Students, teachers affected by Zoom outage

Please click here for coverage Aug. 25 and going forward
Updated Aug. 24: Students and teachers in Arizona and across the country were affected by a Zoom outage earlier today that caused problems for people trying to log on to its video conferencing services.
Are you having problems logging onto Zoom this morning? If so, you’re not alone. https://t.co/c6aqgX0BAC
— 12 News (@12News) August 24, 2020
The Zoom App appears to be working. Connect through the downloaded App on your device and not the URL. https://t.co/T5f0Z58jtF
— Deer Valley Unified School District (@DVUSD) August 24, 2020
Thanks for hanging in there! We are deploying a fix now. Service should be restored for some users and we’re continuing to complete the fix for any users still impacted. We’re sorry about the disruption.
— Zoom (@zoom_us) August 24, 2020
Follow https://t.co/aqz5nSoQRw for updates.
Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Arizona rose to 198,414 today from 198,103 yesterday, and 4,771 have died from the virus, said the Arizona Department of Health Services.
In Maricopa County, there are 131,962 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 20,535 in Pima County, 12,072 in Yuma County, 9,211 in Pinal County, 5,496 in Navajo County, 3,301 in Apache County, 3,249 in Coconino County, 2,745 in Santa Cruz County, 3,500 in Mohave County, 2,249 in Yavapai County, 1,795 in Cochise County, 1,076 in Gila County, 495 in La Paz County, 669 in Graham County and 58 in Greenlee County.

Just had a call with @WhiteHouse Coronavirus Response Coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx and @AZDHS Director Dr. Cara Christ to discuss Arizona’s continued efforts to contain the spread of #COVID19. Our numbers are trending in the right direction, and we need to stay the course. pic.twitter.com/ar2FmuKmAL
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) August 24, 2020
Arizona State University reminds Arizonans to respect each others space by keeping six feet away.
Being a Sun Devil means respecting others. If you’re wondering how close is too close, 6 feet away for appropriate social distancing is about the length of a bicycle — or Sparky’s pitchfork. 🔱#ForksUp #MasksUp pic.twitter.com/E5VZENN41x
— Arizona State University (@ASU) August 24, 2020
Nadaburg Unified School District held a ribbon cutting for their Mountainside High School.
Hope filled the morning! Glad to join the happy day! Congratulations to @AspasiaAngelou Supertindent of Nadaburg Unified – they are growing!! Ribbon cutting to the start of their district High School! Mountainside High!! #education pic.twitter.com/72PtBK0RFR
— Joanne Osborne (@JoanneOsborne8) August 24, 2020
Many schools are prioritizing students’ mental health as they see an increase in anxiety and depression, according to The Hechinger Report.
More students are experiencing anxiety and depression, forcing schools to prioritize mental health needs over academic workhttps://t.co/fR6tnkJZss via @cpreston
— The Hechinger Report (@hechingerreport) August 24, 2020
NALEO Educational Fund asks Congress to extend deadlines so all Arizona residents are counted in the 2020 Census.
RT 🙌🏽 to join @sarahbenatar in calling on Congress to extend the deadlines so the Census Bureau has enough time to count all Arizona residents.
— NALEO Educational Fund (@NALEO) August 24, 2020
For the sake of our future, Congress must give the Bureau more time to continue the #census. #Make2020Counthttps://t.co/FLWqLARLIR
First Things First thanked Dr. Amanda Hundley to sharing their information with nursing students and parenting classes.
Congratulations to Dr. Amanda Hundley, #FTF2020Champion, who consistently shares #AZFTF resource information with her nursing students and Urban Indian Parenting classes in the #FTFPhoenixNorth Region. https://t.co/O45fF5CL8o
— First Things First (@AZFTF) August 24, 2020
Children and Screens provides some tips for families adjusting to online learning.
Wondering how to navigate the school year amid the challenges caused by the pandemic? @childrenscreens offers useful tips on navigating education on and offline during this unprecedented time: https://t.co/zgboS6G33X
— ASUPrepDigital (@asuprepdigital) August 24, 2020
Cartwright School District lets families know that teachers will provide instruction via Google Classroom after there were difficulties with the Clever app.
PARENTS –
— Cartwright District (@CartwrightSD) August 24, 2020
We are having technical difficulties with our Clever app this morning. We are working to get them resolved as soon as possible, our teachers will continue to provide instruction via Google Classroom.
We appreciate your patience & understanding. pic.twitter.com/xC4J8D72zH
Students and teachers in Cave Creek Unified School District are finding ways to work around Clever and Zoom issues too.
ATTENTION CCUSD PARENTS/STUDENTS: We have been made aware that Clever and Zoom are having intermittent nationwide outages. They are working to solve this problem. If log in attempts don’t work the first time, please try again. Thank you! #WeAreCCUSD pic.twitter.com/KmfEPtDjWs
— Cave Creek USD (@CaveCreekUSD93) August 24, 2020
An app tracks every student at the University of Arizona in an attempt to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
#beardownloaded https://t.co/dEQQfEu98Z
— #BearDownMaskUp (@uarizona) August 24, 2020
As parents and teachers clash about how and when schools should reopen, lawsuits are being filed in court, Education Week reports.
In some lawsuits, teachers and other plaintiffs are seeking to keep campuses closed amid orders from state officials to open them while other cases present the flip side. https://t.co/x0HeEMv153
— Education Week (@educationweek) August 24, 2020
Arizona high school football recruits may face more hurdles in finding college scholarships, The Arizona Republic reports.
Arizona football recruits could be impacted after NCAA Division I players granted extra year https://t.co/6KjamDJx0d
— azcentral (@azcentral) August 24, 2020
Sunnyside Unified School District thanks its teachers and staff.
CONGRATULATIONS STAR & PRIDE! 🎊
— Sunnyside Unified School District (@sunnysideusd) August 24, 2020
Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to the students of Billy Lane Lauffer! ⭐️
🔸Star Teacher: Kirby Mittelmeier
🔸Pride of Sunnyside: Carlos Gonzales Jr. #SunnysideUnified #SunnysideRising pic.twitter.com/cyn4GxPou5
Stand for Children reminds Arizona voters that Prop. 208 the Invest in Ed Initiative is back on the general election ballot in November.
Prop 208 is on the ballot! We need you to help us make a difference. Sign up to volunteer here: https://t.co/xdps18qJqz#InvestInEd #ArizonaSchools #Yeson208 pic.twitter.com/zJ8KrW9cBH
— StandforChildren AZ (@ArizonaStand) August 24, 2020
More than 24 Northern Arizona University students were selected for national and international awards and scholarship this past school year.
More than two dozen Northern Arizona University undergraduate and graduate students were selected for competitive national and international awards and scholarships during the 2019-2020 academic year, according to @NAU faculty and campus mentors. More: https://t.co/Tc51ErZlrb pic.twitter.com/fugC4MWce3
— Arizona Board of Regents (@AZRegents) August 24, 2020
Updated Aug. 20: Gov. Doug Ducey spoke about schools and COVID-19 during a news briefing today at 12:30 p.m. Watch it here.
Media availability with Gov. Ducey, Dr. Cara Christ and Maj. Gen McGuire Aug. 20, 2020
Gov. Ducey said last week the state’s percent positivity for COVID-19 decreased from 8 percent to 6 percent. This week it remains at 6 percent, and there’s a much faster turnaround on test results, Gov. Ducey said.
“The percentage of COVID-like illness in our hospitals has decreased 4.1 percent, that’s down from a high of 21 percent in June,” Gov. Ducey said. “Hospital capacity remains at about 20 percent. The number of beds in use by COVID patients continues trending downward.”
Gov. Ducey said while the numbers are improving, he wants Arizonans to continue doing what they are doing by wearing masks and socially distancing to keep COVID-19 infection rates down.
“We can’t let up.We can’t let our guard down. We can’t lose these gains,” Gov. Ducey said.
Happening now: bar owners, bar patrons, and others are gathering at the state capitol, chanting “Not our last call,” demanding bars be allowed to open the same as restaurants and other businesses. #12News pic.twitter.com/PhQwe2ftGN
— Mitch Carr (@mitchcarrtv) August 20, 2020
“When it comes to our schools, I want to thank all of the superintendents and school leaders who are working closely with the Arizona Department of Education Superintendent Kathy Hoffman and Arizona Department of Health Services to prioritize our kids,” Gov. Ducey said.
“Returning our kids to the classroom, reuniting with our loved ones, all of these depend on continued responsible behavior that you have demonstrated so well for so long,” Gov. Ducey said.
‘People are very divided on a number of fronts right now,” Gov. Ducey said. “When you talk about schools re-opening, there are some parents who want as soon as it’s possible to get their children back into a classroom. And there are parents that we all know that are not putting their child back in a classroom. So what we’ve tried to do is provide options for both of these parents, for both of these families.”
Gov. Ducey said there are also “teachers who are in a vulnerable category or have an underlying health condition and we will need online learning and this hybrid model. so we’re trying to in a very difficult and challenging time for our state and our country to provide the smartest plan of action that we can.”
When asked if all the public health benchmarks should be met before school districts bring students back for in-person classes, Gov. Ducey said, “They’re guidelines. I think part of it is trends are important and also situations of dealing with teachers and parents. We put this together with input from the public school superintendents from around the state, principals and stakeholder groups. We think it’s a good plan.”
NEW: 4 Arizona counties meeting all benchmarks to reopen schools https://t.co/H0ld9jCOIa pic.twitter.com/2jE2TO6TCf
— azfamily 3TV CBS 5 (@azfamily) August 20, 2020
When asked if he was concerned about an increase in COVID cases now that college students are returning, Gov. Ducey said, “Yes, I do have concerns and part of what we’re doing whether it’s on K-12 education or universities is to have smarter plan of action on how we deal with this.”
Gov. Ducey said he has confidence in “the options that our universities have put out there.”
ASU’s Dr. Michael Crow spoke on a podcast about all the different ways student could access a classroom “from the traditional model of being inside the classroom to those that watch it on a screen to those that have a hybrid approach,” Gov. Ducey said. “ASU’s been doing this for years, and how can we do this safely and successfully at the K-12 level.”
“We’ve also seen what’s happened around the country, and we’re trying to work with our young people,” Gov. Ducey said. “While it’s certainly a lot easier with grade-school children and even high school children, college kids do like to socialize and do like to get together. I do think that the universities – Dr. Crow, Dr. Robbins, and Dr. Cheng – are overcommunicating with the people that are on campus. There are options. They’re not optimal options, but I give them a lot of credit to try to have the safest, most successful, high-value educational experience this year. We want to do it in a methodical and incremental way.”
In addition, Arizona has partnered with Local First Arizona to make small business grants available starting today and people can learn more about them at localfirstaz.com/azsmallbizrent, Gov. Ducey said.
“We’ve also partnered with the Trump Administration and FEMA to extend unemployment benefits to nearly 400,000 Arizonans,” Gov. Ducey said. “These dollars are already being included in benefits, making our state the first in the nation to make these benefits available.”
Maricopa County has met two of the three public health benchmarks that schools should consider when deciding when to return to in-person classes, KTAR reports.
BREAKING: Maricopa County has met two of three coronavirus benchmarks recommended for safely starting in-person learning for a third straight week. https://t.co/zhZS8iwSMf
— KTAR News 92.3 (@KTAR923) August 20, 2020
J.O. Combs School District’s governing board approved returning to remote learning at an emergency meeting last night.
UPDATE: Virtual learning for ALL students will resume tomorrow, and a special meeting will be held on August 27 to reevaluate the health metrics. If they are met at that time, in-person instruction will resume on August 31. Read more: https://t.co/zfMEQz6EPm pic.twitter.com/9BAH47kkKs
— JOCombsUSD (@JOCombsUSD) August 20, 2020
Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Arizona rose to 196,280 today from 195,557 yesterday, and 4,684 have died from the virus, said the Arizona Department of Health Services.
🚨FREE COVID TESTING🚨
— Sen. Tony Navarrete 🇺🇸🏳️🌈🚀 (@NavarreteAZ) August 20, 2020
Thank you @EqualityHealth, @CPLCdotORG, @ValledelSolAZ, @SonoraQuestLabs, @CityofPhoenixAZ, Care 1st, and @MaricopaCounty! pic.twitter.com/wPoBH1hnry
In Maricopa County, there are 130,800 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 20,139 in Pima County, 11,964 in Yuma County, 9,065 in Pinal County, 5,477 in Navajo County, 3,277 in Apache County, 3,213 in Coconino County, 2,711 in Santa Cruz County, 3,454 in Mohave County, 2,197 in Yavapai County, 1,775 in Cochise County, 1,033 in Gila County, 494 in La Paz County, 624 in Graham County and 57 in Greenlee County.
Maricopa County public health officials are changing the way they count COVID-19 cases.https://t.co/R9M2Dl9elE
— KJZZ Phoenix (@kjzzphoenix) August 20, 2020

K-12 students and teachers in Utah can be charged with a misdemeanor for not wearing a mask, CNN reports.
K-12 students and teachers in Utah now can be charged with a misdemeanor for not wearing a mask. Violating the order would be a class B misdemeanor. That is punishable by a sentence of up to six months in jail and a fine of $1,000. https://t.co/Z6VoiDoXRo
— CNN (@CNN) August 20, 2020
Vote for Arizona’s pick in grades 10-12 in Doodle for Google in the link below.
Doodle for Google is picking five state and territory winners who will go on to become one of its national finalists. Vote for Arizona’s pick under grades 10-12 “Be kind to EveryBODY” here:https://t.co/u0Gfke9qMF pic.twitter.com/WcmbsvKKdq
— Greater Phoenix Economic Council (@GPEC) August 20, 2020
Tempe Elementary School District thanks its employees who helped students and families prepare for back to school.
Day 4 of 176 school days of #InspireHopeTD3 😊 This #ThankfulThursday post goes out to our amazing TD3 employees who helped prepare for the first day of school. This video only shows a few examples of the dedicated, important work that took place to start of our school year. pic.twitter.com/YHsSwWx8uy
— Tempe Elementary (@TempeElementary) August 20, 2020
Cecilia Mata was appointed by Gov. Doug Ducey to the Arizona Board of Regents today. Learn more about her here.
Fantastic addition to the @azregents. Cecilia Mata has been a leader in reaching our @achieve60 goal and worked to address the talent pipeline needs in #AZ. Can’t wait to see the great things she will do with our world-class universities!👇 https://t.co/wNZ7RmE84Z
— A for Arizona (@AforArizona) August 20, 2020
Need some help filling out the FAFSA? There’s a webinar coming up that can help.
FAFSA 101: The Basics Webinar
— AzCAN (@AzCollegeAccess) August 20, 2020
This webinar is designed to outline steps in the application process, mistakes to avoid, as well as highlighting some resources for assistance.
Time: Sep 15, 2020 2:00 PM
Register: https://t.co/FRSl43xF1Y pic.twitter.com/xvvFp556W7
The Maricopa Community College’s Opportunity Grant is available to help students who qualify to help meed the cost of tuition, fees and textbooks.
The Maricopa Opportunity Grant is intended to meet the cost of tuition, fees, and textbook allowance. Ready to see if you qualify? Simply complete a @FAFSA and enroll in one of our many certificate or degree programs. Learn more here: https://t.co/OGxNuYYfBD pic.twitter.com/5Ulx5Mn0tF
— Maricopa Community Colleges (@mcccd) August 20, 2020
EdTrust shares how to create better, safer learning environments for girls of color.
Great resource from @EdTrust on how to create better, safer learning environments for girls of color by reforming exclusionary discipline policies and improving school climate to help address their needs.https://t.co/B0LmC9wHJR
— EdloCNational (@EdLoCnational) August 20, 2020
Have some go to strategies ready when discussing controversial topics and students share how it affects their lives.
Poignant moments for teaching controversial topics come when students reveal how an issue has affected their lives. Prepare for these moments by building your toolbox of strategies now.
— iCivics (@icivics) August 20, 2020
Start with our NEW teacher guides and short videos: https://t.co/GYxmOqjPvd #TeacherPD pic.twitter.com/AYgJm30uxL
Expect More Arizona reminds voters to focus on how their vote impacts education decision making.
Well said, @StephParra08👏
— ExpectMoreAZ (@ExpectMoreAZ) August 20, 2020
Learn how your vote impacts education decision-making at the state, county and local level: https://t.co/1LPxicjDEW. #StudyUp #Vote4EdAZ https://t.co/ZgcZG9Xoez
Some parents in Lake Havasu respond to the school district governing board’s decision to resume in-person classes next month.
Some parents have made the decision to pull their students from the district, favoring alternatives like online or homeschooling.https://t.co/XLPYu5WW1c
— Today’s News Herald (@havasunews) August 20, 2020
Kyrene Schools reminds students parents that online youth enrichment starts soon.
Fall Online Youth Enrichment will be starting up soon.
— KyreneSchools (@KyreneSchools) August 20, 2020
Take a look at our flexible, virtual class options!
For additional information and class descriptions, visit us at https://t.co/A7NVqDJzM4 pic.twitter.com/lvRibL0pWP
And Dysart Unified School District shared a little of its history today.
Did You Know? Twenty years ago Dysart’s district enrollment grew by 12.5%, and exploded into hyper-growth for the next five years, growing at a rate of 25% per year. #Dysart100 pic.twitter.com/wUXHhvzRCy
— Dysart School District (@DysartUSD) August 20, 2020
Update Aug. 19: As thousands of students return to Arizona State University, nearby residents worry that COVID-19 cases in their community will increase, The Arizona Republic reports.
As thousands of ASU students return, Tempe residents worry about cases rising. This time, the tension between ASU and neighborhoods isn’t a fight about loud parties or other nuisances; it’s a public health issue, residents say. https://t.co/VrttPsnypl w/ @paulinapineda22
— Rachel Leingang 🌵 (@rachelleingang) August 19, 2020
UA has administered COVID-19 antigen tests to 4,274 individuals, according to data through Aug. 18. Nine of those tests are positive, putting the school’s positivity rate at 0.2 percent. https://t.co/1Qsavj1J6v
— KJZZ Phoenix (@kjzzphoenix) August 20, 2020
Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Arizona rose to 195,557 today from 194,920 yesterday, and 4,634 have died from the virus, said the Arizona Department of Health Services.
It is important that every Arizonan does their part to prevent the spread of COVID-19, which includes wearing a cloth face mask when you are in public. If you need a reusable cloth face mask, please fill out the order form: https://t.co/eMjlLXAjir #MaskUpAZ pic.twitter.com/XNrzsEjMXM
— AZ Dept of Health (@AZDHS) August 19, 2020
This Saturday: 3 FREE drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites, appointments required:
— City of Phoenix, AZ (@CityofPhoenixAZ) August 20, 2020
😷 Brunson-Lee Elementary, 7am-noonhttps://t.co/Oxte0B8Vfi
😷 Washington Activity Center, 6-11am https://t.co/INImLMr5Aj
😷 Reach 11 Sports Complex, 6-11amhttps://t.co/RvuBb2shDr #MaskUpPHX pic.twitter.com/wFi8tgM5aE
In Maricopa County, there are 130,384 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 20,047 in Pima County, 11,927 in Yuma County, 8,939 in Pinal County, 5,470 in Navajo County, 3,269 in Apache County, 3,200 in Coconino County, 2,709 in Santa Cruz County, 3,411 in Mohave County, 2,191 in Yavapai County, 1,769 in Cochise County, 1,021 in Gila County, 492 in La Paz County, 621 in Graham County and 57 in Greenlee County.
UNACCOUNTED DEATHS: in Arizona’s largest county @Garrett_Archer finding there are 600 unaccounted deaths in July.
— Nicole Grigg (@NicoleSGrigg) August 20, 2020
New preliminary state data in Maricopa County:
⚫️ July 2019: 2,656
🔴 July 2020: 4,540
I asked about the unaccounted deaths: ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/80s46ePErK
Moving forward, we will be breaking down the occupied beds to show COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients to provide a clearer picture of how #COVID19 is impacting the capacity of our healthcare system. https://t.co/V8ZHS14fMN
— AZ Dept of Health (@AZDHS) August 19, 2020

The American Academy of Pediatrics has released expanded guidance for reopening schools that “strongly advocates for additional federal assistance to schools,” whether classes are in-person or virtual https://t.co/3XQBphEGAU
— CNN (@CNN) August 20, 2020
Cartwright Elementary School District third-grade students introduced themselves in creative ways.
Virtual Gifted Groups at schools have begun this week! @HeatherbraeCSD and @BormanCSD83 3rd graders introduced themselves using creative and unique thinking. #cartwrightgate pic.twitter.com/J0E2AWbeZM
— Cartwright Gifted Education (@CESD83GATE) August 19, 2020
Wondering if your students are understanding a lesson? Try this, edutopia says.
Can’t tell if your students are getting the material? Borrow a proven approach from the top online instructors. https://t.co/t1tcLrofCT
— edutopia (@edutopia) August 20, 2020
Find free Wi-Fi near you with the Connect Arizona map.
Not only can you find free Wifi with the Connect AZ map, these resources (available in both English and Spanish) include the Arizona Libraries Tech Access Phoneline, which is available free of charge for people who need technical help and support. https://t.co/6q3Zl7e1TM https://t.co/3P8Y8E7TFo
— AZ Department of Ed (@azedschools) August 19, 2020
See how these three educators are adapting blended learning principals to online learning, courtesy of Education Week.
“We had to take the best of blended learning and adjust it to exist in a completely virtual world.”
— Education Week (@educationweek) August 20, 2020
Three educators share how they are adapting the principles of “blended learning” to the COVID-19 environment. #EWopinionhttps://t.co/kbzqiKqPd9
Arizona’s Supreme Court restores Invest in Education initiative to the ballot in November.
Two years ago, the AZ Supreme Court kept @investinedaz off the ballot over problems with its 100-word description. Today the court said it can go to the ballot, overturns lower court ruling that invalidated the initiative over its 100-word description. https://t.co/wQTJ3BH1KO
— Jeremy Duda (@jeremyduda) August 19, 2020
Remember you can complete your Census 2020 form online, by phone or by mail. Make sure your counted to help fund educational programs in your community.
The US census is an important way that #HeadStart remains a federal conversation. Fill yours out here: https://t.co/iNJ99zuCXXhttps://t.co/MU5oceNtX9 pic.twitter.com/sEQGK9r1gs
— National Head Start Association (@NatlHeadStart) August 20, 2020
Grant helps support Arizona State University Art Museum exhibit that traces the history of art and images that have contributed to the entrenched cultural belief systems associated with the criminal justice system today.
In a groundbreaking new exhibit supported by the @Art4JusticeFund, @asuartmuseum aims to raise awareness that today’s #massincarceration crisis was centuries in the making. https://t.co/YDlPDvLqAF
— Arizona State University (@ASU) August 20, 2020
Listen to the final installment of WestEd’s Perspectives in English Language learning tomorrow at 9 p.m. Pacific Time.
Don’t miss the final installment of Perspectives on English Language Learning with Aida Walqui 🌎Tomorrow’s guest will be Diane Larsen-Freeman from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor at 9 am PT. Register: https://t.co/FfAzhEmwTR #duallang #bilingual #ELLs #edchat pic.twitter.com/GDPpsZUYDG
— WestEd (@WestEd) August 20, 2020
Update Aug. 18: As Arizona college students move into dorms, here’s what Arizona State University, University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University have planned to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Thousands of college students in Arizona are moving into dorms this month. Some of them will likely get COVID-19. Here’s what ASU, UA and NAU plan to do to prevent spread in dorms and when students get sick. https://t.co/5X71Ml0y6c via @azcentral
— Rachel Leingang 🌵 (@rachelleingang) August 18, 2020
Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Arizona rose to 194,920 today from 194,005 yesterday, and 4,529 have died from the virus, said the Arizona Department of Health Services.
The Arizona Sports and Entertainment Commission announced that it would hold a free antibody and COVID-19 drive-thru testing event. https://t.co/VNojk4bACL
— 12 News (@12News) August 18, 2020
In Maricopa County, there are 129,958 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 19,976 in Pima County, 11,908 in Yuma County, 8,935 in Pinal County, 5,468 in Navajo County, 3,257 in Apache County, 3,196 in Coconino County, 2,708 in Santa Cruz County, 3,383 in Mohave County, 2,180 in Yavapai County, 1,772 in Cochise County, 1,016 in Gila County, 492 in La Paz County, 614 in Graham County and 57 in Greenlee County.
Hospitalizations continue steady declines as Arizona reports 915 new COVID-19 cases, 23 new known deaths https://t.co/2adieH3D1U
— azcentral (@azcentral) August 18, 2020

Most of us are probably hearing pandemic fatigue right now and think, “I have that.” But according to @dsbarra, it’s more than just being tired of social distancing and wishing our lives could go back to normal.
— KJZZ Phoenix (@kjzzphoenix) August 18, 2020
The Show talks with him about this.https://t.co/72bVTgskDH
J.O. Combs Unified School District will hold a special governing board meeting tomorrow.
The agenda for tomorrow’s Special Governing Board meeting has been posted. This meeting will address the start date for in-person instruction. It will take place in-person as well as streamed live, but please keep in mind the following reminders: https://t.co/Sz3jVPLcqX pic.twitter.com/Koyh8kos0N
— JOCombsUSD (@JOCombsUSD) August 18, 2020
As parents head back to work, they’re looking for a safe place for their children to do their digital learning, KJZZ 91.5 FM reports.
As students head back to — virtual — school and more parents are heading back into the office, the question of who is going to take care of their child is front and center again.
— KJZZ Phoenix (@kjzzphoenix) August 18, 2020
The Show speaks with Boys & Girls Club of Arizona CEO Marcia Mintz. https://t.co/yOLCtdS6Bx
Tempe Elementary’s Nutrition Services dropped off ice pops to help staff providing curbside meals keep cool.
Day 2 of 176 school days of #InspireHopeTD3 🧡🧡 Nutrition Services dropped off popsicles to staff working curbside meal pickup to keep them cool in the heat! A simple act of kindness can go a long way. Thank you Nutrition Services for being a light! pic.twitter.com/vq169ZBzdw
— Tempe Elementary (@TempeElementary) August 18, 2020
Yuma Union High School District reminds families that Arizona Department of Health Services will provide families with five free face masks at the link below.
AzDHS is providing Arizona families with five free facemasks. Click the link to order (form near bottom of page): https://t.co/kuZ4syxvIg pic.twitter.com/IIDz0yWTKA
— Yuma Union High School District (@YUHSD) August 18, 2020
Chandler Unified School District leadership discuss the state’s public health benchmarks for re-opening schools for in-person instruction.
Superintendent Camille Casteel and Director of Health Services, Lyndsay Hartley, join Terry Locke, Director of Community Relations, in a short discussion of the state’s benchmarks for schools opening for in-person instruction.https://t.co/KJEnpyCUgJ
— Chandler Unified SD (@ChandlerUnified) August 18, 2020
What does culturally relevant family engagement look like when students are learning online? Find out from WestEd.
What does culturally relevant family engagement look like in distance learning? Find out in this archived webinar: https://t.co/NYkgZaMZNZ #equity #edchat #distancelearning @REL_West @B4rbaraJ @MargitBirge
— WestEd (@WestEd) August 18, 2020
Pendergast Elementary School District provides this link for students to learn more about how women earned the right to vote.
Today marks 100 years since the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which gave women in the United States the right to vote. Find out more about this momentous anniversary at – https://t.co/hx3xpprYkZ
— PESD92 (@PESD92) August 18, 2020
Tucson Unified invites community members to take part in a virtual town hall with district leadership Thursday evening and submit questions.
Questions can be submitted through Facebook comments once the event has begun.
— Tucson Unified (@tucsonunified) August 18, 2020
We hope you’ll tune in! #PROUD2BTUSD 🍎
Find out about two schools that have become models for coping during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The entire system has missed something if they don’t rethink what the fall semester looks like.” https://t.co/BPOHfXb9Vm
— Annie E. Casey Fdn (@AECFNews) August 18, 2020
Schools must consider the needs of English Language Learning during distance learning, Annie E. Casey Foundation says.
It is essential that school districts and educators consider the specialized needs of the more than 5 million students across the country learning English as a second language when planning for remote learning. https://t.co/SqhT343P89
— Annie E. Casey Fdn (@AECFNews) August 18, 2020
Here’s info about an app that can translate text messages from schools to parents in any language.
Very cool app I just learned about called TalkingPoints which translates text messages from schools to parents in any language. https://t.co/1QXMyDldkA
— Sasha Pudelski (@SPudelski) August 18, 2020
Listen to father and son educators talk about the persistence of inequity they see in education and what they do to help schools become more equitable, courtesy of Education Week.
Thank you to @TyroneCHoward and @JaleelRHoward for engaging in dialogue on the persistence of inequity in #education. Here is the recorded session! https://t.co/XzwNduDilk #EWSitsWith #edchat #satchat @educationweek @EdWeekOpinion
— Peter DeWitt, Ed.D. (@PeterMDeWitt) August 17, 2020
Childcare providers are struggling to keep their doors open, and there’s concern there may not be enough in a few months to meet Arizona families’ needs, First Things First says.
As statewide Director of @AZChildCare, Michelle Saint Hilarie said she’s already seen #childcare rates increase as providers struggle to keep their doors open and maintain quality. Declining enrollment has reduced revenue while the cost of #PPE and cleaning supplies rises. 3/6 pic.twitter.com/WRHfWsEPIg
— First Things First (@AZFTF) August 14, 2020
Find out more about school district’s social emotional support for students, families and and teachers.
2/2 Learn more about Florida systems that have implemented programs to meet the social-emotional needs of students, families, and teachers amid #COVID19 and see how @ImpactFla is helping to share these and other insights from the @LastingerCenter research: https://t.co/4YRwYkEgM7 pic.twitter.com/lxWgESTtO9
— Chiefs for Change (@chiefsforchange) August 18, 2020
How will distance learning affect how the public views the nation’s public schools?
The percentage of the general public that gives the nation’s public schools an A or B grade has hit an all-time high, after rising for many years, in the new @EducationNext survey that was conducted in May.
— Politics K-12 (@PoliticsK12) August 18, 2020
How will the pandemic affect that stat? https://t.co/yt7qNn63U6
Here’s what Lake Havasu High School is doing to help students get back to practice for sports.
Many questions remain when it comes to high school sports, including competition schedules for all of the Knights teams, but getting back to practice is the first step. https://t.co/9zTwrzEQgo
— Today’s News Herald (@havasunews) August 18, 2020
The pandemic has changed education and institutions who can adapt to provide learning experiences for a more diverse group of students will be more successful, said Andre Phillips, University of Wisconsin- Madison director of admissions.
“#COVID19 forced all of us to stop doing what we knew how to do really well. I think the institutions that will be most successful will be those who reimagine how you deliver content to a much broader array of learners” – Andre Phillips, director of admissions at UW-Madison. pic.twitter.com/5a0XimpLbU
— Lumina Foundation (@LuminaFound) August 18, 2020
Paradise Valley Community College can help you with your research request.
PVCC’s Librarians are here to rescue you this Fall semester. ✏️ We’ll carefully select 3-5 sources to match your research request. Get more details: https://t.co/l40qWw0CBF pic.twitter.com/kneHqk1ziJ
— PVCC_Official (@PVCC_Official) August 18, 2020
Scottsdale Unified is proud to have 89 of Arizona’s 1,536 National Board Certified Teachers serving their students.
Arizona has 1,536 National Board Certified Teachers. Scottsdale Unified is proud to have 89 of those Nationally Board Certified teachers in our District. pic.twitter.com/fmKwl45swo
— Scottsdale Unified School District (@ScottsdaleUSD) August 18, 2020
View the agenda for the Arizona Board of Regents meeting on Thursday.
The Arizona Board of Regents will meet virtually on Thursday to discuss several items including the Arizona Teachers Academy annual report, the Technology Research Initiative Fund report, and UArizona’s new Global Campus. View the full agenda here: https://t.co/ojj1XMiV0A pic.twitter.com/qGpdxiaHlV
— Arizona Board of Regents (@AZRegents) August 18, 2020
Update Aug. 17: Queen Creek Unified School District students returned to campus for in-person learning today.
Thank you @kjzzphoenix for acknowledging that everyone has a choice. https://t.co/Jcl61Ihq9k
— Queen Creek USD (@qcusd) August 14, 2020
Queen Creek High School students shared why they’re wearing masks.
Meanwhile, in-person and online classes were cancelled today in J.O. Combs Unified School District after more than 100 staff members called out sick.
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR ALL FAMILIES: All instruction, including in-person and virtual learning, will be canceled on Monday due to insufficient staffing. Read the full update here: https://t.co/3ZPzjysrQV pic.twitter.com/mSAe55W1h4
— JOCombsUSD (@JOCombsUSD) August 14, 2020
Earlier today, some J.O. Combs Unified School District parents and students marched in support of returning to the classroom, Fox 10 News reports.
Combs School District parents & students walked to district headquarters, in support of teachers and returning to the classroom. The district cancelled classes today. #fox10phoenix tonight. pic.twitter.com/6SdRAoAOaz
— Dave Stermon (@DaveStermonTV10) August 17, 2020
Classes also remain cancelled for Tuesday and Wednesday in J.O. Combs Unified School District.
UPDATE FOR FAMILIES: Due to continued insufficient staffing, all classes remain cancelled for Tuesday and Wednesday. Full update found here: https://t.co/BnFZxZVN13 pic.twitter.com/YJvl3wTZp3
— JOCombsUSD (@JOCombsUSD) August 17, 2020
Some teachers expressed concern about re-opening school for in-person instruction right now.
On Saturday, Sylvia Cruz-Torres told her son what to do if she dies.
— Lorraine Longhi @ #AAJA20🌵 (@lolonghi) August 17, 2020
She’s a teacher in the Queen Creek Unified School District and had the conversation as the district sends teachers and students back to school for in-person classes today. @azcentral https://t.co/fMLOac47uz
Mrs. Schweickert a teacher in J.O. Combs Unified shared some of the reasons her students like coming to school in their virtual learning class.
Virtual learning may have its adjustments, but it didn’t stop Mrs. Schweickert at @EllsworthSTV from creating a class vision with her first graders at home! Not to mention we just ❤️ all of these reasons these kiddos like coming to school! #CombsCares #Forward pic.twitter.com/SsWdw6nPJv
— JOCombsUSD (@JOCombsUSD) August 10, 2020
Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Arizona rose to 194,005 today from 193,537 yesterday, and 4,506 have died from the virus, said the Arizona Department of Health Services.
“‘Weird loophole’ allows some COVID-19 cases at child care centers, group homes to go unreported.” (via @maryjpitzl) https://t.co/Zud3UGgmiP
— Dan Nowicki (@dannowicki) August 17, 2020
In Maricopa County, there are 129,562 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 19,743 in Pima County, 11,886 in Yuma County, 8,777 in Pinal County, 5,455 in Navajo County, 3,241 in Apache County, 3,188 in Coconino County, 2,705 in Santa Cruz County, 3,368 in Mohave County, 2,160 in Yavapai County, 1,762 in Cochise County, 1,002 in Gila County, 490in La Paz County, 609 in Graham County and 57 in Greenlee County.

Click on the link below to see Florence High School students thank their teachers and school staff in a video for everything they’re doing to help them during distance learning.
FHS students express their gratitude to the teachers who have worked so hard to deliver instruction & make connections during these challenging times. We are Florence! We are family!https://t.co/AzIqriJreS
— Florence Unified (@Florenceusd) August 17, 2020
Special education students’ families do all they can to make sure their children get the education they’re legally entitled to during distance learning.
As schools discuss reopening in person, special education families face distinct challenges, including whether their children are getting the education promised to them under federal law.
— Lorraine Longhi @ #AAJA20🌵 (@lolonghi) August 17, 2020
“This is something that schools weren’t prepared for.”https://t.co/E6TeDGE7Ie
Manzanita Elementary School students meet their teacher during a drive-thru meet the teacher event, the Arizona Daily Star reports.
First day of school during the #pandemic: A drive-thru meet-the-teacher at Manzanita Elementary School in @CFSD16 north of #Tucson. PHOTOS >> https://t.co/Ds5gIdMF1g pic.twitter.com/Oi94y82qqh
— Rick Wiley (@rwcoyote51) August 17, 2020
While students went to John B. Wright Elementary in Tucson Unified for on-site care and distance learning.
At John B. Wright Elementary in @tucsonunified some students reported to class for on-site care and continue online learning, which began last week. PHOTOS >> https://t.co/M4lCwVPLRv pic.twitter.com/9BXOXfVrII
— Rick Wiley (@rwcoyote51) August 17, 2020
College Success Arizona’s Rich Nickel announces the organization’s virtual Student Success fundraising campaign that helps support the needs of first-generation college students.
Today we are announcing our Student Success Campaign, a sustained virtual fundraising campaign that will focus on how we are helping #Arizona #students achieve their postsecondary goals. https://t.co/t3GEpYgeo8 #BreakingBarriers2020 #NationalNonprofitDay pic.twitter.com/aIvPjdABLp
— CollegeSuccessAZ (@CollegeAZ) August 17, 2020
Roosevelt School District shared these affirmations for students, families and staff that really help during distance learning.
As we begin the third week of the new school year, we want to share a few affirmations that are especially needed during this time of distance learning. Thank you teachers, staff, families and Roosevelt community for all you do! #SomosRoosevelt #BeWell #BeBold #DistanceLearning pic.twitter.com/TRBpJuuDlj
— RSD No. 66 (@RSDNo66) August 17, 2020
Twenty-five Arizona high schools have cancelled Fall sports during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fallout: 25 Arizona high schools have canceled fall sports due to pandemic https://t.co/F3hWi1tgK7
— azcentral (@azcentral) August 17, 2020
Treasures 4 Teachers encourages teachers to enter this back to school giveaway from Bostitch Office.
T E A C H E R S! Don’t you just love a good #BackToSchool Giveaway?! @BostitchOffice has this . . . https://t.co/7wz9uokngT
— Treasures 4 Teachers (@Treasures4Teach) August 18, 2020
Some universities are dealing with COVID-19 clusters as classes begin.
Officials at universities around the U.S. scrambled on Monday to deal with new COVID-19 clusters at the start of fall semester, with some already suspending in-person classes. https://t.co/QXxD1St9hn
— Arizona Daily Star (@TucsonStar) August 17, 2020
East Valley Institute of Technology shares how they’re safeguarding the health of students and staff.
The East Valley Institute of Technology will continue to work hard to ensure safety and quality career education for our students, teachers, and staff. #EVITChangesLives #WeAreEVIT pic.twitter.com/7J8vPu0CeA
— EVIT Career & College Prep #WeAreEVIT (@EVITnews) August 17, 2020
Phoenix Union High School hosts two free parent webinars on how to navigate Parent VUE in English and Spanish.
SPREAD THE WORD: We want to inform families on the benefits of navigating Parent VUE @AccessASU will be hosting two virtual Parent VUE webinars on Tuesday, August 18th. This FREE webinar will be available for families in both English and Spanish. #ThisIsWhoWeAre #PXUConnectED 💻 pic.twitter.com/OkA9SCYXG5
— PXU (@PhoenixUnion) August 17, 2020
Litchfield Elementary School District thanked the Kiwanis of Litchfield Park for providing meals.
Thank you to @Kiwanis of Litchfield Park for feeding our Rattlers, Broncos, and LTH Pride! Your support fuels our 92% teacher retention rate. #LESDCommunity pic.twitter.com/8nY6V28JrY
— Litchfield Elementary School District (@LitchfieldESD) August 17, 2020
Crane School District principals let students know they care even while they are physically distanced and wearing masks.
👯♀️TWIN ALERT! @HLSBulldogs Principal Valentin and @SalidaSchool Principal Mendoza paired up to show everyone that beneath their masks are big, welcoming smiles. We hope everyone has had a wonderful Monday. #WeAreCraneStrong💙 #Twinning #CraneCares❤️ pic.twitter.com/Z5M8GLHJOe
— Crane School Dist. (@CraneSchools) August 17, 2020
My favorite part of 1st Day #DistanceLearning was virtual group hugs during our last meeting 🤗
— Beth Lewis 🆘🏜🎓 (@AZBethLewis) August 17, 2020
Kids started hugging their computers so hard they accidentally logged off 😂🤣
Association for Supportive Child Care shares some simple household items you can use to do science experiments at home.
“These are items needed to do several science experiments that I learned from an awesome training in the #FFN program.”
— ASCC (@asccaz) August 17, 2020
Proud to partner with @HomeGrownOrg to offer emergency support to #InHomeChildCare across AZ. Learn more: https://t.co/Wk33pH56yP #asccaz pic.twitter.com/c7TlXOMDpT
Teaching social, emotional, & academic skills with a focus on equity means addressing adult practices and mindsets, says America’s Promise.
Teaching social, emotional, & academic skills through an equity lens means moving away from “fixing kids” & toward addressing adult practices, policies, & mindsets. Join us, @CASELorg, & @EdTrust on Aug 19th at 3pm ET for #SEADChat https://t.co/afD4C4sysR #HowLearningHappens pic.twitter.com/f80hJEQ3BR
— America’s Promise (@AmericasPromise) August 16, 2020
See how 600 districts across the nation plan to go back to school in the Fall, thanks to Education Week.
UPDATE: See a working list of how over 600 of the nation’s school districts plan to reopen this fall. https://t.co/a6tPctIGos
— Education Week (@educationweek) August 17, 2020
Tempe Elementary School District shares images that depict their 2020-2021 school year theme of “Be a Light…Inspire Hope!”
Day 1 of 176 School Days of #InspireHopeTD3 💙 Tempe Elementary School District’s theme for the 2020-2021 school year is “Be a Light…Inspire Hope!” We will be sharing images, videos, and quotes from every school day this year which depicts our District-wide theme. pic.twitter.com/SyJ4dQJdKe
— Tempe Elementary (@TempeElementary) August 17, 2020
Update Aug. 13: Gov. Doug Ducey spoke briefly about schools and efforts to reduce COVID-19 with the media earlier today
“We’ve got different variations of spread around the state. The state is headed in the right direction. Most of our counties are headed in the right direction,” Gov. Ducey said.
“What we wanted to do was provide a menu of options and flexibility in the guidelines so that there’s safety inside our schools. We’re going to leave ultimate and final decisions to superintendents and principals, and I’m confident they’ll make good decisions, Gov. Ducey said. “We’re supportive of the districts.”
Aug. 13 media briefing with Gov. Ducey and Dr. Christ
“We have some school districts that are packed with children,/ We have others where there’s more room and availability,” Gov. Ducey said.
“No one cares more about kids than their parents, their teachers, their principals and the superintendents,” Gov. Ducey said.
“There’s also the option for distance learning for anyone that would like it, but when some can safely get back inside the classroom with a teacher at the front of the classroom that’s something that we’re highly supportive of,” Gov. Ducey said.
More school boards are considering re-opening their schools for in-class learning soon, despite most Arizona counties not meeting all three recommended public health benchmarks.
Despite Maricopa County meeting only 2 of the 3 health benchmarks to reopen schools, the guidelines are only recommendations, not requirements. Already, several school districts in the valley plan to resume some in-person learning on Monday. @KTAR923 https://t.co/8LfUgO9WBL
— Martha Maurer (@MaurerMartha) August 13, 2020
When asked why he’s supporting schools ignoring the public health benchmarks released last week, Gov. Ducey said “Many districts are close on the benchmarks and they’re making decisions.”
Some Queen Creek teachers said they resigned after weighing their families’ needs against the risk of bringing COVID-19 home to their families, in this Fox 10 News story.
NEW: Queen Creek teachers resigning after district votes to head back to school Aug. 17. https://t.co/iysiBlr0Xq
— FOX 10 Phoenix (@FOX10Phoenix) August 13, 2020
When asked if he supported the Queen Creek School District or the individual teachers who decided not to teach, Gov. Ducey said, “I support the principals, I support the superintendents and I support the parents. I know they have the best interests of the kids at heart. And so do the teachers.”
“There’s a lot of teachers who can’t wait to get to the front of the classroom,” Gov. Ducey said.
In addition, Gov. Ducey said he will make an announcement on unemployment assistance on Friday.
Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Arizona rose to 190,794 today from 189,443 yesterday, and 4,383 have died from the virus, said the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Arizona families have been putting off their children’s vaccinations during the pandemic and pediatricians are urging them, for the sake of public health, to stay up-to-date.https://t.co/0mHbalE1Te
— azcentral (@azcentral) August 13, 2020
In Maricopa County, there are 127,768 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 19,001 in Pima County, 11,703 in Yuma County, 8,616 in Pinal County, 5,430 in Navajo County, 3,218 in Apache County, 3,146 in Coconino County, 2,698 in Santa Cruz County, 3,285 in Mohave County, 2,084 in Yavapai County, 1,747 in Cochise County, 978 in Gila County, 488 in La Paz County, 574 in Graham County and 57 in Greenlee County.

Children make up at least 10 percent of coronavirus cases in 27 states.
— Andrew Ujifusa (@AndrewUjifusa) August 13, 2020
Of the more than 380,000 total COVID-19 cases reported so far among children, nearly 180,000 have been reported from July 9 to August 9.
More info and caveats here: https://t.co/82foLsQoEb pic.twitter.com/Yu546rRmxd
Read this Cronkite News article to learn more about how Native American boarding schools affected their students and their families.
Native American boarding school students report vastly different experiences, many of which are displayed in Phoenix’s @HeardMuseum exhibit “Away from Home,” which shows the evolution of boarding schools. https://t.co/a7rtls2iGl
— Cronkite News (@cronkitenews) August 13, 2020
Student journalism provides an outlet for students’ voices, helps improve critical thinking and promotes equity for students of color, says The 74 Million.org.
Bergen: Student journalism promotes personalized learning and critical thinking. It improves grades and ACT scores, promotes equity for students of color and amplifies student voice @The74 https://t.co/zusRCp0lIT
— ExcelinEd (@ExcelinEd) August 13, 2020
Scottsdale schools will have breakfast available for students when campuses re-open.
All SUSD campuses will have breakfast available for curbside pickup for students participating in distance learning, and in the cafeteria before each school day when campuses reopen. For more information, visit https://t.co/FnJN1ojgkJ. pic.twitter.com/zPjELsSYEy
— Scottsdale Unified School District (@ScottsdaleUSD) August 13, 2020
Substitute teachers are weighing whether the pay outweighs the risks to their health as school starts, Education Week reports.
Substitutes are weighing the costs of going back to school: Doing so means they’ll be exposing themselves to a great number of people, under inconsistent safety protocols, and for little pay and potentially no health benefits. #tellEWA https://t.co/jssPxhn30O
— Maddy Will (@madeline_will) August 12, 2020
If all students at your school do not receive the same punishment for rules violations it might be something school administrators should look into, edutopia says.
Do all students at your school receive the same punishment for rules violations? If not, that might be something administrators should examine, @identityshaper says.https://t.co/Wue6UB2VFQ
— edutopia (@edutopia) August 13, 2020
Kyrene Schools Supt. shares what Kyrene Digital Academy is like.
In her first Superintendent Message of the 2020-21 school year, @kyrenesupt shares a glimpse into Kyrene Digital Academy and discusses Kyrene’s continued focus on health, safety and equity. View her full message online at https://t.co/dbAvNZ0INi pic.twitter.com/sVluyUQVhd
— KyreneSchools (@KyreneSchools) August 13, 2020
WestEd shares ideas to help ensure high school seniors are prepared for college level reading and writing.
All SUSD campuses will have breakfast available for curbside pickup for students participating in distance learning, and in the cafeteria before each school day when campuses reopen. For more information, visit https://t.co/FnJN1ojgkJ. pic.twitter.com/zPjELsSYEy
— Scottsdale Unified School District (@ScottsdaleUSD) August 13, 2020
Update Aug. 12: Some Arizona school districts have decided to start offering in-person learning on Monday, Aug. 17, despite their communities not meeting the COVID-19 health benchmark recommendations provided last week by the Arizona Department of Health Services.
J.O. Combs Unified School District, located in San Tan Valley, told families it would starting in-person learning Monday, regardless of state guidelines. https://t.co/pUXLYfzBD0
— KTAR News 92.3 (@KTAR923) August 12, 2020
Queek Creek schools to resume in-person learning Monday: https://t.co/quFfS2sXij #abc15 pic.twitter.com/p0BBAbbRPJ
— ABC15 Arizona (@abc15) August 12, 2020
This happened just days after hundreds of parents and students rallied at Arizona’s Capitol to demand more support for working families and to push for in-person classes for students now.
“We aren’t looking for babysitters, we’re looking for educators.”
— Danielle Lerner (@DanielleLerner) August 11, 2020
Growing crowd at the Capitol right now rallying to reopen schools NOW. pic.twitter.com/NPfO73mJlU
But Supt. of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman said all schools should follow the public health benchmarks.
We are all making sacrifices for the health and safety of our school communities. If we work together, meeting the metrics for returning to in-person instruction is achievable. I urge every Arizonan to do their part in slowing the spread of #COVID19.
— Kathy Hoffman (@Supt_Hoffman) August 12, 2020
Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Arizona rose to 189,443 today from 188,737 yesterday, and 4,347 have died from the virus, said the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Important changes: Today has the second-highest amount of deaths reported in the Arizona Department of Health Service’s daily COVID-19 update. These deaths did not all happen in the past 24hrs, but were recorded in the past 24hrs.
— 12 News (@12News) August 12, 2020
MORE: https://t.co/4aYOuF0I56 pic.twitter.com/PD666fQ1VF
In Maricopa County, there are 127,188 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 18,508 in Pima County, 11,641 in Yuma County, 8,555 in Pinal County, 5,408 in Navajo County, 3,212 in Apache County, 3,130 in Coconino County, 2,675 in Santa Cruz County, 3,250 in Mohave County, 2,065 in Yavapai County, 1,732 in Cochise County, 976 in Gila County, 486 in La Paz County, 559 in Graham County and 57 in Greenlee County.
Good report here from @AmerAcadPeds reflecting the quality of AZ’s response to #COVID19. AZ has the highest cumulative rate of child infections in the US at 1,200/100,000. That’s 2.5x higher than the national average. #MaskUpAZ https://t.co/JAWTeaIlKC
— Will Humble (@willhumble_az) August 12, 2020

Hopes are fading for quick agreement on a huge coronavirus relief bill. The Washington impasse is denying money to the unemployed, schools and state and local governments. Here’s a look at the key obstacles to a deal: https://t.co/EbXCd9kkkU
— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) August 12, 2020
This weekend: Two more opportunities for FREE COVID-19 testing.
— City of Phoenix, AZ (@CityofPhoenixAZ) August 12, 2020
Both events are drive-thru, open 6-11am and are FREE.
Appointments are required.
Desert West Park & Sports Complex: https://t.co/JGYWVcupvu
Reach 11 Sports Complex:https://t.co/S1C2wigMjG#MaskUpPHX pic.twitter.com/5FcCIWdxrG
The #COVID19 pandemic is not over, unemployment is crippling families, & schools are trying to figure out the next year. During all this uncertainty, Congress can make sure kids & families get the food they need by expanding #PandemicEBT https://t.co/7Twc5wAGIS
— The Education Trust (@EdTrust) August 12, 2020
Tolleson Elementary School District invites students’ families and community members to take part in a Zoom meeting today about stopping the spread of COVID-19 in the community.
Please don’t forget to join us on ZOOM today at 5:30 PM for a community forum to learn about stopping the spread of COVID-19 in our community! Today’s forum at https://t.co/m3KibWRSHs
— Tolleson Elementary School District (@TollesonESD) August 12, 2020
Spanish speaking forum available Friday.
Tucson Unified will reopen in-person classes on Monday to a small subset of students – special education students, children in foster care, those experiencing homelessness and refugees, Arizona Daily Star reports.
TUSD is reopening select schools for its most vulnerable students https://t.co/zCYBMc4p0Q via @tucsonstar
— Mary Jo Pitzl (@maryjpitzl) August 12, 2020
Students can cope better with COVID-related uncertainties when educators help them with resilience, says Education News.
#EDUCATION: #Students of all abilities can better cope with #coronavirus related uncertainties when #educators help them with #resilience—and #teaching related skills can be done in-person or through #virtual #learning. https://t.co/dUOPk8qxvt#Online #Kids
— Education News (@educationblog) August 12, 2020
Students who need meals can pick up lunch and breakfast during remote learning from grab-and-go meal bus routes from 10 a.m. to noon.
Tucson! Do your kids need meals? Excellent resource here! https://t.co/KZ54Zrhwx7
— Community Food Bank (@foodbanktucson) August 12, 2020
Cartwright Elementary School District’s transportation department prepares a comprehensive safety plan for students who ride the bus for when they return to classrooms for in-person learning.
The Cartwright Elementary School District is creating a comprehensive safety plan for students. Team 12’s Trisha Hendricks has the latest. https://t.co/ffn8AEujgn
— 12 News (@12News) August 12, 2020
Humboldt Schools honors Patricia Burgess as it’s classified employee of the month.
Congratulations to the August 2020 Classified Employee of the Month – Patricia Burgess – Tricia has been a devoted Humboldt Unified School District Employee for 21 years. She started her time at CSES as an employee in the… https://t.co/iSjAuJHTMj pic.twitter.com/gZ0kIj9eeo
— Humboldt Schools (@Humboldtunified) August 12, 2020
Arizona Educational Foundation reminds principals that the deadline to enroll in its leadership academy is approaching soon.
AEF Principals Academy – Deadline Approaching https://t.co/DMkYkBYr0B pic.twitter.com/bbY2NC0egR
— Arizona Educational Foundation (@azedfoundation) August 12, 2020
The College Board lets high school freshmen and sophomores know steps to take to get them ready for college.
There are steps you can take in ninth and tenth grade to help you get started on the right track for college.
— The College Board (@CollegeBoard) August 12, 2020
9️⃣: https://t.co/BGgUti1U76
🔟: https://t.co/OW6KfIOs7T pic.twitter.com/6sP6V0aGKL
Humboldt Schools congratulates Poppy Keegan its teacher of the month.
Congratulations to the August 2020 Teacher of the Month – Poppy Keegan – Poppy has been a devoted Humboldt Unified School District Employee for seven years. Poppy quickly earned the respect of her colleagues and became an… https://t.co/kDsyF74TCK pic.twitter.com/xqVzCXZrrn
— Humboldt Schools (@Humboldtunified) August 12, 2020
Watch a dissection of a sheep’s heart and learn about each part’s functions courtesy of Arizona Science Center.
Eewww… and (awestruck) oooh!! RT @azsciencecenter: Today’s Demonstration: Sheep Heart Dissection! Learn about the parts of the heart as you observe a sheep heart dissection.https://t.co/kN2Yb2dNNU pic.twitter.com/Rn8vQuKAXV pic.twitter.com/N2RpxoH5Xm
— Raising Arizona Kids (@RAKmagazine) August 12, 2020
Mountain Ridge High School is getting some upgrades in response to community concerns.
Finishing curbing @TheMRHS Mountain Ridge HS this week. Asphalting by the end of next week for additional parking. #Boundary @DVUSD response to community concerns. #Lions pic.twitter.com/ECCEH6nCSf
— Curt Finch, PhD (@DrFinchDVUSD) August 12, 2020
Residents of college towns worry that students could bring COVID-19 back to campus, Arizona Public Media reports.
As the new academic year gets underway, residents of the surrounding towns and cities worry about the risk that returning students could bring coronavirus back to campus with them.https://t.co/Bk5y2yIjam
— AZPM (@azpublicmedia) August 12, 2020
The Arizona Board of Regents wishes Northern Arizona University students a great first day of online classes.
Have a great first day of online classes, Lumberjacks! #JacksAreBack pic.twitter.com/6u37dOdkdH
— Arizona Board of Regents (@AZRegents) August 12, 2020
Hear what ASU, UA and NAU are handling COVID-19 in this discussion on Monday, Aug. 31 from 10 a.m. to noon.
👂 from @NAUPresident @UArizonaPres & @michaelcrow as they discuss how their universities are handling #COVID. Learn how #AZ cities & towns can help lead the way out of this situation & into a future of civic engagement & leadership. #LACT20 SIGN UP➡️ https://t.co/0U4fJgXUcb pic.twitter.com/eU3MSaKIzl
— Arizona League (@AzCities) August 12, 2020
Humboldt Schools thanks Nancy Ruiz for her volunteer work.
Congratulations to the August 2020 VIP Volunteer – Nancy Ruiz – Nancy has been a valued volunteer at CSES since her children started attending school at Coyote over two and a half years ago. Nancy has three amazing students who… https://t.co/crMwiFVRuS pic.twitter.com/G2i74cKWon
— Humboldt Schools (@Humboldtunified) August 12, 2020
A certified nursing assistant program returns to Coconino Community College.
CCC News: Certified Nursing Assistant program returns to @CoconinoCC in #pageaz. #cccstellar #CCCWorking4You #communitycollege #workforcetraining #studentsfirst https://t.co/T2rXQEa5Dl pic.twitter.com/Em09TQh1Xn
— Coconino CC (@CoconinoCC) August 12, 2020
U.S. News & World Report shares 14 key terms to know before repaying student loans.
Understanding key language before you borrow could save you money when repayment begins. https://t.co/F5IelrEjwb
— U.S. News Education (@USNewsEducation) August 12, 2020
Earlier coverage
July 30 – Aug. 11: Parent organizes co-op for learners; group rallies for in-person school days after benchmarks release
July 13- July 30: Teachers prepare for digital learning and back to school
June 29 – July 12: Video: Gov. says ‘Goal is to get children back to school when it’s safe;’ Schools lay out learning models
June 29: Video: Gov. delays in-person classes to Aug. 17 due to rise in COVID-19
Updates from June 15 – June 29: Video: Gov. pauses re-opening of some businesses as COVID-19 cases rise
June 24: Plan provides more funding, flexible instruction as schools re-open
Updates from May 26 – June 12: Increase in COVID-19 cases marks a new daily high
Updates from May 20 – 25: AZ Dept. of Ed releases COVID-19 guidance to schools for summer programs, back to school
Updates from May 11 – 19: Arizonans consider workplace safety, what back to school will look like amid COVID-19
Updates from April 26 – May 10: Stores re-open, COVID-19 testing blitz resumes on Saturday
Updates from April 8 – 25: You can get tested now if you think you’ve been exposed to COVID-19
Updates from March 12 – April 7: Coronavirus response: Cases rise; AZ Day of Giving