10 Contra Costa Schools Cleared To Open

WALNUT CREEK, CA — Ten schools in Contra Costa County have received waivers from the California Department of Education allowing them to resume classroom instruction. Among them is CORE Education Academy in Walnut Creek.

Over the summer, the state ordered all schools to begin the 2020-21 school year online because of widespread coronavirus infections. However, the state also set up a process that allows school districts, charter schools, and private schools to apply for a waiver that allows them to open.

Applications and reopening plans are submitted to the county health department and office of education. If it is satisfactory, the waiver request is forwarded to the state.

These are the 10 schools that have received waivers as of Sept. 4:

• Walnut Creek: CORE Education Academy — This private school is "for children who are creative, gifted, dyslexic, dysgraphic, have dyscalculia, ADD, ADHD, anxiety & other specific learning differences." The school has a wait-list for the 2020-21 school year.
• Concord: Ygnacio Valley Christian School — This private school incorporates Christian education in its curriculum. The school is accepting applications.
• Concord: Tabernacle School — A Christian school originally founded as a Tabernacle Baptist Church evangelical outreach ministry, educating students through 8th grade.
• Concord: Wood Rose Academy — This private school incorporates Christian education in its curriculum. It is affiliated with the Catholic Church. The school is accepting applications.
• Danville: The Athenian School — This private school admits local students, but is also a boarding school that admits students from around the world.
• Antioch: Hilltop Christian School — Run by 7th Day Adventists, this private school incorporates Christian education in its curriculum. The school is accepting applications.
• Antioch: Heritage Baptist Academy — This private Christian school is run by Heritage Baptist Church in Antioch.
• Antioch: Cornerstone Christian School — This private school incorporates Christian education in its curriculum. The school is accepting applications.
• Brentwood: Golden Hills Christian School — This private school incorporates Christian education in its curriculum. It is affiliated with Golden Hills Community Church. The school is accepting applications.
• El Cerrito: Golestan School — This private school seeks to develop "curious, creative, and altruistic children, according to its website.