Sacramento, CA – Sacramento City Unified School District Superintendent Jorge A. Aguilar issued the following statement in response to the announcement today of a new State of California public health order requiring all school staff to either show proof of full vaccination or be tested at least once per week:

“We are pleased with this announcement which will help ensure a safe approach as we return to in-person learning,” said Sacramento City Unified School District Superintendent Jorge A. Aguilar. “This proactive decision by our state to help keep our students and staff protected will be a crucial component in controlling the spread of COVID-19 on school campuses. Once again California is ahead of the curve, and with testing available at every SCUSD campus and strong safety protocols in place, so is Sacramento City Unified.”

“Estamos complacidos con este anuncio, el cual ayudará a garantizar un enfoque seguro al regresar al aprendizaje en persona,” dijo el superintendente del Distrito Escolar Unificado de la Ciudad de Sacramento, Jorge A. Aguilar. “Esta decisión proactiva de nuestro estado para ayudar a mantener protegidos a nuestros estudiantes y personal será un componente crucial en el control de la propagación de COVID-19 en nuestras instalaciones escolares. Una vez más, California está por delante de la curva, y con las pruebas disponibles en cada escuela de SCUSD y los estrictos protocolos de seguridad establecidos, también lo está el Distrito Escolar Unificado de la Ciudad de Sacramento”.

Sacramento City Unified School District opens districtwide on September 2 to full in-person learning, with strong health and safety protocols in place as part of its Return to Health plan. 

The district has led the way when it comes to testing availability, by providing students and staff with access to PCR and rapid response testing at each open school site on request, as well as each weekday at the Serna Center district headquarters. As of July 31, 2021 Sacramento City Unified had provided its community with more than 16,500 COVID-19 tests. Information about the SCUSD COVID-19 testing program can be found at www.scusd.edu/covid-19-testing.

The district encourages all who are eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine, and has provided opportunities for staff, students and the community to access vaccinations. Since February 2021, the district has hosted more than thirty vaccination clinics located at the district headquarters and schools, in partnership with community and health care partners. As of August 4, 2021, the district had provided more than 22,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Information about SCUSD clinics and the Get Vaccinated campaign can be found at www.scusd.edu/vaccinations. 

Established in 1854, the Sacramento City Unified School District is one of the oldest in the western United States and is the 13th largest public K-12 district in California. Sacramento City Unified serves approximately 41,000 students on 76 campuses. Its students reflect the rich diversity that is the hallmark of Sacramento’s central city. The student population is 40 percent Hispanic or Latino; 18 percent Asian; 13 percent African American; and 17 percent white. Residents within SCUSD speak more than 51 languages. Over 70 percent of Sac City Unified students are classified as low income, English Learners, foster youth or are experiencing homelessness.