Academics and Home-Based Learning

In-Person and Virtual School Requirements

Fruitvale ISD will offer parents the option of in person school, full virtual school, or a hybrid model for the 2020-2021 school year. In-person school will be as normal as possible with the addition of the above mentioned safety protocols.

The Texas Education Agency has approved two different virtual school models in response to the COVID-19 pandemic for districts to utilize in addition to on-campus instruction for the 2020-2021 school year. Synchronous instruction (real-time/live, virtual instruction between teachers and students) and asynchronous instruction (teachers provide pre-recorded videos of instruction and guided support while students engage in learning materials on their own time and interact daily with the teacher). Fruitvale ISD will provide asynchronous instruction for students in grades PK-12. Fruitvale ISD will not provide synchronous instruction while On-Campus Instruction is taking place on district campuses.

Fruitvale ISD students participating in virtual instruction (asynchronous instruction) will be required to engage in learning activities on their own time during EACH school day, interacting daily with the teacher(s) via computer or other electronic devices, or over the phone. Teachers will post an assignment/activity each day and give guided support under this model of instruction. Fruitvale ISD has hired a virtual teacher to help support these off campus students and also will provide a help line to call for support. The student will be considered enrolled in Fruitvale ISD Virtual Instruction for attendance and funding purposes and will be eligible to participate in all extra-curricular activities and sports per UIL guidelines at the high school campus.

For students participating in asynchronous instruction to be counted for attendance purposes, they must be engaged in one of the following ways for each enrolled class during EACH school day:

1. Daily progress in the Learning Management System (LMS) as defined in the Fruitvale ISD learning plan; or

2. Daily progress via teacher-student interactions as defined in the Fruitvale ISD learning plan; or

3. Completion/submission of assignments from student to teacher (potentially via email, online, or mail).

Per Texas Education Code (TEC) 25.092, students must attend 90 percent of a course (with some exceptions) in order to be awarded credit for the course and/or to be promoted to the next grade. This requirement remains in effect during the 2020-2021 school year.

In the event that Fruitvale ISD is forced to close down campuses for an extended period of time, the district will immediately utilize Virtual Instruction (asynchronous model) with all students.

Fruitvale ISD will not provide synchronous instruction where all participants are present at the same time, virtually. However, at the discretion of the teacher, some video instruction will be provided via CANVAS.

Those choosing virtual learning:

· Students will be expected to participate in district/state assessments to measure growth and track learning.

· Students may be required to test onsite for benchmarks and state assessments

· Students will turn in daily assignments in CANVAS to get credit for attendance and grades

· Students will be provided a chrome device for use off campus

· A CANVAS login will reduce the number of places students are required to login.

· Hot Spot scholarships will be provided to families in need

· Fruitvale ISD has a help line for families who need instructional support as well as technology support.

· Some elective classes will have on campus requirements

· Social Emotional support will be provided

· Monday-Saturday required participation

· Attendance is taken daily

· All instruction will be delivered/facilitated online M-F and in person on Saturday

· Online instruction will be asynchronous (not live)

· Daily progress can be made through work submission in CANVAS.

Instruction

All students will follow the same scope and sequence for in person and virtual learning. Parent portal will be available for both learning choices also. CANVAS will unify and connect in-person and virtual learning. Fruitvale ISD adopted CANVAS, a learning management system, to provide an easy to use, engaging learning environment for families who choose Virtual Learning and for teacher use in classrooms for face to face instruction. This online instruction provides a rigorous academic program which will require students to spend a significant amount of time working each day. CANVAS will allow teachers to provide students learning opportunities which closely mirror the activity in the classroom. To ensure student success with online learning, teachers, parents and students must each play a part in making At Home learning successful.

Parent Commitment

Parents will be asked to commit to either on campus or virtual instruction by August 3, 2020. Parents are encouraged to stick with the commitment and notify the district in writing of a request to change placement from in-person to virtual or vis-versa. We would appreciate a week’s notice if you intend to change your student’s placement.

Parent Commitment Form

Electives

Some elective courses may have coursework that can only reasonably be completed in person, even if some components of the course could be taught virtually. (welding, etc.) These courses will be made available to students who are otherwise learning virtually, although the district can require a student to come to campus to complete a required assignment or project for an elective course if the course requires assignments that cannot be reasonably completed virtually.

GRADING POLICY

Grading

To receive credit and attendance for the courses for this school year students are expected to complete the assignments, grading has to follow district policies and be the same on and off campus according to the required TEA guidelines.

Attendance and Enrollment

Fruitvale ISD will be required to take DAILY attendance under all learning models. This means students will have to be present on-campus or engaged online in their Learning Management System (LMS) EACH day to be counted present for credit purposes. Students must attend 90% of a course in order to be awarded credit for the course and/or be promoted to the next grade level. Student attendance may be earned through the delivery of virtual instruction because of the public health situation.

Special Programs

• Special Programs staff will be trained in COVID-19 safety protocols.

• Instruction - Special education and 504 students will receive instruction and related services in accordance with their individualized education/accommodation plan. Virtual learners will receive services virtually rather than on campus.

• Related and/or other services (speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, direct psychological services, and/or vision services) will be provided by the same service provider when possible through various digital platforms (Zoom, Google Meet, etc.) for virtual learners. Some related and/or other services such as vision, orientation and mobility, and adapted physical education may be provided via consultation and not as a direct service.

• Students with disabilities whose needs pose additional challenges to learning in a virtual environment are encouraged to attend On-Campus Instruction.

• Therapy services will continue for students receiving those services within both learning platforms. Virtual students will receive these services through an electronic digital platform provided by the district. Students attending school on campus will receive these services face to face while at school.

• Regression will be addressed in an ARD/504 committee meeting.

• Special education transportation services will be provided as written in the ARD paperwork for on-campus learners.

• Additional PPE for staff and additional sanitization procedures will be practiced in special education classrooms.

• Evaluations for special education/504 eligibility will vary on a case by case basis. Fruitvale ISD will encourage on-site/in-person evaluations in order to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the evaluation. In the event that an evaluation is needed and an in-person or on-campus accommodation cannot be made, the evaluation will be conducted virtually when possible.

Technology Support

• All Pre-K through 12th Grade Fruitvale ISD students will have access to a district-issued personal device for On-Campus and Virtual learning.

• Parents are required to sign the District Issued Device Agreement Form. This form outlines the acceptance and agreement to adhere to the guidelines and responsibilities of the device protection plan. If the device is lost or deemed to be damaged due to negligence as defined by the school administration, replacement and/or repair cost may be assessed.

• Technology staff will be available in all instructional models to assist students and staff with technology support.

• Fruitvale ISD has GOGUARDIAN in place on all devices to track student online virtual presence- teachers can see screens on and off campus and all sites are tracked at school and at home by this program to ensure that students and families are utilizing technology in a safe manner.

• Fruitvale ISD will be providing a Hot Spot Scholarship to families who are in need of WIFI support at home after they complete the free and reduced lunch application and a scholarship form.

RECEIVING AND RETURNING STUDENT WORK IF DISTRICT CLOSES

In the event that the school does not reopen or has to close in 2020-2021, we will follow the guidelines below for receiving and returning student work.

Work will be given and received through CANVAS. This learning management system will allow students to login one time and access all of their courses, videos, and online programs. This will make it easier for parents to keep their students on track from home and will allow a one stop place for student learning.

Families will be able to access the internet, effectively all activities can be done online, which will eliminate any public health risk associated with providing instructional support in person. Teachers are receiving new laptops and recording devices to use in their classrooms to record instruction and upload into the canvas system.

Outdoor Spaces

Fruitvale ISD is adding multiple outdoor classrooms and spaces for students. There is a reduced risk of spreading the virus outdoors so we are going to have multiple areas available for outdoor classes and lunches for students. We will also try to support more outdoor PE programs for students. Playgrounds/PE equipment will be sanitized frequently.