California Gov. Gavin Newsom says that his children have returned to a “phased-in approach” of in-person learning at their private school while many public schools in the state remain closed over coronavirus fears.
“They’re phasing back into school, and we are phasing out of our very challenging distance learning that we’ve been doing, so many parents are doing up and down the state,” Newsom said during a Friday news conference.
Sacramento County, where the governor lives, is allowed to reopen schools under Newsom’s current plan, but the largest districts in the county have not yet done so.
Newsom has publicly stated that he believes schools should reopen. But many, including the California Teachers Association, have argued that it’s not safe to do so.
“We absolutely believe that the social-emotional learning that occurs in the classroom is the best place for our kids, certainly the best place for their parents as well. And so, it is absolutely incumbent to do everything in our power to provide support to our districts so that they can safely reopen — emphasis on safely reopen,” Newsom said.
In September, Newsom declined to answer the question of whether or not his children were returning to class but said that “there’s simply nothing more important in this state and in this nation” than children returning to school.
The California Teachers Union criticized the governor earlier this year for allowing private schools to apply for waivers to reopen, which many of them did.
“The Newsom children’s return to school reinforces concerns from lawmakers that families who can afford private schools have a jumpstart, further widening the achievement gap,” Politico reported.
