2020-2021 School Year Re-Opening Plan

At the end of the 2019-2020 school year, we asked our students and families to offer feedback regarding their experiences with our in-home learning model as we transitioned on April 6 to in-home learning to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. We also asked for their input as we crafted a plan for the coming school year (the survey was provided in English and Spanish and closed June 24).

Nearly 1,500 responded. Here are some of the findings:

• 71% say the amount of communication they received from the district was just right
• 60% say the amount of communication they received from their teacher was just right, supportive, clear
• 61% say they had the necessary technology at home for in-home learning
  • 33% say they were using district-issued technology
• 52% say the amount of classwork their child received was just right
  • 36% say the level of work was “basic skills focused”
• 63% say adult support for their child is almost always home
• 61% say they will feel comfortable sending their child back to school in the fall if schools meet public health guidelines
• 63% say they would not consider keeping their child home and continue in-home learning if schools are open in the fall

At their regular meeting on Wednesday, June 24, Renton School Board members were presented a plan by district staff on preparing to open schools in the fall for the 2020-2021 school year.

As the state and nation continue to work to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, guidance from the state and Health Department for opening schools in the fall likewise continues to develop. Renton School District's plan presented to the School Board provided clear models for learning and teaching in both in-home and partial in-school options to support student learning and growth. The plan prioritized:

• Health and safety of students & staff
• Fully in-person, if possible
  • K-5
  • Special Education
  • Newcomer ELL
• Some in-person for all grade levels
• Virtual option

Next steps for district staff are:

• Continue to gather feedback regarding model options
• Determine best model option for re -opening schools
• Continue to work on health protocols and establish processes and practices at schools/facilities
• Continue working with labor partners
• Create professional development based on teacher input
• Engage with families regarding re-opening and support needed

See the plan.

June 11, 2020-The state education office today released guidance for how school districts may design plans for reopening schools in the fall. The Reopening Washington Schools Plan provides general guidance aimed at bringing students physically back to our schools for the 2020-2021 school year. It suggests implementation of specific health-related protocols and operational considerations to ensure safe operation but also makes allowance for continued use of alternative learning options. For our district, many areas require further coordination with and clarification from Public Health - Seattle & King County.

In the coming weeks, Renton School District will evaluate the guidance from OSPI and Public Health - Seattle & King County to determine when and to what extent we can safely open schools for in-person instruction in September. Additionally, we will continue to engage with families, staff, labor partners, and our communities to develop the best possible learning opportunities for all students.

The state education office guidance operates under the assumption that we won’t have a vaccine by September and that local communities will still be mitigating the spread of COVID-19 by minimizing large group gatherings.

With that in mind, the state workgroup has laid out three likely models for the 2020-2021 school year:

• Split or Rotating Schedules with Distance Learning
• Phased In Opening with Distance Learning
• Continuous Learning 2.0 (Distance/Remote Learning for All Students)

We will keep you updated as we learn more and continue our planning efforts.

As we work to prepare for the 2020-2021 school year, Renton School District will work in partnership with 8-10 other school districts across the country in together with the Always Ready for Learning Strategy Lab, a networked learning community facilitated by The Learning Accelerator and Bellwether Education Partners. The work by the group will help us prepare for the return-to-school in the fall and identify and plan for long-term, sustainable change to support student learning in the face of future uncertainty. The work will include:

•  Initial back-to-school plans for effective re-engagement –  including addressing student/teacher connection to school, experienced traumas, learning status, and safety – to accelerate student progress in fall 2020 (be it in-person, remote, or a combination thereof), through targeted support based on needs identified;

• Financially and operationally sustainable roadmaps for longer-term improvement and implementation of system structures and instructional models that ensure rigorous and equitable learning for every student, anywhere; and,

• Connections to other district teams as well as existing experts and resource base for implementation of new models and approaches at scale.

Partnership in the Always Ready for Learning Strategy Lab will enhance the district’s planning that is already underway through the Learning & Teaching steering committee, the SEL steering committee, and logistical/operational planning.

Just as the state's education office is working through many scenarios on what school might look like in the fall, Renton Schools is also is proactively reviewing options for learning and teaching for the 2020-2021 school year, whether it be in person, remote, or some hybrid.

We've created a steering committee charged with the challenging work of developing recommendations regarding what learning and teaching should look like for students in various instructional models and how teachers might best support students in those models. The steering committee includes teacher, paraprofessional, parent, and administrator representatives.

Steering committee work includes:

• Reviewing the broader learning needs of all students, including those receiving special services like ELL or special education,
• Discussing the importance of focusing on care and belonging, with attention to the various socio-emotional needs of students (as well as families and students); and

Moving forward, the steering committee will use recently-released guidance by the state education office, and guidelines provided by Public Health - Seattle & King County, to draft potential strategies to engage students and families as part of the process.

The steering committee is working with 16 different work groups that include over 100 teachers focused on developing relevant, meaningful learning activities for students.

Nearly 60 staff have also been involved in planning ways to support students’ social and emotional well-being when we return to school in the fall. Counselors, nurses, psychologists, special education staff, and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) facilitators have used input from surveys and listening sessions to identify areas that will be addressed.

Start of 2020-2021 School Year

The state education office announced general guidance for opening schools in the fall.  The plan calls for local school districts to make decisions about what classrooms and education looks like using healthcare guidelines of social distancing, masks for students and staff, and cleaning stations. We will continue to update families and community as we learn more and continue our planning efforts.

Your help in planning for next school year

Renton School District also has created a steering committee and work groups with more than 100 members to review options for the 2020-2021 school year. Families are invited to assist with this process by providing feedback about their experience with in-home learning during the past three months. As we continue efforts to plan for the fall, we are eager to incorporate feedback from our community regarding their current experiences and desires moving forward. Families were asked contribute their voice through a survey which was open through June 24.