Returning to School FAQ's
You can find the answers to your questions about our return to in-person learning and Covid-19 safety measures below. If you have any additional questions, please fill out our contact form and someone will get back to you within 2 business days.
FAQs Regarding Covid-19 Safety Measures:
Q: Do students and staff have to wear masks indoors at YouthBuild Charter School of California school sites?
A: Beginning Monday, March 14th, YCSC will follow California state guidelines and will no longer require, but strongly recommend, the use of masks amongst staff and students. Although YCSC is not requiring mask wearing, some programs are opting to continue mask use at their sites. As such, please check in with your student's YouthBuild program about their guidelines and requirements regarding mask use from this point forward. YCSC will continue to supply N95 and KN95 masks to all sites for any students and staff members who want one.
Q: Is YouthBuild Charter School of California requiring students and staff to get vaccinated?
A: In accordance with the California Department of Public Health's recent order, all teachers and school employees are required to get vaccinated or submit to weekly Covid-19 testing. Staff are required to upload their vaccination records or weekly test results to Preworkscreen, the Covid-19 screening and vaccination tracking app we use.
At this time, we do not have a vaccination requirement for students, but we strongly recommend that all students get vaccinated if they are able. Some of our partner YouthBuild programs, such as LA CAUSA YouthBuild, have their own program requirement for members to be vaccinated and show proof of vaccination in order to join, so please check with the YouthBuild program to see whether or not the program has a vaccination requirement.
Q: Will temperature checks be required to enter YouthBuild Charter School of California sites?
A: Some of our sites may still require temperature checks, but it is not a school-wide requirement anymore.
Q: Will YouthBuild Charter School of California be conducting Covid-19 tests on staff and students?
A: Yes, YCSC works with Primary Health (through partnerships with both LACOE and the CDPH) to provide Abbott’s BinaxNOW rapid antigen kits to all sites. These rapid tests produce results within 15 minutes, and those results get logged in the Primary Health platform.
While YCSC does not currently have a school-wide testing requirement, all of our school sites have rapid antigen tests available for staff and students and may use the available tests at their discretion. Some YCSC sites may require all students to get tested regularly or when returning from breaks and other sites may only test as-needed, such as when students or staff are displaying symptoms of Covid-19 or were close contacts of someone who recently tested positive. It's best to check with the school counselor at your student's site to find out their specific testing requirements/guidelines.
While YCSC does not currently have a school-wide testing requirement, all of our school sites have rapid antigen tests available for staff and students and may use the available tests at their discretion. Some YCSC sites may require all students to get tested regularly or when returning from breaks and other sites may only test as-needed, such as when students or staff are displaying symptoms of Covid-19 or were close contacts of someone who recently tested positive. It's best to check with the school counselor at your student's site to find out their specific testing requirements/guidelines.
Q: Will YCSC be practicing physical distancing?
A: Where possible, YCSC will ensure appropriate physical distancing with a minimum of 3-6 ft between students, as per the CDPH recommendations.
Q: Will I know if there is a Covid-19 outbreak at my student's school site?
A: Yes, we are required to notify employees and families about positive cases at a school site. CDPH defines a school outbreak as 3 or more confirmed or probable cases of staff or students occurring within a 14-day period who are epidemiologically- linked in the school, are from different households and are not contacts of each other in any other investigation cases (e.g., transmission likely occurred in the school setting). Please see FAQs questions below for more specifics about notification policies. Click here to learn more about CDPH's guidance for schools.
A: Yes, we are required to notify employees and families about positive cases at a school site. CDPH defines a school outbreak as 3 or more confirmed or probable cases of staff or students occurring within a 14-day period who are epidemiologically- linked in the school, are from different households and are not contacts of each other in any other investigation cases (e.g., transmission likely occurred in the school setting). Please see FAQs questions below for more specifics about notification policies. Click here to learn more about CDPH's guidance for schools.
FAQs Regarding Students/Staff who have Covid symptoms, Covid-19 exposure, or who test positive for Covid-19
Q: What happens if a student or staff member is showing Covid-19 symptoms while at school (for example: fever, cough, or loss of taste/smell)?
A: The student or staff member will be sent to an isolated room. Parents of minors will be notified and asked to pick up their student and consult with their healthcare provider and/or have their child take a rapid Covid-19 test, as needed. Adult students and staff can transport themselves home and consult their healthcare providers an/or take a rapid Covid-19 test. If they test positive, they will be required to quarantine and close contact will be notified (see next question for additional details).
Q: What happens if a student or staff member has been exposed to/ in close contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19?
A: The exposed student/staff will be sent home (if at school) and should get tested. If the test comes back positive for Covid-19, they will be required to quarantine for a minimum of 5 days from last exposure. (Please refer to the next question for additional details regarding students and staff testing positive for Covid-19.) If the exposure happened at school, those who had close contact with the student/staff will be notified. We recommend that the exposed student/staff and all of their close contacts (defined by CDPH as anyone who was 6 feet or less away from the infected individual for a cumulative total of 15 minutes over a 24 hour period) get a Covid-19 test as soon as possible, and within 5-7 days of last known exposure.
Q: What happens if a student or staff member tests positive for Covid-19?
A: The local health department will be notified and the student or staff will have to stay home and quarantine for at least 5 days from symptom onset or from positive test. Contact tracing will take place, and any close contacts of the individual will be notified. Testing will be recommended for everyone who had contact with the individual, including those who are asymptomatic. After 5 days from symptom onset or positive test, the infected student/staff may return to school if they no longer have symptoms, have not had a fever for 24 hours without medication, and no longer test positive for Covid-19. If after 5 days the infected student/staff still has symptoms/fever or tests positive, the quarantine will extend to 10 days (or longer if symptoms persist after 10 days). Vaccinated close contacts of the infected individual who are symptomatic will need to get tested and, depending on the results, isolate for at least 5 days if they test positive or 24 hours since last fever/symptoms have improved if they test negative. All unvaccinated close contacts who are symptomatic will need to quarantine for 5-10 days depending on the results of their Covid-19 test and whether they continue to show symptoms after 5 days. If the close contact was unvaccinated and asymptomatic, they will either be placed on modified quarantine (if all parties were masked, both indoors and outdoors) or full quarantine (if at least one party was unmasked) for 5-10 days depending on Covid-19 test results. Please refer to the flow charts in our Abbreviated Covid-19 Safety Plan for additional details on quarantine prodedures. Classrooms will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. The school community will be notified that there was a positive case and all those who were directly exposed to the individual will be personally notified.
Q: What happens if my student has to quarantine? Will they be able to keep up with their classes?
A: Yes.If a student has been exposed to Covid-19 or has Covid-19 symptoms and needs to quarantine, they will have the option of switching to an online Independent Studies format for the duration of their quarantine until they are ready to return to classes.