Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo
California Department of Education
Official Letter
California Department of Education
Official Letter
August 9, 2019

Dear County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and Principals:

Wildfire Smoke Guidance for California Schools

The 2019 wildfire season is upon us; it is evidence of the new normal facing our state. Whether at home, at school, or at work, we cannot stress enough that the time to prepare is now.

To help schools and local educational agencies prepare to address impacts from wildfire smoke that can be felt hundreds of miles from the source, the California Department of Education (CDE) partnered with the California Air Resources Board, California Air Pollution Control Officers Association, California County Superintendents Educational Services Association, Association of California School Administrators, and California School Boards Association to develop guidance that local education leaders can use in conversation with local air districts to determine how school activities will be affected when air quality is poor. This guidance can be found on the CDE web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ep/airquality.asp.

The possibility of closing school due to smoke is a complex local decision. I invite you to use this new guidance as a tool to inform your planning efforts, including how you will communicate air quality issues to the families you serve.

If you have any questions regarding this subject, please contact Jeffrey Reyes, Education Administrator, Emergency Coordination and Grant Management, by phone at 916-319-0327 or [Note: the preceding contact information is no longer valid] the Emergency Services team by email at EmergencyServices@cde.ca.gov.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond

TT:lt
2019-04449

Last Reviewed: Monday, May 20, 2024

Recently Posted in Letters

  • Twelfth Annual California STEAM Symposium (added 04-Oct-2024)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and School Principals regarding the twelfth annual California STEAM Symposium.
  • Resources to Support Safe, Inclusive Schools (added 02-Oct-2024)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators regarding resources to support safe, inclusive schools on the anniversary of October 7, 2023.
  • YVAPE and Alternatives to Suspension and Expulsion (added 01-Oct-2024)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators regarding tobacco-use prevention, Youth Vaping Alternative Prevention Education (YVAPE), and alternatives to suspension and expulsion.
  • PRISM LGBTQ+ Cultural Competency Training (added 26-Sep-2024)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer plus cultural competency training requirements and resources.
  • 57th California Native American Day (added 19-Sep-2024)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators regarding the 57th California Native American Day on September 27, 2024.

  • National School Attendance Awareness Month 2024 (added 13-Sep-2024)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators regarding September as National School Attendance Awareness Month: Engaging families to reduce chronic absence.
  • 2024–25 Arthur S. Marmaduke HS Counselor Award (added 10-Sep-2024)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators regarding the 2024–25 Arthur S. Marmaduke High School Counselor Award.
  • Welcome Back to School in 2025! (added 23-Aug-2024)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and School Principals regarding our welcome back to school message.
  • Classified Employee Staffing Ratio Workgroup (added 23-Aug-2024)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and School Principals regarding our welcome back to school.
  • HS Voter Education Weeks (September 16–27, 2024) (added 20-Aug-2024)
    Letter to County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and High School Principals regarding High School Voter Education Weeks.