When to reopen classrooms? Debate continues among school staff, parents, lawmakers

Governor Gavin Newsom today signed a bill that sets aside nearly $7 billion for schools that reopen for in-person instruction by the end of March. It had bipartisan support in the state legislature — but lots of pushback from teachers unions in the state, including United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA).

Some parents of color are outraged, saying UTLA does not speak for them. Some parents in South LA are planning a back-to-school protest next Saturday in response. Also in February, the Pew Research Center surveyed people nationwide about their feelings on returning to in-person learning.

KCRW speaks with a researcher from Pew, plus a football coach at Loyola High School near downtown LA.