Reopening of Schools

School Board Special Meeting/WorkshopJuly 15, 2020

Emergency Order: July 6, 2020

School Boards “must open brick and mortar schools at least five days per week for all students, subject to advice and orders of the Florida Department of Health, local departments of health, Executive Order 20-149 and subsequent executive orders.”

Schools must reopen for in person instruction in August

• Districts may offer ‘innovative alternatives,’* but plans must be submitted to the Florida Department of Education for approval by July 31

• Plans must include number of students planning to participate in the ‘innovative alternative’

• For ACPS, planned ‘innovative alternative’ is the Digital Academy

* Executive Order Webinar, July 6

‘Innovative alternative’ must provide

• Live synchronous or asynchronous education

• Ability to interact with teacher and peers

• Same curriculum and instructional hours whether in-person or at home

• Automated attendance and monitoring of daily engagement

• Progress monitoring mirrors in-person progress monitoring. State assessments still required.

ACPS Instructional OptionsTraditional Option: Students will attend their brick-and-mortar school in person five days a week, with significant precautions in place to promote health and safety.

Alachua Digital Academy*: Students will learn online but will follow the regular school day schedule with live instruction provided by their assigned teacher(s).

*Subject to approval by the Florida Department of Education

Alachua eSchool: Students will receive individualized instruction from eSchool teachers in a virtual format that allows students and families to determine when, where and how they will do their coursework.

Traditional Option• Students return to school and receive face-to-face instruction at

their assigned school with health and safety measures in place

• Schools are designed for social interaction rather than social distancing, so we will rely on guidance from FDOE, FDOH, the Alachua County Health Department, and the CDC

• Recommendations and safeguards will be utilized to the extent that is “feasible, practical, acceptable, and tailored to meet the needs of the community” (CDC 2020)

• Teachers and students will follow traditional school schedules and utilize district-adopted curriculum materials and pacing

Traditional Option

• Mask and handwashing protocols

• Recess will continue, but with adjustments (playground equipment off limits, maintain social distancing, etc.)

• Distance desks as much as possible

• Limit interaction with other students (i.e. partnering/group work)

• Elementary schools will have specials; delivery model to be determined on a school-by-school basis

Traditional Option

• Use larger spaces when possible (inside and outdoors)

• Avoid sharing supplies/textbooks

• Food and Nutrition Services conducting walk-throughs at all schools to determine meal distribution plan based on layout, student population, etc.

• Enhanced cleaning protocols

More detailed information is available on the district’s Return to School page, including an FAQ

with responses to commonly asked questions.

Alachua Digital Academy

• Students will work with the teachers from their school of enrollment

• The district will provide devices to those who do not have them and will assist families with obtaining internet access

• Services and accommodations will be provided to ESE and ESOL students, although delivery model may differ from in-person option

• Students will have access to sports/extra-curricular activities at their school of enrollment

Alachua Digital Academy

• Students will follow typical school schedule five days a week

• While there will be robust course offerings in the Digital Academy, some courses may be available only in the traditional school setting

• Canvas will be the primary platform used to manage curriculum, content, attendance, assignments, progress monitoring, etc.

• Curbside-service meals will be provided to students in the Digital Academy at their enrolled school

Alachua eSchool•The Alachua eSchool started in 2012 and serves 3000+ students in grades K-12, both full- and part-time

•Students receive individualized instruction from local eSchoolteachers using Florida Virtual School (FLVS) curriculum

• The virtual format allows flexibility of time, location and pace

•Comprehensive course selection

•The district will provide devices to those who do not have them and will assist families with obtaining internet access

More information regarding options,including an FAQ, are available on theChoose Your School Option website

• Families are asked to submit their selected option by 11:59 p.m., July 19

• If families do not select an option by that time, their child will be enrolled in the traditional option

• Families are asked to commit to Digital Academy option for at least nine weeks, Alachua eSchool for a semester

• Schools will work with families who need to change their selection after the deadline

• Count of students selecting Digital Option must be submitted to the state before July 31

Family Option Selections Deadline 11:59 p.m. July 19

Results as of noon, July 15

Teacher SurveyDeadline 11:59 p.m., July 19

Results as of noon, July 15

Traditional Option

Teacher SurveyDeadline 11:59 p.m., July 19

Results as of noon, July 15

Digital Option

Teacher SurveyDeadline 11:59 p.m., July 19

Results as of noon, July 15

Blended model