Continuity of EducationReopening Reconsideration

August 20, 2020

Types of Support Indicated in Individual Education Plan (IEP)

Itinerant: 1043 students

Special education supports and services provided by special education personnel for 20% or less of the school day.

Supplemental: 660 students

Special education supports and services provided by special education personnel for more than 21% of the school day but less than 79% of the school day.

Full-Time: 21 students

Special education supports and services provided by special education personnel for 80% or more of the school day.

Survey Results, cont.

Survey Results, cont.

Parent Survey Data (as of 7-9-20)

Option Number of Responses Percent of Total

In Person Only 2642 34%

Hybrid Only 839 11%

Cyber by Pennsbury Staff 331 4%

Cyber by Outside Provider 46 .06%

In person + Hybrid 4953 65%

Parent Survey Data (as of 8-11-20)

PDE Types of Reopening for Consideration

PDE Reopening Scenarios

*Scenario E (rotating 2 days per week): Same as Scenario B, except that students are divided into two groups, with half coming to school on Mondays and Wednesdays and the other half coming to school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. All students remain at home on Fridays for remote instruction. We make the assumption that reducing the school population by one-half each day—in addition to having 20 percent of students stay home full-time voluntarily—is likely to be sufficient to allow 6 feet of distance between desks in most classrooms. It also cuts in half the number of other students that each student contacts—both in the classroom and on the bus. But we assume that it will not reduce bus ridership enough to achieve the space suggested by the Centers for Disease Control (2020, May 19), which would seem to require buses to run at 20 percent or less of their normal capacity.

Why the Recommendation

● Health and safety remain a significant concern.○ Surrounding counties experiencing stalled reduction in cases.

○ While trending in a better direction currently, Bucks continues to have positive cases.

○ County guidance is that if there is no “inter-school spread,” schools should remain open.

○ Area Doctors: “Exercising patience is worth it. Positive testing rates should be well

south of 5% (2-3%) to give yourself a longer runway. Higher inoculants exist indoors.

Crowded classrooms are likely to create such conditions. The more you bring back-the

more likely an outbreak will occur. You’ll be shutting schools down quickly.”

Why the Recommendation● Scheduling Concerns; Matching Teachers and Students in Multiple Schedules

○ Hybrid schedule will likely lead to changes in student/staff matching

● Context of transitioning during November or December vs. end-of-semester○ November calendar issues○ Changing model/staff in middle of marking period

● Conditions at end of 1st Marking Period should be concerning○ No vaccine availability○ Flu season

● Stability through knowing○ Extending monthly is unsettling for students, families and staff○ Human Resources challenges decrease with knowledge○ Would need to decide what data determines appropriateness of return to schools

Administrative Recommendation● Maintain Continuity of Education proposal as presented.

● Begin school year in full remote model for 100% of the students.

● Begin A/B hybrid option for students beginning Tuesday, February 2, 2021, if

conditions are appropriate.

Remote Model of Instruction● The Pennsbury School District will execute a learning program

which will be largely synchronous, with opportunities for live instruction in virtual classrooms each day.

● The objective is to create an environment for both teachers and students which mimics the school experience in a traditional classroom setting.

● Students will also be assigned independent work and learning activities, homework and projects as they would in any other educational setting.

● Teachers will use a variety of assessment practices and will hold students accountable to deadlines and learning objectives.

Device Access● The district has a 1:1 Chromebook program for all students in 6th to 12th grade

that is already in place. ● The district is confident we can provide a Chromebook for every 1st to 5th

grade student to start the school year, but we are asking that if anyone has a device at home that can access Chrome they forgo picking up a district issued Chromebook at this time.○ Devices will be supplied to Kindergarten students at a later date to be specified by

each elementary school to allow for developmentally appropriate activities and instructions for how to access the student's Pennsbury Google Account and resources.

● Parents and guardians of students who lack access to the internet will be urged to contact counselors or administrators to seek assistance with various programs to promote connectivity.

● The district will hold “Swapping Station” hours every day school is in session to ensure students have a working device to participate.

Material Pick-Up● Once schedules are finalized, arrangements will be made for

parents, guardians and students to pick up necessary materials.● Middle school families are encouraged to visit the school website for

a list of suggested back to school supplies. Families who are unable to provide the supplies are asked to make contact with the building principal and/or assistant principal.

● High School will have material distribution the week of 8/31.

Student Support● Teachers will be expected to hold office hours each day in order to

complement synchronous class time. ● Students will be able to establish individual or small group sessions

with teachers. ● They will also be able to seek assistance if they are not present in

class or if they require remediation. ● As in a traditional setting, counselors and administrators are also

available to answer questions and to support student needs.● All programs such as the Student Assistance Program and MTSS

meetings will still take place virtually to discuss student progress, needs and/or concerns.

Student Schedule● Students will follow a daily schedule with the expectation that

students participate in synchronous class instruction, as well as asynchronous while they work on independent activities.

Hands on CoursesContent area coordinators, department chairs and teachers are working out ways to provide instruction in the virtual setting.

● Equipment has been purchased to allow for teacher demonstrations and modeling.

● Simulations and virtual labs are available to mimic classroom experiences.● Departments are working on strategies to potentially provide kits for students

to create hands on experiences remotely. Safety is a top consideration.● Access to a library of online content will be available to assist with remote

learning in our core areas.

Elementary School Student Schedule● Each Grade Level will have a Specific Rotation of Subjects, Specials, Lunch,

Breaks, and Office Hours: Example Shown for 3rd Grade

Time Period

8:45 - 9:00 Morning Meeting

9:00 - 9:45 Specials

9:45 - 10:15 Science/SS

10:15 - 10:30 Break

10:30 - 11:00 RELA

11:00 - 12:00 RELA Independent Work/ Replacement Services

12:00 - 12:30 Lunch

Time Period

12:30 - 1:00 Social Emotional Learning w/ Counselor

1:00 - 1:15 Meet with Teacher

1:15 - 1:30 Break

1:30 - 2:00 Math

2:00 - 2:30 Math Independent Work/ Replacement Services

2:30 - 3:00 Writing

Middle School Student Schedule

Time Period

7:45 - 8:15 Office Hours

8:15 - 8:50 A Period

9:00 - 9:35 B Period

9:45 - 10:20 C Period

10:30 - 11:05 D Period

Time Period

11:15 - 11:50 E Period

12:00 - 12:30 Lunch

12:40 - 1:15 F Period

1:25 - 1:55 G Period

2:00 - 3:00 Office Hours

High School Student ScheduleTime Period

7:30 - 8:00 Office Hours

8:15 - 9:15 A Period

9:30 - 10:30 B Period

10:45 - 11:45 C Period

11:45 - 12:15 Lunch

12:20 - 1:20 D Period

1:30 - 2:30 Office Hours

Student Attendance● Daily attendance will be taken. ● It is expected that some students will be absent from class or have

difficulty with internet access from time to time.● Teachers will be expected to record their sessions and/or hold

review sessions to ensure that all students have equal access to the course content.

● Students are encouraged to access teacher office hours as needed.

Communication with Students, Parents/GuardiansElementary Level● Teachers will utilize Google Classroom as the learning management

tool. ● Classroom teachers, other faculty members and administrators will

contact families to discuss individual student needs and families are always encouraged to contact any member of the team to discuss their concerns.

● Virtual parent teacher conferences will take place on November 19-20, 2020 for students in grade K-6.

● More information will be provided regarding conferences.

Communication with Students, Parents/GuardiansSecondary Level● Teachers will utilize Canvas, a learning management system which

allows all students, parents and guardians to monitor student progress.

● Classroom teachers, other faculty members and administrators will contact families to discuss individual student needs and families are always encouraged to contact any member of the team to discuss their concerns.

● Canvas training will be available to students, parents and guardians once schedules are available.

Specialized Learning Needs● District faculty, staff and administration will implement IEPs, GIEPs,

and 504 Agreements in the full remote learning environment. ● Case managers remain the point of contact for families and students

will have full access to any specially designed instruction or accommodations that are in place to support their documented needs.

● If there are any requested changes or concerns, families are encouraged to reach out to the case manager or special education supervisor.

Social and Emotional Wellness

● The Pennsbury School District is committed to providing students with supports, both in response to the pandemic, as well as the many other issues facing our community.

● Administrators, counselors and teachers will work collaboratively to provide social and emotional learning opportunities to address student needs and support readiness for student learning. The district will utilize curriculum and resources based on the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) framework.

● We recognize that students will have particular needs as they return to school which may impact their performance, therefore, additional supports are in place to assist individual students and their families.

Support Food Insecurities● We will offer food pickup/distribution as we did April through June 2020.

● Work with Nutrition Group to determine locations. (PHS E & Pennwood, and

other sites as needed to ensure food access)

● Work with Nutrition Group and Administration to determine support for food

distribution.

Support for Child Care Needs

*Both programs are expected to operate off-site and will not be using Pennsbury schools.

Transportation Recommendation● Brick and Mortar Charter Schools

● Out-of District Placements (District Placed and Educational Service

Agreements)

● Private and Parochial Non-Public School Partners

Athletic Health and Safety Plan RevisionsPhase 2: August 10-21 (2 weeks)

Low Risk: Practice

Moderate Risk: Practice Only

High Risk: Non-Contact Practice

Phase 3: August 24-September 18

Low Risk: Practice + Competition

Moderate Risk: Practice Only

High Risk: Non-Contact Practice

*PIAA has a scheduled meeting on Friday, August 21st. There remains significant concern about high risk competitions (i.e.: football). The plan above allows the Board to process the next three weeks before their meeting on September 18th. At that time, they can decide whether to approve approve competition and/or cancel the season for all or some levels of risk.

Athletic Health and Safety Plan RevisionsThe current dates for opening competition (by sport):

8/31 Practice

9/3 Golf (Low Risk)

9/8 Tennis (Low Risk)

9/14 Cross Country (Low Risk)

9/21 Field Hockey, Soccer and Volleyball (Moderate Risk)

10/2 Football (High Risk)

Junior Varsity, Freshmen, and Middle School Programs

● Holding pattern for non-varsity program

● No decision at this time for these programs

● Discussion at Suburban One League has been varsity-only

Athletic Health and Safety Plan Revisions