Legislature Passes $6.6 Billion Package Aimed at Reopening Schools

State lawmakers on Thursday passed Assembly Bill 86, a $6.6 billion package aimed at pressuring public school districts into reopening classrooms before April 1. 

“Resuming in-person instruction is critical for children and families,” said state Sen. Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) in a prepared statement. “Being back in the classroom means that we will be able to meet the learning needs, as well as the mental health and social-emotional needs, of our students and school communities.”

Under the bill, of the $6.6 billion allocated to public schools to help create safe learning environments for students and safe workplaces for educators, $2 billion will fund safety measures to support in-person learning, such as personal protective equipment, ventilation upgrades and COVID-19 testing. The remaining $4.6 billion will fund expanded learning opportunities, such as summer school, tutoring and mental health services. 

In order to claim the incentive funds, districts must also agree to take steps to partially reopen middle and high schools as soon as their county exits the “purple tier,” the highest and most restrictive tier on California’s COVID-19 monitoring system.

The Pasadena Board of Education was scheduled to meet Thursday to vote on reopening K-2nd grade classes on March 29, in part to claim its share of the funds. After spring break in early April, 3rd-5th grade classrooms would also open at local schools.

The package also contains a provision that prioritizes and accelerates vaccinations by setting aside 10 percent of vaccines for K-12th grade school staff.

Even if the resolution to reopen schools is approved, the district must complete negotiations with the teachers union. Several teachers wrote to the City Council and school district on Monday that they did not feel safe returning to school.

“Although we have more work to do, AB 86 is an important step forward to getting more of our children safely back into the classroom,” Portantino said.