Online Learning Option

• FCS Online Learning students will be provided a district-owned device.

• FCS Online Learning students will be expected to check-in with their online teacher at set times throughout the school day.

• FCS Online Learning students will be expected to participate in all Online Learning activities, discussions, and assessments assigned by the online teacher.

• FCS Online Learning students will be expected to contact the online teacher with questions or concerns through School email, Google chat, and Google Meet office hours.

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

• FCS Online Learning students' attendance will be determine by student participation in all Online Learning activities, discussions and assessments.

• FCS Online 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 In-Person Learning, or any students wishing to transfer to Online Learning, must provide a 5-day notice to their school's administration.

• 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.

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 remote learners, it can be measured in four ways: through individual phone or video calls; group phone or video contact; time spent logged into learning software; or submission of paper-based assignments.

• Participation is a measure of a student’s engagement. It is NOT a measure of quality of student work. Grading practices will determine quality.

• 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.

Online Learning

FCS Online Learning is daily instruction and assessing of appropriate grade level or course specific content in a synchronous and asynchronous virtual setting. This may be, but not limited to the following: live virtual classroom instruction, pre-recorded video instruction, self-paced studies, formative and summarized assessments, and other district-approved online educational resources to enhance learning. Online Learning is an alternative for students, however, it lacks the personal, face-to-face interaction that develops a student's social and emotional skills.

Materials Needed:

• Chromebook (provided by district)

• Sleeve (provided by district for grades K-4)

• Backpack (provided by district for grades 5-12 only)

• Internet with WiFi connectivity (provided by parents)

• Basic school supplies (I.e. pencil, notebook paper, etc. provided by parents)

Online Tools:

Apex Learning (6-12)

• A digital curriculum company driven by the understanding that supporting the needs of all students—from struggling to accelerated—strengthens schools and creates stronger communities, brighter futures and a more equitable world.

G Suite Apps (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Sites, etc.) (All Grades)

• An integrated suite of secure, cloud-native collaboration and productivity apps powered by Google AI. Includes Gmail, Docs, Drive, Calendar, Meet and more.

Google Classroom (All Grades)

• Classroom is a streamlined, easy-to-use tool that helps teachers manage coursework by creating classes, distributing assignments, grades and sending feedback, and seeing everything in one place.

Lexia (K-5)

• Lexia Core5 Reading supports educators in providing differentiated literacy instruction for students of all abilities in grades pre-K–5. Lexia’s research-proven program provides explicit, systematic, personalized learning in the six areas of reading instruction, targeting skill gaps as they emerge, and providing teachers with the data and student-specific resources they need for individual or small-group instruction.

Reading Plus (9-12)

• Reading Plus is an adaptive literacy intervention that develops the fluency, comprehension, and motivation students need to be successful readers.

WIN Learning (6-12)

• WIN Learning (WIN) helps school districts, community colleges, adult education programs, corrections, workforce development, and business and industry organizations ensure all learners and job seekers have the skills to be successful in their path to career readiness.

Nearpod (All Grades)

• Nearpod is an instructional platform that merges formative assessment and dynamic media for collaborative learning experiences.

Flocabulary (All Grades)

• Flocabulary is a learning program for all grades that uses educational hip-hop music to engage students and increase achievement across the curriculum.

MAP/NWEA

• NWEA offers state-aligned, computerized adaptive tests, called Measure of Academic Progress (MAP). These tests accurately reflect the instructional level of each student and measure growth over time. NWEA offers MAP tests in the subjects of Mathematics, Reading, Language Arts.

Note: These are district purchased online tools. Other online resources are encouraged and can be incorporated into the daily online learning environment.

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 the educational process.

Online Instruction

• It is vital for online instruction, as well as instruction related to possible Covid-19 shutdowns, that at risk students receive direct instruction and complete assignments. An appropriate response is for a school representative (classroom teacher / counselor) to contact parents, as well as the students, to develop a written school/home plan to get these learners reengaged in learning.

• The District has developed a 5-step agenda that will allow parents and teachers to develop a Home-Based Academic Support Plan with practical ideas for student support. Those 5 areas are listed below:

  • Teacher/Parent & Student Meeting via telephone, or virtual platform.

  • Identify the Problem.

  • Develop a Plan.

  • Implementation and Monitoring of the Plan.

  • Review the success of the plan.

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 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, 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 Tuesday, 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 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. Students who have chosen the on-line learning option will receive mini-lessons and have accessibility to links to activities that focus on social/emotional wellness. Parents may contact the school their child will be attending for additional information on the individual school plan for meeting on-line needs.

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

• Breakfast and Lunch meals can be provided to students each day. Meals can be delivered to the students if they are enrolled in the Floyd County Schools’ Online Learning Option. In order to receive these meals delivered to the home, parents must contact the school the student would be attending if they were attending in-person. Written permission must be given in order to request delivery or to pick up meals at the school for online learners. Meals will only be provided to students who are registered for meal delivery. The meals delivered would be meals that meet federal guidelines. These meals would consist of items that can be transported easily and kept at proper temperatures to ensure food safety guidelines are being met at all times.

• Instead of receiving delivered meals, parents may choose to pick up the meals each day from the school. If you choose this option, parents would need to contact the school to set up a time for meal pick-up each day. Parents would have to give their child’s name and/or lunch number to pick up the meals each day. If you choose this option, then you would not be allowed to get meals delivered by the bus to go along with the meals picked up at the school.

• FCS Online Learning Students will be transported to co-curricular and extra-curricular activities as determined by the FCS transportation policy.

• FCS Online Learning students participating in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities that involve riding FCS transportation will be asked upon entering the bus if they have had an elevated temperature.

• FCS Online Learning students participating in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities riding FCS transportation are required to wear a mask throughout the entirety of being transported to and from scheduled activity.

• FCS Online Learning students participating in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities parents are encouraged to practice social distancing when dropping off or picking up students.

• FCS Online Learning students are eligible to participate in all co-curricular and extra-curricular activities specific to the students school of enrollment, and will follow the KHSAA guidelines and recommendations.