On March 18, 2020, the California Department of Education (CDE) published Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) school closure certification, second principal apportionment (P-2), and attendance reporting requirements.
The new FAQs clarify requirements for local educational agencies (LEAs) that closed schools in response to COVID-19, Governor Gavin Newsom’s March 13 Executive Order, and the signing of the COVID-19 emergency relief bill for K–12 education system. Among the answers the CDE provides, is that LEAs affected by COVID-19 closures do not need to submit J-13A waivers to avoid a loss in funding. Instead, LEAs will be required to submit a soon-to-be-published Certification Form for COVID-19 Closure that does not need to be accompanied by a letter from a local health department substantiating the need for the closure.
Furthermore, the FAQs provide more detail about how LEAs’ 2019–20 P-2 will be calculated pursuant to Senate Bill 117—the emergency relief bill that holds apportionment funding harmless—along with more information on attendance reporting.
Finally, the CDE notes that FAQs on instructional minutes and days will be forthcoming.