The following is an update on the status of Compton Unified School District’s ongoing negotiations with the Compton Education Association (CEA) relating to instruction for the 2020-2021 school year during the COVID-19 pandemic, as we continue to ensure that the District is doing all it can to support continuity of student learning. The District takes seriously the impact of COVID-19 on our employees and students and has been working hard to ensure that it has health and safety protocols established that are consistent with the guidance from the LA County Department of Public Health guidelines. We have been working diligently to arrive at an agreement to ensure the District is providing equitable access to educational resources, technology, academic support and intervention, and services for all students and families.
We believe that it is vital to share factual information related to negotiations. A few important facts are noted below:
- Compton Unified School District school sites are closed to in-person instruction for all students. Currently, all students are receiving instruction virtually. Per the LA County Department of Public Health guidelines, no school district in Los Angeles County may reopen school sites at this time.
- To help ensure the best possible educational experience, students are expected to participate in synchronous online instruction, ranging from 195 to 220 instructional minutes (approximately three hours and fifteen minutes to three and a half hours) each day, and asynchronous classwork at the discretion of the teacher.
- The District has made a proposal consistent with the requirements of the State and LA County Department of Public Health’s guidance, and that addresses various elements--including employee and student safety and hygiene--to begin in-person, small cohort learning pods. A learning pod of students may consist of certain student populations that have been impacted negatively by distance learning, including Special Education students, students who are English Language Learners, students who are at-risk and preschool students. Participation by students in the small cohort learning pods will be voluntary and may not exceed 10% of each school’s student population.
- A hybrid model is not being considered for implementation at this time. However, should Los Angeles County Schools be allowed to reopen, once cases of COVID-19 fall below 100 cases per 100,000 residents for 28 consecutive days, a hybrid model plan is currently under consideration.
- Home visitations have not been required.
- Should in-person student instruction proceed under future county health guidelines, protocols developed by the District include disinfecting as well as routines to assist students in maintaining habits to prevent potential COVID-19 exposure, such as: hand hygiene and wiping down personal use items.
The District remains committed to bringing these negotiations to a successful conclusion and reaching a fair agreement with CEA that addresses safety and hygiene priorities and allows the District’s students to continue to receive the best possible educational experience.