The Los Altos School District is thankful for the input from parents, teachers, staff and students as we plan for the beginning of the 2020-21 school year. Below is our 2020-21 Reopening Plan and Community Commitment to Healthy Schools. As we continue to move ahead through the school year, we will keep our community apprised and always welcome feedback.
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| Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services |
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| 2020-21 Reopening Plan |
The Los Altos School District will strictly adhere to all state and local guidance and requirements whenever it is safe and allowable to return students and staff to campus.
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LASD developed a flexible Instructional Plan for the 2020-21 school year, which envisions a Continuum of Instruction with three modes of educational delivery to ensure academic consistency for all of our students. Although we will begin the school year with all instruction online, we will continue to bring students and staff back to our neighborhood schools as soon as it is safe and allowable.
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Stakeholder Q&A: Public Meeting of the LASD Learning Continuity and Attendance Plan
LASD will continue preparations to welcome students back to campus as soon as it is allowable, with strict adherence to scientific research and public health guidance, as well as with collaboration from parents, teachers and our community.
By working closely with public health officials at the state and local level, LASD will ensure the health and safety of all students and staff, using the most up-to-date guidance and regulations.
LASD is in the process of applying for a waiver to bring targeted groups of students back to campuses for academic instruction in a measured and phased approach in coordination with state and local public health officials. Click here to view the waiver application.
As we move forward, your questions, comments and input are welcomed and encouraged. Please email trustees@lasdschools.org.
Questions and Answers
PLANNING
» How has the Los Altos School District transitioned to in-person learning in the 2020-21 school year?
Per the California Public Health Department's (CDPH) July 17 public health guidance for K-12 schools, LASD began the school year on August 19 in an online learning model. On September 28, 2020, LASD began bringing students back to campus for in-person learning 2 days per week in a Blended Learning format in a measured and phased approach. All students at all grade levels who were enrolled in the LASD Blended model, or in-person learning model, grade levels returned to campus by March 2021 for in-person learning.
On April 19, 2021, LASD will reopen for in-person learning 5-days per week in grades TK-6. At the junior high school level, the district is creating new in-person learning opportunities for those students who would like more time on campus than the current 2 days per week.
» What is the in-person learning plan for the 2021-22 school year?
LASD plans to begin the next school year in full, in-person learning for our students at all grade levels 5 days per week. We will be working with public health officials to plan for the upcoming school year and base our plans on the public health regulations at that time. We will continue to keep our community informed throughout our planning process. We always invite you to join our School Board meetings. Please visit our School Board webpage to register for upcoming Board meetings.
INSTRUCTION
» Is LASD also providing Virtual School for those who are not ready to come back to campus for in-person learning? Will this be offered in the next school year?
For the 2020-21 school year, LASD has a TK-6th grade Virtual School for all families who wish to keep their students home to learn online rather than attend school in person. In addition, LASD provides a 100% virtual option for junior high school students in 7th and 8th grade. At this time, LASD is planning to provide an online-only or Virtual School option for the next school year. This will depend upon public health requirements next fall, as well as academic requirements from the State of California. In the current school year, Senate Bill 98 requires LASD to provide a 100% Virtual School option, but the state may remove that requirement for the upcoming school year.
» What is a Comprehensive Learning Plan?
LASD teachers and administrators will develop Comprehensive Learning Plans for all students at all grade levels to provide continuity between learning at home and on campus. They provide direct instruction video lessons and complementary tasks that engage students in practicing new skills. The learning plans are based on the common core state standards and facilitate assessments to ensure students are on-track and successful.
» What is Blended Learning?
Blended Learning is an instructional model in which students spend some of their time learning in a classroom setting and the remainder of the school week leveraging technology to learn online. The model utilizes in-person time for collaboration, social-emotional development and other active learning techniques to deepen student understanding of key concepts. Students are split into two groups, Group A and B, switching days that they will learn on campus. Our elementary grade students in TK-6th grade will be learning in a Blended Learning format until April 19, when they will switch to a 5-day per week in-person model. Our junior high students began Blended Learning in mid-March and will continue in this format for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year. Junior high students receive 4 days of live instruction: two online and two in-person, with one asynchronous, or independent learning day with assignments from their teachers. LASD also offers a 100% virtual model for students in all grade levels if they choose not to return to campus for in-person learning.
» Why will we keep the current junior high school schedule this year?
There are many challenges to implementing a 5 day per week model at the junior high school level that recently returned to a Blended Learning model this month. Our junior high students experienced a major schedule and staffing change in March due to the move to learning on campus 2 days per week. A move to 5 days per week would result in yet another disruptive schedule and staffing change for our junior high students. Each time the junior high school schedule is changed, it impacts every one of our junior high students, both Blended and Virtual, whether they want a schedule change or not. In our elementary schools, when a student changes their schedule, a minimal number of students are impacted.
Rather than create more upheaval for our students as the end of the school year approaches, the Board and Superintendent Baier directed our junior high schools to explore options for more on-campus time for our students within the Blended Learning schedule.
» What are the district's plans to assess student progress over the 2020-21 school year?
All teachers and schools have been assessing student progress this year in core subject areas. While assessments are not as robust as in prior years due to the pandemic, there is enough information from the current school year to determine which students may need additional academic support. Now that we are returning to 5-day in person learning at the elementary schools, we are also able to provide students with more direct instruction. Students requiring substantial academic support to meet grade-level standards will receive an invitation to join us for Summer School to be prepared for the next grade level. In addition, we are planning on a more robust assessment process in the beginning of the 2021-22 school year to meet students where they are academically, providing additional, targeted support to those who need it.
100% VIRTUAL SCHOOL
» Can I choose a 100% Virtual School learning model for my child?
Yes. LASD sent a survey to all families to ask if they would like to opt out of in-person learning and choose a 100% Virtual School model. Every six weeks during the school year, families will have the option to move between the Blended Learning or 100% Virtual School model.
» Will the curriculum be different for Virtual School vs. Blended Learning?
No, all students will be receiving instruction covering the same curriculum, the only difference will be in the method of delivery.
» Who is teaching the 100% Virtual School?
Our highly-qualified LASD teachers will be providing instruction to all students in Virtual School. Your child will have the consistency of one teacher to guide their learning through the Comprehensive Learning Plan in this distance learning program.
» Is online learning only 2 hours per day?
The short answer is no. While the “live” instructional portion of an online learning day is approximately 2 hours, there are many more educational activities that comprise an at-home learning day. For example, students will be given assignments to complete that may include a short instructional video and accompanying projects to reinforce concepts in the lesson. Other activities could include writing, math and reading assignments, or a deep-dive research project in social studies. Our TK-6th grade students will experience special learning offerings, such as PE, science, computer science and music. While our 7th and 8th graders will explore elective opportunities through their online learning.
» Will I be guaranteed a spot at my child(ren)'s assigned school when I change from Virtual School to Blended Learning?
We will make every effort to keep students in their assigned, neighborhood schools. However, we cannot guarantee placement due to the complexities of school operations and regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic. That said, students will be guaranteed a spot in their assigned neighborhood school for the 2021-22 school year.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
» Will symptom checks be required for students and staff?
Yes, a symptom check will be required for all students and staff each day they come to campus. Conducting symptom checks will help keep students and staff safe, preventing the spread of illness. While we do not know the specific method of symptom check at this time, our goal is to provide a simple form for families and staff to complete at home that will be reported to the appropriate school or work site to ensure compliance.
» Does my child need vaccines and updated health records even though we are in distance learning?
Yes. Vaccinations are required for school admission and they are also crucial to prevent children from getting sick outside of school settings. Per the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), immunization requirements for admission to school or childcare for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year remain in place. Please contact your health care provider to schedule a well child visit and review your child's immunization record. For a list of required immunizations visit Shots for School.
School Vaccination Letter - (English) / (Spanish) / (Vietnamese)
» What can I do to prepare my child for the health and safety protocols that will be in place once in-person learning resumes on campus?
Please consult this helpful 10 Things to Do Before Returning to School flyer, which provides great tips and resources to assist your child with health and safety measures that will be in place at school. In addition, you can take a look at the Health and Safety Protocols flyer that your child's teacher will use in school to keep our school communities safe and healthy.
10 Things to Do Before Returning to School Flyer - (English) / (Spanish) / (Mandarin)
» What are the Health and Safety Requirements for our schools?
Please review the Reopening Plan for more information about how we are safely operating our schools. In addition, please review our LASD Community Commitments to Healthy Schools regarding our policies to adhere to all local public health guidelines.
INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT
» How will students with special needs receive additional educational support in an online learning format?
Just as we did in the Spring, our Special Education Department will be working to ensure students make as much progress as possible towards the goals as outlined in the Individualized Education Plan or 504 plan. We recognize that online learning is particularly difficult for many of our students with special needs. For that reason, LASD is prioritizing students with special needs to bring them back to campus for in-person learning as soon as it is allowable and safe for staff and students.
FEEDBACK
» What if I have questions or concerns about the plan for the 2020-21 school year?
As we move forward with all of the details of our plan for the fall, we welcome and encourage your questions and feedback. Please email trustees@lasdschools.org.