COVID-19 Information
The Hart District is focused on preserving the ability for students to continue to meet safely with their teachers by following county, state, and federal directives.
(See Los Angeles County's current numbers here.)
Messages from the 2021/22 School Year
5/2/22 - Revised Health Order
Recent changes to State and County health orders regarding the definition close contacts will affect our schools. The revised guidelines now say that an individual is considered a “close contact” if they are within the same shared airspace with a known positive case for 15 minutes or more. Therefore, under the new guidance, everyone in a classroom is considered a “close contact” – regardless of distance – if they share the same airspace for 15 minutes or more.
Beginning May 4, Los Angeles County will require close contact students and staff to wear masks for a period of 10 days following an exposure and test on day 3-5 to determine if they are positive (regardless of vaccination status.)
4/18/22 - Los Angeles County Public Health Quarantine Order Has Been Updated
4/14/22 - CDPH Announces Postponement of School COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement
Today, the California Department of Health announced that California will not initiate the regulatory process for a COVID-19 vaccine requirement for the 2022/23 school year, and any vaccine requirements would not take effect until after full FDA approval and no sooner than July 2023. Read the full statement here.
2/28/22 - News on Mask Mandates
The state and county announced today that the indoor school masking requirement will be lifted at the end of the day on March 11. Masking will be option in the Hart District effective March 12.
2/17/22 - End to Daily CrisisGo Emails
Beginning Tuesday February 22, the Hart District will no longer send daily COVID-19 symptom/exposure emails for staff and students. Staff and students should continue to monitor their health and stay home if they are sick or experiencing any symptoms.
2/16/22 - Indoor and Outdoor Masking Update
Los Angeles County has lifted the outdoor masking requirement effective 2/16/22. Indoor masking is still required on all school campuses in California.
January 2022 - COVID Guideline Changes Announced
10/1/21 - Governor Newsom Announces New Vaccination Requirement
On October 1, Governor Newsom announced that after full FDA approval of the COVID vaccine for ages 12 and up, the vaccine will be added to the existing list of vaccines required for school for grades 7-12. This requirement will take effect the January or July immediately following full FDA approval. For more information please see the Governor's press release here.
8/20/21 - Virtual Back to School Night
The Hart District is focused on preserving the ability for students to continue to meet safely with their teachers. In an effort to limit non-essential group gatherings across the District that could potentially contribute to the spread of infection, the District will hold Back to School Night in a virtual format this year. The date of Back to School Night has been moved to September 9. More information on Back to School Night will be available on each school's website.
8/2/21 - Grade Change Application for the 2020/21 School Year
On July 1 of this year, the Governor signed AB 104. This bill allows parents, guardians, or adult students to request grade changes for any high school course taken last school year. Grades of “F” may be changed to “No Credit” or “NC” and grades of “A, B, C, or D” may be changed to “Credit” or “CR.” Parents, guardians, or adult students wishing to request grade changes should complete and submit the Grade Change Application form link below.
The window for making these requests closes at the end of the day on Monday, August 16. Please know that these grades, once changed, cannot be changed back at a later date. It is important that you confirm with any post-secondary institution that may receive an admission application from this student, that grades of “CR/NC” will be accepted for admission purposes.
For a list of postsecondary institutions that have agreed to accept transcripts with Credit or No Credit grades, click here: https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/gs/ps/ab104surveyresults.asp
To access the Grade Change Application form, click here: https://forms.gle/jP3JvwuLc4GU6vG58
7/16/21 - Independent Study Alternative
If your family desires an alternative independent study option, the Hart District offers access to our award-winning Learning Post Academy (LPA).
You can learn more about LPA through a video introduction located HERE.
You can fill out an application to enroll at LPA HERE.
7/16/21 - Indoor Masking Requirement on all California School Campuses
State and County officials recently ruled that masks will be required for all individuals while inside buildings on campuses. Masks are recommended but not required while outside.
We recognize that the issue of masking is a topic of great concern for many families in our community. Given the strong interest in this subject, it’s important to understand who makes the rules when it comes to masking requirements.
Who Makes the Masking Rules?
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) calls for universal masking indoors on school campuses. This is a requirement for California public schools. CDPH requirements on masking can be found HERE. Currently LA County requirements align with state mandates. Local school boards and district staff do not have the authority to defy the orders of State and County regulatory agencies.
5/19/21 - The Hart District is planning for full-time, five days a week instruction for the 2021/22 school year
At the 5/19/21 Governing Board Meeting, Superintendent Kuhlman confirmed that the Hart District is planning for full-time, five days a week instruction for the 2021/22 school year (barring an unforeseen turn with the pandemic). Masking and social distancing requirements for schools have yet to be announced by the state and county. We are hoping to receive more information on June 15.
Parents will receive a survey in June asking for their instructional preference for the fall semester: in-person instruction or an independent study option through the award-winning Learning Post Academy.
Messages from the 2020/21 School Year
5/12/21 - SCV Teens & Vaccines Virtual Town Hall
Vaccines are now available for students 12 years of age and older. For more information about vaccines for teens, please click here.
4/27/21 - In-person Graduation Ceremonies Scheduled
Dear Hart District families,
We are thrilled to share that we have been given the authorization to schedule in-person graduation ceremonies for all Hart District senior classes!
Together with our colleagues at College of the Canyons, we have been working behind the scenes for months to obtain the go-ahead from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. This week, we received verbal and written approval for our plans.
Graduations will begin at 7:00 pm and will be located at the COC stadium (unless otherwise noted). Graduation dates are as follows:
May 26 – Bowman (6:00 pm)
May 27 – Golden Valley
May 28 – Hart
June 1 – Canyon
June 2 – West Ranch
June 3 – Saugus
June 4 – Valencia
June 5 (Sat.) – Academy of the Canyons (time and specific location at COC to be determined)
Learning Post Academy (location and time TBD)
Our plan was only authorized after we demonstrated that we will comply with state and county guidelines for outdoor activities. Your senior’s individual school site will share details in the days to come, but we want you to be aware that masks will be required at all times and spectators will be assigned seats to ensure appropriate spacing (county health officials determine masking requirements). Health orders limit venues to a reduced maximum capacity. As a result, we will have to restrict each graduate to a minimum of two spectator tickets. A random lottery will be offered to those interested in obtaining additional seats. As always, the graduations will be live-streamed so everyone can enjoy the celebrations.
I would like to extend a special thank you to our partners at COC who supported our efforts throughout this entire planning process. Without their help we would not be able to offer this special opportunity to our graduating seniors.
Each of your individual school sites will be sharing more information soon.
Best regards,
Mike Kuhlman
Superintendent
- Adhering to venue capacity limits
- All spectators must be from the same household
- Spectator seating must be fixed and labeled with six feet of distance between households
- Masks must be worn at all times and self-screening symptom checks performed
- All participants must maintain six feet distance at all times
- Spectators may not come onto the field after the ceremony
3/9/21 - Hart District Planning for the Launch of Blended Learning on March 29
Good evening Hart District Families,
I’m writing today to provide an update on our plans for re-opening to blended-learning. Today we learned the good news that LA County’s adjusted case rate has dipped below 7/100k. The new rate is 5.2/100k. Meeting this threshold opens the door for the start of in-person learning. We are close to welcoming more students back on campus.
So when will students be eligible to return? The LA County Office of Education recently said “two weeks.” LA County then countered that it could be sooner. Now we learn the State could change the criteria to further accelerate eligibility due to increasing vaccination rates.
While this is all good news, the lack of clarity presents challenges to those of us working to organize a safe and successful start to blended-learning. Therefore, to ensure an orderly transition, I am writing to confirm that (assuming there are no additional curveballs) March 29 will be the date that we launch our blended-learning model.
Families are currently being asked to confirm their choice of either the blended or the online-only options. In the next three weeks we will share invitations for exclusive campus tours for 7th and 9th grade students. Hart District teachers will familiarize themselves with redesigned classrooms and will trouble-shoot new technology. We are finalizing the return of our School Resource Officers. Be on the lookout for videos which will familiarize students with new expectations on campus.
We need all of your help to make this a successful transition. There are other schools in California who have been offering blended-learning for many months. Their success has been dependent upon everyone’s commitment to following the rules. Masking, social distancing and good hand hygiene remain the keys to our continued progress. Thank you for doing your part!
With hope and enthusiasm for what lies ahead,
Mike Kuhlman
Superintendent
- Classes will begin on August 11, 2020, in an online format
- Online instruction will continue for approximately five weeks (through the first progress reporting period - September 11)
- Staff will report to work as assigned for the start of the school year *Amended on 7/29/20 to allow teachers flexibility to teach from their classrooms or at home
- Training will start right away to enhance online instruction, to prepare for the next phase of Blended Learning, and to implement safety procedures as outlined in the Reopening Protocols for K-12 Schools, with the overriding goal to fully reopen.