The number one question on all parents’ minds right now, is what will school look like in the new school year? The unknown makes it really difficult to plan for potential childcare needs. Recently, the Maryland State Department of Education published Maryland’s Recovery Plan for Education: COVID-19 Response and the Path Forward. The plan is intended to be used by school leaders, students and school communities as a point of reference. It is a starting point for school districts and schools to use, in collaboration with parents, teachers, students, educators, and community members, to develop a plan that meets each system’s unique needs. The good news is that local school systems have a deadline. Recovery plans must be completed and posted to websites by August 14, 2020.
There are several options being suggested. Interestingly, each option has one day a week to be used for teacher planning and professional learning, which is definitely needed. On that day, distance learning will continue but, no students report to school. All options also state that “Special Education, English for Speakers of Other Languages, and resource teachers will collaborate with classroom teachers to schedule and provide required services to students.” I am not exactly sure how this will work for teachers that split their time between two or more schools.
Each option also states that assignments will be provided to students for completion on days that they are not in school. First option, a One-Day Rotation in which twenty-five percent of the student body reports to school one day a week on each of four days. Option two is a Two-Day Rotation. In this model, all students report to school two days a week. A/B Week is a third option, in which half of the population will report to school for 4 days each week and the second half will participate in distant learning at home, alternating weeks. Option five is Elementary Face-to-Face and Secondary Distance Learning. In this model, elementary students will start first, attending all four days, spreading out classes between elementary and middle schools to support social distancing. Secondary students would participate in distance learning and will start in person learning once the public health officials deem it is safe to relax the social distancing. The final suggestion is Grade Band Phase-In. This will not occur until public health official deem it is safe to relax the social distancing. Elementary students will attend the first week of school. Then, middle school for week two and high school returning week three. Middle and High school will continue distant learning while waiting to phase back into school.
Maryland’s School Recovery Plan for 2020-21
The number one question on all parents’ minds right now, is what will school look like in the new school year? The unknown makes it really difficult to plan for potential childcare needs. Recently, the Maryland State Department of Education published Maryland’s Recovery Plan for Education: COVID-19 Response and the Path Forward. The plan is intended to be used by school leaders, students and school communities as a point of reference. It is a starting point for school districts and schools to use, in collaboration with parents, teachers, students, educators, and community members, to develop a plan that meets each system’s unique needs. The good news is that local school systems have a deadline. Recovery plans must be completed and posted to websites by August 14, 2020.
There are several options being suggested. Interestingly, each option has one day a week to be used for teacher planning and professional learning, which is definitely needed. On that day, distance learning will continue but, no students report to school. All options also state that “Special Education, English for Speakers of Other Languages, and resource teachers will collaborate with classroom teachers to schedule and provide required services to students.” I am not exactly sure how this will work for teachers that split their time between two or more schools.
Each option also states that assignments will be provided to students for completion on days that they are not in school. First option, a One-Day Rotation in which twenty-five percent of the student body reports to school one day a week on each of four days. Option two is a Two-Day Rotation. In this model, all students report to school two days a week. A/B Week is a third option, in which half of the population will report to school for 4 days each week and the second half will participate in distant learning at home, alternating weeks. Option five is Elementary Face-to-Face and Secondary Distance Learning. In this model, elementary students will start first, attending all four days, spreading out classes between elementary and middle schools to support social distancing. Secondary students would participate in distance learning and will start in person learning once the public health officials deem it is safe to relax the social distancing. The final suggestion is Grade Band Phase-In. This will not occur until public health official deem it is safe to relax the social distancing. Elementary students will attend the first week of school. Then, middle school for week two and high school returning week three. Middle and High school will continue distant learning while waiting to phase back into school.
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