In-Person Learning Option

• FCS In-Person Learning students, staff and visitors will have their temperatures scanned prior to entering the building.

• FCS In-Person Learning students entering the school will use hand sanitizer.

• FCS In-Person Learning students will report directly to their assigned classroom after having their temperature scanned.

• FCS In-Person Learning K-8 students will stay in a self-contained classroom with some accessibility to related arts classes on a rotating basis.

• FCS In-Person Learning students will spend minimal time in the hallways and common areas.

• FCS will recommend that masks should be worn by all students and staff except for students in preschool and kindergarten, or those with known health conditions that would make mask wearing difficult. Physician's statement required.

• FCS In-Person Learning students and staff shall wear masks when social distancing is not feasible in the classroom.

• FCS requires mask wearing when boarding, riding, and unloading the bus and will be worn by all students and staff (except for students in preschool and kindergarten or those with known health conditions that would make wearing a mask difficult. Physician's statement required.

• FCS requires mask wearing when moving in the hallways all students and staff except for students in preschool and kindergarten or those with known health conditions that would make wearing a mask difficult. Physician's statement required.

• FCS individual school's will have directional hallway traffic markings on the floor.

• FCS individual school's stairwells will be assigned for one-way traffic.

• FCS will provide hand sanitizing stations throughout the school, and students and staff will wash their hands or use hand sanitizer on a regular basis.

• FCS will provide PPE for every classroom, but students and staff are encouraged to wear their own.

• FCS staff shall wear PPE when working directly with students.

• FCS individual school's common areas will be closed.

• FCS individual school's playgrounds will be on an alternating schedule. Staff and students will wash hands before and after playground use.

• FCS individual school's nurse/health assistant will have procedures in place to deal with students that exhibit COVID 19 symptoms in a separate area away from the Nurse’s Office.

• FCS COVID-19 Tier System will be used to decide classroom, grade level, and school closings. (refer to COVID-19 Tier System).

• FCS Healthy-at-School Office will oversee all procedures and protocols to ensure compliance with state recommendations.

• FCS In-Person Learning has been designed to simulate the traditional school day model.

• FCS In-Person Learning (K-8) students will participate in a self-contained classroom model with a lead teacher and teaching assistants when applicable. If related arts classes (i.e., art, music, library, physical education) are offered, those teachers will rotate into the self-contained classroom. These protocols will enhance contact tracing.

• FCS In-Person Learning will include Face-to-Face interaction between student and teacher.

• FCS In-Person Learning will include all social distancing guidelines set forth by the State of Kentucky and the Center for Disease Control. If the number of students increase in the In-Person Learning classroom to lessen the 6' social distancing guidelines, masks should be worn by all students and staff except for students in preschool and kindergarten or those with known health conditions that would make wearing a mask difficult. Physician's statement required.

• FCS In-Person Learning will include a Blended Learning format of traditional and technological formats to enhance and propel a high level of learning.

• FCS Head Start and Preschool students (3 and 4 years of age) only have a HYBRID 2 day In-Person Option at this time. Group A students will attend In-Person learning on Monday and Tuesday, with Group B students attending on Thursday and Friday. The other two days per week the Head Start and Preschool students will participate in Online Learning. This format is subject to change at any time.

• FCS In-Person Learning will be available to all FCS students, and must be chosen during the District's Online Registration Period prior to the start of the fall semester. Once the school year has begun, any student wishing to transfer to Online Learning, or any students wishing to transfer to In-Person Learning must provide a 5-day notice to their school's administration.

*Note: If a parent decides for their student to begin the school year as an In-Person Learner, there may be times throughout the year where it is necessary for that classroom, grade level or school building to close due to COVID-19. In this scenario, he / she will remain at home, and participate in Online Learning.

For the 2020-2021 school year, Kentucky school districts will record participation in Infinite Campus (IC) for ALL students in lieu of recording attendance.

• Participation will be recorded by teachers for each instructional day in the district calendar. However, the participation can be recorded on a weekly basis.

• For in-person students, participation will be their presence.

• The state will collect participation data from districts at the following times: • October 2020 • January 2021 • July 2021. KDE will run a district participation report from Infinite Campus and will report that data through the Kentucky Department of Education website and to the Legislative Research Commission.

• Floyd County Schools are committed to providing students a variety of supports that help students reach their fullest academic potential while maximizing student achievement. The Floyd County MTSS system is designed to help all students. Please review the entire MTSS plan attached to this document as well as the necessary changes to ensure that students participating in online instruction receive the needed resources that allow for the maximizing of the educational process.

In-Person Learning

• Students participating in Traditional (In-Person) Instruction will follow the District MTSS plan as prescribed.

The entire MTSS Home-Based Academic Support Plan.

The Special Education Department is committed to providing free and appropriate educational opportunities for students with disabilities in alignment with public health guidelines. Collaboration with families has always been a necessary part of the special education process and continues to be during this time. To address the unique needs of students with disabilities, special education providers will continue to work with families and teachers to collaboratively identify services for each student that can be provided both directly and indirectly. Plans may be adjusted as needed for the circumstances of the learning environment.

Educator Support and Para educator Support

• In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, educators and para educators have been tasked to redefine how learning happens, and they have risen to the challenge with grace and innovation. To continue this momentum, the Special Education Department will carry on with creating avenues for learning and sharing new approaches as well as best practices. This will include professional learning sessions, online resources, and virtual collaboration platforms that support educators and para educators in setting the stage for this future learning.

Child Find and Evaluation

• FCS will continue to identify, locate and evaluate students suspected of having a disability and needing special education and related services. At the same time, FCS will be mindful that students have been displaced from their typical learning environment when initiating the referral process. Some evaluations can be completed in remote learning situations. Some evaluations require in-person contact with students or observations of students in school settings. FCS will conduct evaluations remotely and in-person while adhering to public health guidelines for the safety of students and staff.

Individualized Education Program (IEP) Meetings

• FCS is committed to providing families an opportunity to have meaningful participation in the special education process. Whether in-person or using an alternative format, such as videoconferencing or by phone, special education teams will partner with families to determine the most practical format to conduct IEP meetings and arrange for an interpreter, if necessary.

Delivery of Special Education and Related Services

• Schools will continue to ensure that students with disabilities receive a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). They will be working to incorporate new health and safety precautions that must also be enacted while providing FAPE to students with disabilities. Because FAPE must now be provided consistent with the need to protect health and safety, there may be disruptions, delays and/or changes in how services are provided.

• Even so, it is a Floyd County School District priority to ensure that students with disabilities have equal access to the same opportunities as their non-disabled peers. IEP’s will continue to be developed and implemented based upon the child’s unique needs and the learning environment. At this time, students enrolled in the early childhood program will attend school using a hybrid model. The students will attend in two groups. Group A will attend in person Mondays and Tuesdays and Group B will attend in person on Thursdays and Fridays. On the two days students do not attend in person, live online streaming will occur four times per day during the times of Music/Movement, Circle Time, Go Noodle, and Story Time.

Progress Monitoring and Reporting

• Special education teams will have in place consistent data collection and service log procedures for use across learning environments. Collecting data and tracking the provision of services will assist educators and families in determining the effectiveness of instruction provided, student performance on IEP goals/objectives, and assist IEP teams in making any necessary adjustments to instruction. Periodic reports on the progress the child is making toward meeting the annual goals will continue to be provided.

Accommodations and Modifications

• Accommodations and modifications will be provided regardless of a student’s learning environment. General and special education teachers will continue to collaborate with families in determining the appropriateness and success of student accommodation and/or modifications. The IEP team (general education teachers, special education teachers, related service providers, and families) will work together to identify alternate solutions if it believes an accommodation and/or modification is not appropriate or successful in a particular setting.

• Students enrolled in early childhood programs will not be permitted to wear masks due to strangulation concerns.

References and Resources

• Floyd County Schools website: IEP Forms and Procedural Safeguards

• Kentucky Department of Education Website: COVID-19 and Special Education

• Kentucky Department of Education Website: COVID-19 Updates

The Special Education Department is committed to providing free and appropriate educational opportunities for students with disabilities in alignment with public health guidelines. Collaboration with families has always been a necessary part of the special education process and continues to be during this time. To address the unique needs of students with disabilities, special education providers will continue the work with families to collaboratively identify services for each student that can be provided both directly and indirectly in remote and in-person learning environments. Service plans may be adjusted as needed for the circumstances of the learning environment.

Community Involvement and Support

• Floyd County Schools (FCS) believe student success is enhanced when schools, families, and the community work together to support learning. For this reason, the Special Education Leadership team will be seeking community input and collaboration through forum events, advisory committees and answering questions to assist students and families.

Educator Support and Para educator Support

• In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, educators and para educators have been tasked with redefining how learning happens, and they have risen to the challenge with grace and innovation. To continue this momentum, the Special Education Department will carry on with creating avenues for learning and sharing new approaches as well as best practices. This will include professional learning sessions, online resources, working with current vendors for supplemental curriculum resources, and virtual collaboration platforms that support educators and para educators in setting the stage for this future learning.

Child Find and Evaluation

• FCS will continue to identify, locate and evaluate students suspected of having a disability and needing special education and related services. At the same time, FCS will be mindful that students have been displaced from their typical learning environment when initiating the referral process. Some evaluations can be completed in remote learning situations. Some evaluations require in-person contact with students or observations of students in school settings. FCS will conduct evaluations remotely and in-person while adhering to public health guidelines for the safety of students and staff.

Individualized Education Program (IEP) Meetings

• FCS is committed to providing families an opportunity to have meaningful participation in the special education process. Whether in-person or an alternative format, such as videoconferencing or by phone, Special Education teams will partner with families to determine the most practical format to conduct IEP meetings and arrange for an interpreter, if necessary.

Delivery of Special Education and Related Services

• Schools will continue to ensure that students with disabilities receive a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). They will be working to incorporate new health and safety precautions that must also be enacted while providing FAPE to students with disabilities. Because FAPE must now be provided consistent with the need to protect health and safety, there may be disruptions, delays and/or changes in how services are provided.

• Even so, it is a District priority to ensure that students with disabilities have equal access to the same opportunities as their non-disabled peers. IEP’s will continue to be developed and implemented based upon the child’s unique needs and learning environment chosen by the family. While families generally may choose between in-person or online learning, there are some students for whom online learning will not provide FAPE.

Progress Monitoring and Reporting

• Special Education teams will have in place consistent data collection and service log procedures for use across learning environments. Collecting data and tracking the provision of services will assist educators and families in determining the effectiveness of instruction provided, student performance on IEP goals/objectives, and assist IEP teams in making any necessary adjustments to instruction. Periodic reports on the progress the child is making toward meeting the annual goals will continue to be provided.

Accommodations and Modifications

• Accommodations and modifications will be provided regardless of a student’s learning environment. General and special education teachers will continue to collaborate in determining the appropriateness and success of student’ accommodation and/or modifications. The IEP team (general education teachers, special education teachers, related service providers, and families) will work together to identify alternate solutions if it believes an accommodation and/or modification is not appropriate or successful in a particular setting.

• In addition, FCS understands that some students with disabilities may not be able to wear a mask or face covering for medical, physical, or disability-related reasons. Those with trouble breathing, or those unable to remove a mask or face covering without assistance, should not wear a mask or face covering. In such cases, IEP teams will work together to determine an alternate accommodation. Similarly, we know that some students with disabilities are at high risk of medical complications that may preclude in-person learning. For such students, IEP teams will meet to consider individual needs and, as appropriate, alternate placement options.

References and Resources

• Floyd County Schools website: IEP Forms and Procedural Safeguards

• Kentucky Department of Education Website: COVID-19 and Special Education

• Kentucky Department of Education Website: COVID-19 Updates

The Floyd County Schools Gifted and Talented Department will continue to support schools, gifted learners, and their families both in-person and remotely. In order to maximize student GT services during this time, our GT personnel will communicate with stakeholders to determine how to best meet the needs of gifted students within each school.

Gifted & Talented Identification

• We will continue to accept GT identification referrals and will review them according to the guidelines set forth by the Kentucky Department of Education and the Floyd County Board of Education. There may be a delay of determinations in some gifted areas until we have the opportunity to gather sufficient evidence to support placement. The administration of universal screeners may also be delayed until further guidance is received from KDE.

Gifted & Talented Service Plans

• Gifted Student Service Plans will continue to be designed and implemented. Student progress will be monitored by classroom teachers and gifted and talented personnel throughout the school year. Reports will be generated at mid-year and end of the school year. Progress information will be provided to students and parents / guardians.

Gifted Programming

• Gifted & Talented personnel will work with administrators to support best practices for meeting the needs of GT students. Strategies and learning activities for fostering growth and providing enrichment for gifted students will be shared with stakeholders such as administrators, teachers, students, and parents / guardians.

Social & Emotional Support

• Floyd County Schools will continue to offer resources and support best practices to meet the social and emotional needs of gifted learners, including Twice Exceptional (2e) learners. Twice Exceptional (2e) is defined as being both gifted and having an IEP or 504 Plan.

Parent/Family Support

• GT personnel will offer support to families through information on the Floyd County Schools GT Webpage. Resources and web links will be posted to help parents find the information needed to support the social and emotional needs of their students throughout the school year. We will also provide our contact information so that parents may reach out to us for additional support.

Each school within the Floyd County School district is working diligently to be prepared to meet our students social/emotional needs during this time. Each school has assembled an SEL Team who will work within their respective schools to meet students diverse social/emotional needs. All Schools will be adhering to guidance provided by the Kentucky Department of Education. Schools will be implementing time throughout each day to focus on social/emotional wellness activities for all students. FRYSC centers will be providing educational programs to supplement student learning. Parents may contact the school their child will be attending for additional information on their individual school plan.

COVID-19 Considerations for Reopening Schools Supporting Student and Staff Wellness

• FCS Food Service Staff will provide breakfast and lunch options each day for students attending in-person classes. These meals will be prepared and delivered by food service personnel or staff that have been trained in food safety to classrooms or areas where social distancing permits. This allows students to continue having limited contact and follow social distancing guidelines.

• FCS Meals will be served in disposable trays with disposable utensils following federal food safety guidelines. Sharing tables and sharing of food will be eliminated. Food brought from home is allowable for students but it can’t be stored or prepared in the school kitchen area.

• FCS Daily menus will be posted on the district website but they are subject to change based on availability of products. Students will be provided a free lunch and breakfast each day.

Floyd County School District is committed to safely transporting students in the fall utilizing the following protocols to promote student/staff safety.

• Parent/Guardian will take student temperatures daily and keep any child with a temperature of 100.4 or higher at home as they are not permitted to board the bus.

• Parents should monitor the bus stops and help remind students of the social distancing requirements.

• Face Masks/shields must be worn by bus drivers.

• Staff and students in first grade and up riding a bus, shall wear a face mask

• Hand sanitizer will be available on each bus and should be utilized by students upon entering and exiting the bus.

• Buses will be cleaned (e.g., seats, windows, step rails) after each route.

• Bus windows shall be open whenever possible in order to provide proper ventilation. (Windows should be lowered to the first click on all buses)

• Schools will organize an effective queuing approach to accommodate physical distancing for students in the loading/unloading process.

• It is recommended that parents/guardians and students follow state/local health guidelines while congregating at bus stops.

• Each rider shall have an assigned seat, and to the best extent possible, seats will be filled from back to front when boarding.

• Preschool and kindergarten will sit toward the front of the bus.

• Students who live in the same household should sit together.

• The seat directly behind the driver may be left empty when possible.

• Each bus will have a student rider list with assigned seats for all riders. On morning routes, rider attendance will be documented on the rider list before unloading at school. For afternoon routes, rider attendance will be documented on the rider list before the bus leaves the school.

• When the bus arrives at school, each student shall have their temperature taken upon entering school. Students with a temperature of 100.4 or higher shall not be permitted to remain at school. Parents/Guardians of these students shall be immediately notified.

• FCS In-Person Learning students will be eligible to participate in all Co-curricular and Extra-curricular activities throughout the school year, and following KHSAA guidelines and recommendations.

Emergency Response Drills

Fire Drills:

• Fire drills must be conducted in a “blocked” format where each classroom performs this evacuation separately. As in a “normal” fire drill, students would exit the classroom (as shown on the evacuation map in each classroom) and, spacing 6 feet apart during the drill, proceed to the designated safe zone outside of the school building. After reaching the safe zone, students would return to the building, again staying 6 feet apart. If an actual fire event occurs, the social distancing standard during evacuation may not be possible. But, even then, after all classes have relocated to their safe zone, maintain social distancing if possible.

• The principal shall ensure that the drill is conducted during the same period of the day until all classes have practiced it. To speed up the process, the principal may consider conducting several classroom evacuations simultaneously provided they are located in different areas of the building and will not cross paths with any other class. This will take significant planning and coordination, but it can be accomplished. The principal shall accurately record the dates and times these drills were conducted.

Lock down:

• Lock down drills normally are conducted inside the classroom. Following normal lock down procedures, the students would be moved to a safe location inside the classroom. If possible, maintain the 6-foot social distancing standard during the drill. In an actual active shooting event, the 6-foot standard would not be followed.

Severe Weather:

• Severe weather drills must be conducted in a “blocked” format where each individual classroom performs this evacuation separately. As in a “normal” severe weather drill, the students would exit the classroom (as shown on the evacuation map in each classroom) and, spacing 6 feet apart, proceed to the designated safe zone inside the building. After reaching the safe zone, the students will assume the safe positions on the floor (6 feet apart for the drill). After the drill has been completed, the students would return to their classroom, keeping 6 feet apart while walking.

• The principal shall ensure the drill is conducted during the same period of the day until all classes have practiced the same. In an effort to speed up the process, the principal may consider conducting several classroom evacuations simultaneously, provided they are located in different areas of the facility and will not cross paths with any other class. This will take significant planning and coordination, but it can be accomplished. The principal shall accurately record the dates and times these drills were conducted.

Earthquake:

• Earthquake drills normally are conducted in the classroom. Following normal drop, cover and hold earthquake emergency response protocol, school officials may consider having students do this in different locations inside the classroom, while maintaining the 6-foot social distancing standard. In the event of an actual earthquake event, social distancing may not be possible.

Building Security

• Doors shall be shut and locked at all times unless instructed otherwise by Floyd County School District and/or exempted by the Kentucky Office of State School Security Marshal’s Office.

Vehicular Traffic Control

• While schools return to in-person instruction, there could be a marked increase in parents transporting their children to school in order to avoid exposing them to the closed, contained environment on a bus. As there are no two schools exactly alike, each school administration will need to discuss possible traffic control strategies with their local law enforcement officials and communicate the new traffic pattern to their respective community through the communication protocol.

Drop-off and Dismissal

• Each school will provide an individual plan for arrival and dismissal.