Following a spring of uneven distance learning expectations for schools across California, the new state budget sets standards for fall instruction.

'Daily live interaction' required

Teachers will have to connect with their students each school day through online instruction and/or phone check-ups.

Taking student attendance

Schools must take students' attendance and participation under distance learning, or risk losing state funding. Students who don't participate will factor into schools' chronic absenteeism figures.

Minimum instruction

Students must receive a minimum amount of daily instruction that can be met by a combination of teacher instruction and "time value" of work assigned.

- 3 hours per day for kindergartners.

- 3 hours, 50 minutes for grades 1-3.

- 4 hours for grades 4-12.

Serving students in need

Schools have to provide the "accommodations necessary" to serve students with special needs.

No set requirements for live instruction

The state does not mandate a minimum daily amount of synchronous, or live, instruction, though experts strongly suggest it be a part of students' distance learning.

Preventing disengagement

Schools must form a plan for re-engaging students who are absent from distance learning for more than three schooldays a week.

Checking families' connectivity

Schools will have to ensure that students and families have the devices and connectivity necessary to participate in distance learning, or make accommodations if they do not.

Weekly engagement records

An additional data requirement, schools must keep "weekly engagement records" noting how much synchronous or asynchronous instruction a student has received.

Replacing accountability plans

Schools will team up with parents and teachers to create a "learning continuity and attendance plan" by Sept. 30, replacing schools' usual annual planning documents.

Source: California 2020-21 state budget.