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Distance Learning

Guidance and resources for teachers and families in K–12 schools regarding high quality distance learning.

To ensure that you have all of the up-to-date information regarding a variety of areas impacted by COVID-19, please visit the CDE’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Main Web Page.

For the purposes of the guidance and resources on this page, “distance learning” means instruction in which the student and instructor are in different locations. This may include interacting through the use of a computer and communications technology, as well as delivering instruction and check-in time with the teacher. Distance learning may include video or audio instruction in which the primary mode of communication between the student and instructor is online interaction, instructional television, video, telecourses, or other instruction that relies on computer or communications technology. It may also include the use of print materials incorporating assignments that are the subject of written or oral feedback. This page provides guidance and information for teachers, students, and parents who are transitioning, or have transitioned, to a distance learning model.

Please note that while this page refers to many specific resources to support local educational agencies (LEAs) in developing, improving and extending instruction through their distance learning capabilities, the CDE has not extensively reviewed all resources. Individual LEAs are responsible for assessing the appropriateness of any specific resource prior to implementation.

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State, County Office of Education, and District Resources

This section contains links to resources, tools, and programs that local educational agencies (LEAs), county offices of education, and state partners have shared with us to support California teachers and families.

  • Developed collaboratively with CCEE, Riverside COE, and San Diego COE, the Continuity of Learning Playbook External link opens in new window or tab. provides guidance about how to best leverage existing resources, translating individual activities into an action-oriented preparedness plan for the delivery of services to support the continuity of learning for all students. Whether LEAs are implementing an on-site, remote, or hybrid model, this Playbook will support school and district leadership teams make evidence-based decisions aligned with best practices to address the following topics and needs:
    • Communication/Family Engagement
    • SEL/Trauma-Informed Support
    • Effective Scheduling
    • Special Education
    • Staff Engagement and Professional Learning
    • Assessment of Needs and Progress
    • English Learners
    • Integration of Programs and Resources
  • Kern County Superintendent of Schools: At-Home Learning ResourcesExternal link opens in new window or tab..
    Kern County schools are using a combination of paper packets and online tools like Google Classroom, Canvas, Zoom and other virtual learning applications. The At-Home Learning Resources page includes resources related to Canvas, as well as Supplemental Distance Learning, Camp KEEP Digital Content, and Distance Learning Support.

  • The California Collaborative for Educational Excellence has developed a series of modules on equity, learning systems and strategies, special education and additional matters related to distance learning.

  • San Diego Unified School DistrictExternal link opens in new window or tab. has created an instructional resource page designed to provide family support during school closures.

  • Digital Learning Integration and Standards Guidance Project
    The 2019–2020 California State Budget allocated funding for the Sacramento County Office of Education to develop draft distance learning curriculum and instructional guidance for mathematics, English language arts, and English language development to be adopted by the State Board of Education by May 31, 2021.

  • San Diego County Office of Education has designed distance learning units of study in grades K-12 External link opens in new window or tab. that are focused on grade-level essential learning in each content area. These units integrate English language arts, English language development, mathematics, science, history/social science, arts, computer science, and physical education content and provide flexibility and student choice.

Quality Distance Learning Guidance from California School Library Association (CSLA) Teacher Librarians

We believe: Learning takes time. We recommend being open-minded and flexible. We emphasize developing and maintaining a supportive community. We believe that instruction can be synchronous as well as asynchronous. We believe that students need time every day to read both for understanding new content as well as self-selected reading for personalized learning.

Steps to successfully implement distance learning:

  1. Check with your school district for guidelines and expectations
  2. Utilize and connect with your Teacher Librarian for support:
    • Promoting reading literacy in all formats and forms including but not limited to e-books, audiobooks, read alouds, library card support
    • Collaborating with curriculum development, inquiry, formative and summative assessment
    • Implementing instructional lessons across the curriculum
    • Providing Professional Development
    • Curating digital resources in multiple formats to target diverse student needs
    • Providing online opportunities, training, and support for students to use digital library resources for research, individual exploration, independent reading and personalized learning including CA Library Database External link opens in new window or tab. support
    • Providing one to one support and training for implementation of technology
    • Building relationships and learning communities
    • Teaching and implementing Information literacy skills and research integration
    • Integrating digital citizenship lessons to keep our students safe online
    • Transitioning face to face lessons to distance learning
    • Implementing tools and pedagogy to increase student engagement
    • Supporting ELL and Special Needs teachers and students with resources and guidance supporting IEP and 504 needs
    • Supporting synchronous and asynchronous instruction
    • Supporting SEL
    • Supporting MTSS practices and needs
  3. For specific information about online digital resources for the classroom contact your school or district librarian, your county office of education librarian or contact the School Library Technology Consultant as the California Department of Education
  4. CA State Library DatabaseExternal link opens in new window or tab. is California’s online content project for kindergarten through grade twelve. It provides no cost access to Encyclopedia Britannica, ProQuest, and TeachingBooks.net, a collection of book guides and lessons.

Check with CSLA External link opens in new window or tab. for additional resources and assistance. Email assist@csla.net

 

Questions:   Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional Resources Division | DistanceLearning@cde.ca.gov | 916-319-0881
Last Reviewed: Thursday, March 13, 2025
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