All Ventura County Schools to Begin New Year with Only Distance Learning

Following the release of new state guidelines announced today by Governor Gavin Newsom, all Ventura County school districts and charter schools will begin the new school year using distance learning without bringing students back to their campuses. The new guidance comes a day after most Ventura County schools had already committed to beginning the year with distance learning in support of the effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

According to the new state guidance, schools cannot reopen their campuses until the county in which they are located has been off the state’s COVID-19 monitoring list for 14 consecutive days. Ventura County is one of 32 California counties currently on the list. The guidance applies to both public and private schools.

“We appreciate this confirmation from the Governor that bringing students back to campus in our current environment is too great of a risk to take,” said Ventura County Superintendent of Schools Stan Mantooth. “We know that distance learning can never fully substitute for the exchange of knowledge and social support that takes place in schools, but it is the most prudent way for us to provide education while the coronavirus continues to surge in Ventura County.”

Local schools are now focused on optimizing their plans to deliver high-quality distance learning. Since school campuses abruptly closed in March, local educators have been refining their distance learning offerings based on extensive feedback from students, parents and teachers. They’ve also been working to ensure that all students who need it have access to computers and connections to the internet. The Ventura County Office of Education is collaborating with school districts on curriculum development and technology support to maximize the effectiveness of distance learning for local students. Most Ventura County school districts intend to continue providing school meals while campuses are closed.

Ventura County school districts and charter schools will be providing additional details about their plans for the new school year to their communities. A list of school district websites is available here and a list of local charter school websites is available here.

For the latest updates on the impact of the coronavirus on Ventura County public schools, including distance learning resources and information about meal service and child care, please visit the Ventura County Office of Education website at www.vcoe.org.

All Ventura County school districts and charter schools will begin the 2020-2021 school year with only distance learning.

VENTURA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS

• Briggs School District
• Conejo Valley Unified School District
• Fillmore Unified School District
• Hueneme Elementary School District
• Las Virgenes Unified School District *
• Mesa Union School District
• Moorpark Unified School District
• Mupu Elementary School District
• Oak Park Unified School District
• Ocean View School District
• Ojai Unified School District
• Oxnard School District (K-8)
• Oxnard Union High School District
• Pleasant Valley School District
• Rio School District
• Santa Clara Elementary School District
• Santa Paula Unified School District
• Simi Valley Unified School District
• Somis Union School District
• Ventura County Office of Education
• Ventura Unified School District

VENTURA COUNTY CHARTER SCHOOLS

• Architecture, Construction & Engineering Charter High School
• Bridges Charter School
• Camarillo Academy of Progressive Education
• Golden Valley Charter School
• Ivy Tech Charter School
• Meadows Arts and Technology Elementary School
• River Oaks Academy
• University Preparation Charter School
• Valley Oak Charter School
• Ventura Charter School
• Vista Real Charter High School

* Las Virgenes Unified School District is based in Los Angeles County, but serves a portion of Ventura County.

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About the Ventura County Office of Education

The Ventura County Office of Education provides a broad array of fiscal, training and technology support services to local school districts, helping to maintain and improve lifelong educational opportunities for children, educators and community members. VCOE also operates schools that serve students with severe disabilities and behavioral issues, provides career education courses, and coordinates countywide academic competitions including Mock Trial and the Ventura County Science Fair. Learn more at: www.vcoe.org.