Fall Reopening Report

Scope of Decision Making

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MSDENon-negotiables

Stakeholder InputStaff, Students, Parent/Guardian Surveys

Recovery Plan Stakeholder GroupSuperintendent’s Advisory Groups

Dedicated Email

SafetyInstructionOperations

Drivers for Decision Making

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• Health and safety of students and staff• High quality instruction for all students• Student, staff and community needs• Budget/Resources

MSDE Stage Decision Matrix

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MSDE Guiding Principles for Reopening Plans

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MSDE Stage 2 Requirements for Opening Schools

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1. Recovery plan is complete and posted to the website. 2. Equity plan is reflected throughout the local recovery plan.3. Membership of the Recovery Plan Stakeholder Group is posted.4. Method for determination of where students are instructionally,

identification of the gaps in learning, and the path for instructional success and recovery is explained.

5. Explanation provided that MD College and Career Ready Standards PreK-12 are taught in all content areas and state frameworks are followed for each content.

6. Guidance that schools must follow the individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504), and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is included.

7. Procedures for an individual who tests positive for COVID-19 are described.8. Safety protocols for collection of materials, cleaning of schools and other

facilities, daily cleaning, and nutrition are described.9. Protocols for the safe transportation of students to and from schools are

described.10. System for tracking attendance when students are engaged in distance

learning is described.11. Plan for communication is included.12. Utilization of COVID-19 checklist in the development of the recovery plan

is described.13. Roadmap forward for interscholastic athletics and activities is posted.

Health and Safety

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• Staff and families perform at home health screening.• Students and staff will wear masks and socially

distance at school and on buses.• When close interactions are required or when working

with students who are unable to wear a mask, additional staff PPE will be required.

• Enhanced cleaning protocols.• Plexiglass installed in public facing work areas.• Visitors to schools will be restricted.

Health and Safety

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What happens if a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19?

Classroom Social Distancing

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● Require face coverings for students and staff

● Space desks/seating 6ft apart when feasible

● Encourage social distancing ● Train students and staff on PPE

requirements and social distancing

School Bus Social Distancing

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● Require face coverings for students and staff on the bus

● Limit one student per seat with the exception of siblings

● Cleaning protocols for transportation● Encourage social distancing at pick-up/drop-off

points● Train bus drivers and assistants on PPE

requirements and social distancing● Bus schedules may need to be modified

Well-Being: Emotional and Mental Health

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Student Well-Being

• Universal classroom strategies to identify student concerns and needs• Classroom supports and instructional resources to enhance well-being• Professional learning and resources for Student Services staff to address well-being and recovery• Family supports and resources to increase well-being and address concerns

Staff Well-Being

• Supports for staff well-being and mental health• Supports for school administrators and Central Office leaders

Guiding Themes

• Relationship building• Community building• Anticipating and managing transitions• Addressing stressors related to the global pandemic and social unrest

Examples of Budgetary Implications

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• Masks/Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)• Signage/Plexiglass• Transportation• Devices/Hotspots/Educational Software • Increased Cleaning/Air Filtration• Food and Nutrition Services

Almost 40% to over half of each stakeholder group responded to the surveys.

(calculated as unique respondents out of

unique households)

Stakeholder Survey Participation Rates

Summary of FindingsKey Stakeholder Survey ResultsGuiding Question 1:What considerations are critical for our fall planning?

● Safety● Instructional excellence● Well-being

Summary of Findings

Guiding Question 2:What fall distance learning options would each of the stakeholder groups (students, parents/guardians, staff) prefer?

Key Stakeholder Survey Results

Students Parents/Guardians

Summary of FindingsKey Stakeholder Survey Results

Staff

Guiding Question 2:What fall distance learning options would each of the stakeholder groups (students, parents/guardians, staff) prefer?

Summary of FindingsKey Stakeholder Survey ResultsGuiding Question 3:What would each stakeholder group need to support distance learning?

● Support student social-emotional well-being○ Peer interactions, collaboration, appropriate workload

● Support staff professional learning needs○ Built-in time for professional learning and planning

● Provide excellent instruction and ways to assess learning progress● Ensure Safety

○ Provide personal protective equipment to staff and students if face-to-face

Recovery Plan Stakeholder Group

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Principles guiding our recommendations for Fall re-opening and prioritization of actions:

● Principle 1- Safety. The design and structure for any model will be determined by current CDC guidelines for the safety of all students/families, staff, and stakeholders.

● Principle 2- Choice. Since many parents and staff do not feel safe returning to buildings at this time, those who do not feel it is safe to return will have the option to learn or work from home.

● Principle 3- Access. An effort should be made to allow our most vulnerable students to be able to participate in hybrid instruction. If it is not possible for all students to receive in-person instruction, groups and grade levels that have a higher dependency on in-person instruction should be prioritized.

● Principle 4- Flexibility. The design and development of any model should allow for flexibility and fluidity in order for the HCPSS to be responsive to changing conditions and needs.

Recovery Plan Stakeholder Group

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Primary Recommendation for Fall Programming:

Based on considerations for safety, operations, and instruction:

● provide students and educators the choice of a fully digital model and a model that could fluidly shift between virtual, hybrid, and in-person.

● start with a virtual model in the Fall and have a hybrid model prepared to phase in as an option for all students or groups of students based on need when feasible.

Communications Plan

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● Updated regularly: https://www.hcpss.org/upcoming-school-year/

● Stakeholders may provide input and feedback by sending an email to fall-input@hcpss.org throughout the summer.

● Frequently Asked Question documents● Mobilizing school support teams, including liaisons, to engage and

support families● Translating priority communications● Developing COVID-19 Positive Case Communication Plan in

collaboration with the health department

Board Decision Points

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1. PreK-12 Digital Education Center Option2. Phase in Hybrid Elementary A day/B day3. Secondary 4x4 semester with in-person support4. Adjustments to the 20-21 School Calendar5. Purchase Additional Chromebooks

2020-2021 Student Options

Virtual LearningAll Online

Normal Operations

HybridMix of in person and online learning

PreK-12 Digital Education CenterFull year online school

Option 1 – Assigned School Phases

Option 2 – Fully Virtual Option

Decision 1: PreK-12 Digital Education Center

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• Fully virtual option for students and staff • Commitment for the 2020-2021 school year• Staff will be reallocated based on enrollment

PreK-12 Digital Education Center

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Challenges• Unknowns until families register• Must prioritize course offerings• Re-staffing of buildings• Disconnect with home school – new teachers

Rationale - Meets the needs of students who don’t want to return to brick and mortar

PreK-12 Digital Education Center

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Elementary• Approximately 11 hours per week of synchronous

instruction• Approximately 6-8 hours per week of asynchronous

assignments• Language Arts, mathematics, science, social studies,

SEL, and health• Student services will be provided• Related arts will be provided weekly

PreK-12 Digital Education Center

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Middle• 4x4 block semester schedule • Approximately 3-3.5 hours per week per course of

synchronous instruction• Language arts, mathematics, science, social studies,

health, and world language• Student services will be provided• Related arts will be offered• Asynchronous assignments

PreK-12 Digital Education Center

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High• 4x4 block semester schedule • 3.5 - 4 hours per week per course of synchronous

instruction• Students access core and elective courses necessary to

fulfill graduation requirements• Student services will be provided• Asynchronous assignments

Registration for Digital Education Center

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• Communicate detailed options to families• All families select option in July

○ Select PreK-12 Digital Education Center or Assigned School Phases

○ Collected within connect.hcpss.org (Synergy)• Supports: individual family contact, virtual town halls,

and translation services.

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Virtual Learning as part of Assigned School Phases Digital Education Center

Used as a temporary solution to support closures or reduced capacity

Full year commitment for students and staff

Instruction/services are from the student’s home school staffing

Staffing is reallocated from multiple locations to deliver instruction/services

Easily transition to hybrid and back to brick and mortar as COVID forecasting changes

Not returning to brick and mortar for 2020-2021 school year

Enrollment will influence course offerings

Prioritized course offerings based on graduation requirements, student enrollment and capacity

Decision 2: Phase in Hybrid Elementary A/B Day

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• All students begin the year in virtual learning• One week after school begins PreK – 3rd grade students

begin A/B day hybrid model• Three weeks after school begins 4th and 5th grade

students begin A/B day hybrid model

Elementary - Hybrid A/B Model

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• A/B day - 2 days in person, 3 days virtual• Opportunity for additional support for students • Social distancing at 50% capacity• 11 hours of face-to-face instruction• Approximately 6-8 hours of asynchronous assignments• Language Arts, mathematics, science, social studies, SEL,

and health• Related Arts will be provided weekly• Student Services will be provided

Elementary - Hybrid A/B Model

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Rationale - Provides some face-to-face instruction for our youngest learners with social distancing

Challenges:• Students wearing masks and social distancing• Lunch• Childcare concern for families • Related arts scheduling

Elementary - Hybrid A/B ModelGrade 3 (A Group) – Student

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Elementary - Hybrid A/B ModelGrade 3 - Teacher

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Attendance

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• All instructional models will include daily attendance○ Procedures for attendance on asynchronous days

(A/B Schedule) will be developed using activity monitoring

○ Attendance for face-to-face and synchronous lessons will be collected

• Login data for virtual learning will also be collected to track engagement

Childcare in HCPSS Facilities

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Childcare facilities currently housed in 51 HCPSS facilities will continue to operate.

• The Columbia Association – 21 schools• Recreation and Parks – 23 schools• Public School Employee Child Development Program –

7 schools• Head Start @ Old Cedar Lane

Elementary – Virtual Start

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• 4 days of synchronous instruction• 5 days of asynchronous learning• Opportunity for additional support for students• Easy transition to hybrid options

Elementary VirtualGrade 3 Student

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Elementary Virtual Grade 3 Teacher

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Decision 3: Secondary 4x4 semester model

with in-person support

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• All students begin the year in virtual learning• Five weeks after school begins middle school students

begin in person rotation for additional support• Seven weeks after school begins high school students

begin in person rotation for additional support

MS/HS - 4x4 Model

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• 4 days of synchronous instruction for each class• Opportunity for additional support for students • Social distancing at 50% capacity

MS/HS - 4x4 Model

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Rationale - Provides an opportunity for face-to-face additional support for students with social distancing

Challenges:• Bus Schedule• Students who don’t thrive in a virtual environment• Childcare concern for families

4x4 ModelStudent

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4x4 ModelTeacher

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4x4 ModelTeacher

Athletics for 2020 - 2021

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MPSSAA has organized a set of guidelines for consideration by the local jurisdictions across the state (LEAs) along with the incremental goals listed below.• Goal #1 - Season operates as normal. (August 12)• Goal #2 - Allow as many sports to operate each season

that can do so safely based on LEA determination.• Goal #3 - Season operates with a modified start date and is

shortened

Educational Centers

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• Applications and Research Lab○ Students will have access to lab experiences at

least once a week • Homewood Center

○ Students will follow the high school schedule• Cedar Lane School

○ Looking to phase students back into the building based on many factors

Decision 4: Adjustments to the 20-21 School Calendar

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• First day for students – September 8 (two weeks later)• First day for staff – August 25 (additional PD Days)• Shorten spring break by three days – April 2, 5, 6• Change professional work day to student 3 hr. early dismissal –

October 16• Change professional work day to student day – November 2• Change professional learning day to student day – March 10• Last Day of School – June 15 (if no closing for inclement weather)

Phase in Hybrid Models except Digital

Education Center

Timeline to Start of School

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Parents register for fall

option

Reallocate staffing and

adjust student schedules

Finalize staffing and

school schedules

Virtual Start

July Early-Aug Mid-Aug Early-Sept

Decision 5: Purchase Additional Chromebooks

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• Purchase 6,500 additional Chromebooks at 2.5 million• Currently Distributed:

Elementary = 9,572 | Secondary = 7,553• Secondary can be 1:1 by distributing remaining

inventory of devices• Prioritize additional device purchases for elementary

students• 11,000 ES students will still need their own devices

Next Steps

RegistrationProfessional DevelopmentStaffingSchedulingBus Routes

Preparing BuildingsCoordinating with Health DepartmentHealth ProtocolsCleaning ProtocolsBudget Alignment

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Key next steps once models are approved:

Board Decision Points

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1. PreK-12 Digital Education Center Option2. Phase in Hybrid Elementary A day/B day3. Secondary 4x4 semester with in-person support4. Adjustments to the 20-21 School Calendar5. Purchase Additional Chromebooks

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