Distance learning is already a thing of the past for many school districts across the U.S., but there is a possibility that not all students in California will return to in-person learning this fall.
Several California school districts are still debating hybrid options for the fall, but education experts say that is not the way to go.
“I’m just very, very concerned that there isn’t enough urgency about public education,” said former State Superintendent of Education and Education Consultant Delaine Eastin.
She said some students can't afford to not be back in the classroom.
“A year or two is a lot when you’re learning to read, when you’re learning to write, when you’re learning to do mathematics, when you’re learning to think,” Eastin told KCBS Radio.
Only 13% of California students have returned to a full-time in-person school schedule.
“The fact is that we have kids with special needs that need a lot of scaffolding, and if they get it when they’re young they have a much better chance of living productive lives,” Eastin said. “We have English learners, and we have all sorts of youngsters in foster care.”
State legislators will be debating in the next few weeks whether to extend the permission for distance learning.
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