
We are a group of OUSD parents deeply concerned about the impact of distance learning on our children. It has now been a year since our children have been in a classroom and while some children will be returning to classrooms this spring, ALL OUSD families who chose to return should be given the option for five full days in-person this spring.
We believe that even a return to five full days in-person in the fall may be at risk. While public health guidance from the CDC and California Department of Public Health (CDPH) indicate we can be open TK-12 now and for five full days, the plans for a spring return include five hours of instruction for elementary students and only 6th graders returning to campuses for all secondary students. This is inadequate for all Oakland students.
We ask you to please join us in helping give our kids an equal voice in this discussion. Please sign the petition. You will be kept up to date on the latest actions parents can take at both the local and state level to influence decision makers. For more information on broader statewide efforts, please visit openschoolsca.com.
We do not want or believe this should be an adversarial process. We continue to appreciate the heroics of many educators and administrators to bring distance learning to life during a global health crisis. But as vaccinations continue at a quickened pace and Covid rates decrease, our students can and should be returned to their classrooms. For parents not comfortable with a return to in person learning, there should be the option to remain in distance learning, but it is time to give all kids, families and teachers who want to be back in the classroom, the opportunity to do so.