Preparation for Opening the 2020-21 School YearJ une 24, 2020

Dr. Shannon Harvey, Deputy Superintendent of Schools Ellen Dorr, Chief Technology OfficerJ es s ica Calabrese Granger, Chief of School Improvement

Agenda

● Reopening Considerations● Learning & Teaching 2020 Overview

○ Goals, values, planning● Structure of Engagement● Recommendations● Next steps

Reopening Considerations

Dr. Pattenaude’s Priorities

● Health and s afety of s tudents & s taff● Fully in-pers on, if pos s ible

○ K-5 ○ Special Education○ Newcomer ELL

● Some in-pers on for a ll grade levels● Virtual option

Potential Reopening Models

● Split or rotating s chedules with remote learning● Phas ed-in opening with remote learning● Continuous Learning 2.0 - Fully Remote

Department of Health Requirements

● Health Screening for s tudents and s taff (could be an attes tation)

● Maintain a minimum of s ix-foot s eparation● Cloth face coverings for s taff and s tudents● Frequent hand was hing● People s howing s igns s tay home or go home

immediately

Key Considerations for Reopening

● Available Clas s room Space - 6 feet between des ks● Trans portation● Health Screenings

Learning & Teaching 2020:Overview

Goal

● Develop clear models for learning and teaching, for remote learning and partial in -school to s upport s tudent learning and growth through various modes

Values

● Service: Focus on s tudents and families● Excellence: Intentionally des ign learning

experiences that meaningfully engage s tudents● Equity: Recognize/ res pond to s tudents ’ current

realities

Students, Families, and Teachers

What would it look like and sound like if we des igned the bes t pos s ible remote learning model?

Students , Families , and Teachers Vis ioning

What do you notice?

Constraints

Not included in this plan:● Health protocols● Staffing implications● Fis cal cons iderations● Res ources● Operational pieces (s chedules , facilities us e, trans porta tion, etc.)

Planning Templates

Focus ed on:● Engagement (what)● Learning tas k/ activity for s tudents (how)● Connection, care, and belonging (SEL*)● Acces s ibility of learning tas ks● Implications for families● As s es s ment and feedback

Steering Committee

Members:

● L&T● One elementary adminis tra tor● One secondary adminis tra tor● Two elementary teachers● Two secondary teachers● 3 REA members● 1 RESP member● 1 Parent

Function:

● Oversee creation of learning and teaching plans

● Launch and guide work groups● Review, evaluate, and refine

recommendations from Work Groups to create learning and teaching plans

Work groups

Members:

● 16 Facilita tors● Over 100 teachers (s elected

from over 300 recommendations by RSD s taff), representing every s chool in the dis trict

Function:

● Draft recommendations of learning and teaching plans based on template

Work groups

● Pre-K● K-2 (one group on literacy, one group on STEM)

● 3-5 (one group on literacy, one group on STEM)

● Elementary Specia lis ts● 6-8 LA● 6-8 Social Studies● 6-8 Science● 6-8 Math

● 9-12 LA● 9-12 Social Studies● 9-12 Science● 9-12 Math● Secondary (6-12) Fine Arts● Secondary (6-12) World Language● Secondary (6-12) PE● Secondary (6-12) CTE

Student and Family Input

The experiences , challenges , and needs of s tudents and families over the las t three months (collected by s taff and through exis ting focus groups ) were s tudied by the Steering Committee and helped s haped thinking to inform recommendations .

Student and Family Input

State Surveys show:

● Need for Academic Support○ Assignments are confusing

● Digital Divide and Distance Learning○ Need internet access

● Well-being○ Families are experiencing

more stress

Our s tudents are s aying:

● “Instructions should be clear. Sometimes the instructions are way too confusing. I suggest teachers ask a fellow friend or family read the instructions and ask if they understand, because if teachers read it, they would obviously understand, but others may not.”

● “What helped me was those instruction videos that teachers would make for students and that actually helped me a lot.”

Belief Statement

The Steering Committee is propos ing the following recommendations with the belief that:

The recommendations will provide students with equitable opportunities and the support required to engage in meaningful, standards -aligned learning experiences which will:● strengthen their agency and identity● help them feel connected to the school community● support them in growing academically and socio -emotionally

to support them in their future endeavors.

Recommendations

16 learning model recommendations and lesson plan examples:

● Focus on prioritizing learning activities for in-pers on in a hybrid model

● Outline s upports for s tudents and families for in-home components● Include cons iderations for s tudents with s pecific learning needs

Learning Model ProposalsThe following recommendations include two models : remote and partia l in-person. Each model provides ideas regarding s everal cons iderations , including engagement, learning task/ activity for s tudents , focus on connection, care, and belonging (SEL), the acces s ibility of learning tasks , implications for families , and as ses sment and feedback. Additionally, the proposals suggest considerations for students with identified learning needs, outline supports for students and families, and specify the learning activities that would be prioritized for in -person if that model is allowable.

● Pre-K Learning Proposals● Elementary Learning Proposals● Middle School Core Learning Proposals● High School Core Learning Proposals● Secondary Electives Learning Proposals

Implementation Recommendations

1. Synch and asynch2. Platforms / digita l tools / etc.3. Centrally provided supports4. Prioritization of s tudents (in-person)5. Scheduling guidance 6. Support for families7. Profes s ional learning8. Resources for s tudents

THANK YOU to our 13 Steering Committee members, 16 Work Group facilitators, and all 120 teachers who helped to craft these recommendations

Next Steps

● Continue to gather feedback regarding model options● Determine best model option for re -opening● Continue to work on health protocols and establish processes and

practices at schools/facilities● Continue working with labor partners● Create professional development based on teacher input● Engage with families regarding re -opening and support needed

Questions?