Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1400485
A S O F P R E S S T I M E , guidance from the Califor- nia Department of Public Health (CDPH) for K-12 schools calls for masks to be worn indoors — even among vaccinated people — in areas with "substantial" or "high" transmission rates. The guidance is aligned with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's July 27 recommendations, modified for "the California context." Masks: All K-12 students are required to wear masks indoors, with certain exemptions. Adults are required to wear masks when sharing indoor spaces with stu- dents. Local schools can determine how to deal with students who don't comply; if they opt to exclude these students, they must provide "alternative educational opportunities." Distancing: Physical distancing in schools is not recommended. CDPH states that recent evidence shows "in-person instruction can occur safely without minimum physical distancing requirements when other mitigation strategies (e.g., masking) are implemented." Testing: Frequent testing for COVID-19 is encour- aged. It will continue to be free under the CDPH school testing program. Vaccination: Promoting vaccination can help schools safely return to in-person learning as well as to extracurricular activities and sports. Currently, children who are at least 12 years old are eligible for vaccines. The guidelines also recommend regular handwash- ing, staying/going home when feeling sick, proper ventilation indoors, and robust cleaning/disinfecting of surfaces, as well as various quarantine protocols. For the latest, go to cdph.ca.gov and covid19.ca.gov. You can report safety violations at your school through your CTA site rep or safety rep, who will follow up to make sure unsafe situations are addressed and take it to chapter leadership if nec- essary. You can also file a complaint with Cal/OSHA at dir.ca.gov/dosh/complaint.htm (any images that show students or staff should be blurred before uploading). Also, your CTA primary contact staff is available for assistance. CTA members get an exclusive discount to attend this year 's California STEAM Symposium, Oct. 21-23, a virtual event. It includes a companion Back-to-School Pre-Conference on Sept. 1. Educators will find multiple opportunities to align and integrate STEAM into their curriculum, and connect with colleagues and community partners, interact with live speakers, and collaborate with the STEAM community. Strands include "Increase STEAM Equity," "Embolden STEAM Com- munities," "Bolster The Art and Science of Teaching," and "Share The Joy of Learning." Get details and register with the code JOINME21 for your discount at steamcalifornia.org. COVID-19: Staying Safe at School Deposit Photos Get STEAMed 13 A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 21