Will students be three feet or six feet apart while in the building?

Students will be at least three feet apart unless unmasked and eating (at which time they will be at least six feet apart.)

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) it is acceptable to use anywhere from three to six feet in social distancing if necessary, and that three feet of distance between students has demonstrated that there has been no increase in community spread. AAP states that physical distance between desks should follow current public health guidance and desks should be placed at least three feet apart and ideally six feet apart with cloth face coverings.

Keep in mind, our classrooms and other school areas have been properly cleaned and sanitized with a two-step anti-microbial treatment that deters the spread of the COVID virus. The two step anti-microbial treatment is applied every 90 days in general classrooms and large group areas. It is applied every 30 days in all restrooms and on high touch surfaces such as door handles, handrails, etc. Standard daily cleaning routines have been adjusted to meet the needs of continued health and safety.

This additional safety measure along mask wearing, frequent hand washing and use of sanitation stations support decreasing the social distancing to three feet between desks.

If I choose remote instruction for my child, will he/she lose the open enrollment status in the fall?

Students will not lose their open enrollment status in the fall.

How/where will families who choose remote get lunch after March 22?

Remote students will continue to have the option to pick up meals at a secondary school in each cluster. They will pick up a five-day meal pack containing breakfast and lunch meals once a week on a designated day. School locations, day and time of pickup, and menus will be posted on the Learning 2020-21 site soon.

When students are eating meals, how far apart will they be seated?

During meal services when students are not wearing masks, we must maintain six feet of distance. APS has made adjustments to seating in the cafeteria and reviewed where meals may be eaten in areas outside of the cafeteria.

What are quarantine procedures being followed?

The district will follow the Classroom Based Exposure information regarding quarantine for COVID issued by the Ohio Department of Health and Summit County Public Health (1/5/21). Guidance states students and adults in K-12 schools may continue to attend in-person school, even during a normal quarantine period, if the following conditions are met: universal mask wearing; social distancing; hand washing; identification and management of students exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, which will occur with our Akron Children’s Hospital (ACH) school health staff in school clinics, and routine environmental cleaning and disinfection protocols that are already in place.

What does self-paced or asynchronous mean?

Self-paced or asynchronous learning does not require students and teachers to be online at the same time for instruction. Through the use of technology, self-paced or asynchronous learning allows students to access learning modules and posted assignments 24/7 when it is convenient while also allowing students to get support from a teacher mentor.

How will the new COVID variants impact plans and decisions that are made?

Akron Public Schools is mindful of the potential changes that may occur with COVID-19 and the many variants that have been identified. We will continue to follow guidance from Summit County Public Health experts and adjust our plans as necessary.

Is there a calendar that shows events for the remainder of the school year?

Yes. Click here.

If I choose the In-Person Learning option, will my student have the same teacher as they do now?

Many students selecting in-person will have their same teacher. Depending on the final number of students who select in-person vs remote, some classes/teachers will need to be combined or some large classes may need to be split into two separate classes.

If I choose the Remote Learning Program, will my student have the same teacher as they do now?

No, your student will most likely not have the same teacher. The teachers assigned to the Remote Learning Program will be Akron Public School teachers, but they will be coming from schools all across the district.

Will students who return to in-person learning have to wear uniforms in K-8?

No, students will not be required to wear uniforms for the remainder of this year. Our Board of Education waived the requirement to wear uniforms for the 2020-21 school year.

Once I complete the family selection form to choose 100% remote or in-person learning, can I change my mind?

• Changes from Remote Learning to In-Person After School Starts in March: Once students start in the Remote Learning Program in March, there will only be ONE opportunity to change to in-person. Families may request a change from remote to in-person during the time period of March 29 - 31, three weeks into the 4th quarter of school. There will be no guarantee the request will be granted at your student’s current school due to strict social distancing guidelines. Your student could be offered a seat in another school that has room in classrooms.

• Changes from In-Person to Remote Learning After School Starts in March: Once students start in-person in March, families may request ONE change from in-person to remote at any time through March 31, 2021. The next opportunity to request a change will be for Fall 2021.

• Families will be notified on April 1st with no other changes taken or processed after that date.

If I do not complete the Family Selection Form by February 19 at 5 p.m., what happens?

Your student will be assigned to in-person learning.

Can my student attend any of the in-person events or activities that may be offered to students who chose In-Person Learning?

All after school in-person sports and extracurricular activities and remote extracurricular activities are open to both students in the Remote Learning Program and In-Person Learning students. Other in-person activities during the school day, however, will not be available for Remote Learning Program students. The Elementary Remote Learning Program will have its own activities during the school day. Remote seniors in high school will be able to participate in senior activities designated by the principal.

How will my student’s new teacher know what content has been covered and know that my student will get taught everything he/she needs for the year?

All APS teachers follow a curriculum pacing guide so regardless of the school a student is attending, the teachers are covering similar content. Your student’s new teacher will be able to pick up right where your student’s former teacher left off their instruction. Additionally, our digital curriculum and digital assessments enable teachers to see how students are performing and progressing as soon as they are assigned a new student.

If my student receives Remote Plus services, will those continue when students return to in-person learning in March?

No, Remote Plus will stop once students return to In-Person Learning.

If I choose the Remote Learning Program, will I be able to have my student attend in-person next fall or does my student lose a seat in her/his current school?

Your student will remain enrolled in her/his current school and will be able to attend in-person at that same school next fall. The only exception is if your student attends your neighborhood school and you move to a different neighborhood.

What will the procedure be if my student is in-person, but needs to miss due to quarantine?

If a student chooses in-person learning and is absent due to COVID or a quarantine, the student can still access their assignments via their in-person teacher’s Google Classroom; however, there will not be live remote instruction during absences for in-person students.

Will students who return to in-person learning have to wear uniforms in K-8?

No, students will not be required to wear uniforms for the remainder of this year. Our Board of Education waived the requirement to wear uniforms for the 2020-21 school year.

Will the After-Hours Support Center still be open to assist students and families? Can students in both 100% remote and in-person learning use this service?

Yes. The APS plus After-Hours Support Center will remain open and staffed with high-quality educators, tutors and other professionals that will use Google Meet and phone calls to assist students and families with a variety of services.

What are the mask requirements for in-person teachers, students and staff? What are the consequences of not wearing masks as required?

All students and staff will be required to wear a mask unless there is a documented medical exception. Students will not be permitted to remain at school if they refuse to wear a mask after teachers and principals direct the student multiple times to comply with the district rule and a conference will be scheduled with the family.

If students receive medication at school, how will that be handled differently to ensure the safe handling of medication and drinking cups?

Students requiring medication will report to the school clinic at the established time to take assigned medication following the health standards. Procedures have been set up to properly address students that are well versus students that demonstrate illness.

Will parents know if my student’s teacher was vaccinated?

Due to federal privacy laws (HIPAA), we cannot disclose personal health information regarding staff.

Will students with disabilities be serviced by intervention specialists and general education teachers based upon IEP goals? Will the IEP services look the same as in previous years of in-person learning?

Yes, students with disabilities who choose to return to in-person learning will have their full IEP services provided just as they have received in previous years.

If a family member living in the same residential location is diagnosed with COVID, can a student still attend school?

Students should not attend in-person classes if they are exposed to COVID-19 outside the classroom.

All students and adults who meet the definition of close contact with someone with COVID-19 should be notified of their exposure based on normal public health and school policies. Read more here.

Will the school provide COVID testing for students or staff?

Currently, APS is providing COVID testing for students and staff involved in the direct contact winter sports of basketball and wrestling with an approved, certified vendor to administer the test. At this time, APS does not have the ability to provide additional testing for staff and students.