the maximum extent possible.”
Lincoln Union: N/A
Mill Valley: Plans in development with review of five-day school week, remote learning and hybrid models with task force meetings scheduled through Aug. 6.
Miller Creek: Announced July 15 that school year will begin Aug. 20 in a full remote online-only learning model for all students, followed by a phased-in approach to implement a hybrid model “when the time is right.”
Nicasio: Plans to be discussed July 15.
Novato Unified: Details to be discussed July 15 on plans to offer flexible-in-person hybrid in-class and online learning with 100% online virtual learning option model for fall school start Aug. 20.
Reed Union: Plans for in-class instruction still in development with updates expected in August but parents offered option of online-only instruction for the school year starting Aug. 20.
Ross: District evaluating schedules for Aug. 21 school start that would begin with partial day in-class instruction transitioning to full day, with options for morning and afternoon cohort model if needed.
San Rafael City: Announced July 15 that the school year will begin Aug. 20 in a full remote online-only learning model for all students, followed by a phased-in approach to implement a hybrid model “when the time is right.”
Sausalito-Marin City: Plans not available.
Shoreline Unified: Plans call for return to class instruction as soon as possible with independent study option for students who cannot come to class, updates expected Aug. 3.
Tamalpais Union High: Plans call for a hybrid learning model that brings all students on campus five days a week in morning and afternoon rotations with an online-only option and more updates expected July 27th before Aug. 19 school start.
Archdiocese of San Francisco: All Archdiocesan elementary schools will begin the school year with an online distance learning program through Sept. 3, with hope that conditions then will allow a return to in-person instruction according to each school’s approved reopening plans.
Check back for updates.
If you have received an email from your child’s school about reopening plans that take into account coronavirus, please forward the email to reporter John Woolfolk. Use the form below to provide additional information.
