This page contains information and updates about COVID-19 pertaining to the Berkeley Unified School District.
Skip to section:
- Campus Reopening Information
- Reopening Readiness Dashboards
- BUSD “Grab and Go” Meal Program 2020-2021
- Distance Learning in Fall 2020
- Decisions During COVID-19
- Free Resources for Families
Campus Reopening Information
Information about phased reopening target dates, on-site case dashboard and more.
Reopening Readiness Dashboards
The Reopening Readiness Dashboards will be updated weekly. BUSD has completed many important steps in the plan to phase in the reopening of our school campuses for in-person learning. This includes modifications to facilities, the procurement of ventilation and air filtration upgrades, acquisition of face coverings, and expanded staffing and contracted support for district health and safety work. This dashboard is intended as a transparent means for the community to track BUSD progress on these important activities. Note that the status and future completion dates are estimates and will be revised when indicated.
- Elementary Reopening Readiness Dashboard
- Middle School Reopening Readiness Dashboard
- Berkeley High School (BHS) Reopening Readiness Dashboard
- Berkeley Technology Academy (BTA) Reopening Readiness Dashboard
BUSD “Grab and Go” Meal Program 2020-2021
Berkeley Unified School District will continue to provide bundled (multiple day) Grab and Go Meals to all children age 18 and under to cover each school day of the week.
Fall 2020 Begins in Distance Learning
On July 15, the School Board unanimously voted to begin the 2020-21 school year using an improved Distance Learning model. On July 17, California Governor Newsom announced that counties that are on a State Monitoring List due to elevated disease conditions, including Alameda County, must not open for in-person instruction until their county has come off the Monitoring List for 14 consecutive days. Reopening guidance should be implemented only with health officer approval following review of local epidemiological data and local preparedness, including contact tracing and testing capacity.
Berkeley Public School campuses are currently closed to the public. When school begins again on August 17, instruction will occur in a Distance Learning model.
Distance Learning Plan Fall 2020
Plan de Distance Learning para el Otoño del 2020
Making Decisions at BUSD During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Since February 2020, BUSD has drawn upon guidance from local, state, national and world health experts about how to operate our schools and mitigate risk for our school community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through weekly meetings and liaisons to health agencies, we are updating best practices.
UCSF Cares Webinars
The UCSF Collaborative to Advise on Reopening Education Safely (CARES) has offered resources for education and public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. CARES has been hosting webinars on the re-opening of schools during the COVID-19 on various topics to help make informed decisions as schools reopen. Please check the link below for the latest webinar:
https://coronavirus.ucsf.edu/cares
August 5, 2020 Health Experts Webinar – UCSF and Berkeley Public Health
Watch Webinar and Q&A on YouTube
PDF of Webinar Slide Deck
Resources for Families
Information about free local and online resources available to families during COVID-19.