Instructional Services

We know that the shift to off-campus teaching and learning in the spring due to school building closures was challenging for many of our students, teachers, families, and leaders. Learnings from survey data and collaboration with stakeholders required us to think differently about: student engagement; support for teachers and expectations for instruction, differentiation, accommodations, and modifications to meet the instructional needs of our students; and how to ensure consistency throughout our district. The instruction design for the 2020-2021 school year will maximize flexibility in planning and instruction for students and teachers, and minimize disruptions to the academic program as changes occur due to COVID-19, while staying true to our vision, mission, and core values.

The expectations for instructional services are as follows:

• Facilitation of standards aligned instruction to ensure students demonstrate mastery of grade-level outcomes;

• Intentional focus on priority NYS Learning Standards while connecting prior learning and current learning;

• Provide differentiated support, accommodations, and modifications where appropriate to support students with diverse learning needs;

• Engage students to apply key learning concepts to reach a deeper understanding of content; and

• Regularly monitor student progress to offer targeted intervention tailored to students’ needs.

Other elements of our instructional services will include:

• Teachers provide direct instruction in grade-level content with outcomes, tasks, and strategies that will meet the needs of students.

• Consistent observation and progress monitoring of student’s learning and processing of information.

• An approach to individualized instruction, with environments for students to apply learned skills and maximize instructional time with the teacher. This approach enables teachers to assess the whole class, individuals, or groups of students, and incorporate concept development strategies to ensure students reach grade-level expectations.

• An environment that enables independent or group work, with flexibility in timelines and assessments of learning.

At the close of the 2019-2020 a survey was sent out to all families asking them for feedback on how off campus learning went from the March -June of 2019. From the feedback that was received in the survey we learned that Hamburg Central School District has a very small percentage of population that have limited access to high speed internet at home. Throughout the closure our building administrative teams have worked with teachers, counselors, social workers and psychologists to identify families in their building with access issues and discussing with each family possible solutions. By early May all families had a temporary solution to gain access to the learning content.

The 2020-2021 school year is the final year of our 1 to 1 initiative for students in grades 5-12. This school year all students in grades 3-12 will have a Chromebook for them to use in school and at home. The Chromebooks will be distributed to the students during the 2020-2021 school year. Students in grades Pre-K through 2 will have the opportunity to request an iPad to use for the 2020-2021 school year in the event we are in a hybrid or off campus learning model. Any families that have been identified with connectivity issues will be assigned the use of a Hotspot with one of our devices.

In order to successfully support students, families and faculty, several opportunities have been created to receive technology help. A technology support email address (tech@hcsdk12.org) will be utilized for students and families to submit technology questions. A technology website has been established for students and parents with frequently asked questions and video tutorials to assist all families. The high school, middle school have two computer aides assigned to the building. Elementary schools are assigned a computer aide per building. All computer aides are available via email. The Director of Technology and Microcomputer Technical Support Specialist support the computer aides and administrators. If equipment requires maintenance the technology department in conjunction with the building administrators will provide an opportunity to switch out hardware safely. Technical questions may be sent to tech@hcsdk12.org.

Student Technology Support

Parent Technology Support

The district will work with area BOCES to ensure that students continue to have access to Career and Technical Education programs, whether through in-person, off-campus, or hybrid models.

• Erie 1 BOCES Reopening Plan 2020-2021

• Erie 2 BOCES Reopening Plan 2020-2021

In accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and ensuring the provision of Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE); each student with a disability has unique needs and it is the purpose of the education system to ensure every student has access to their grade-level standards and makes progress in their education. The IEP is the road map for each student with a disability. In these challenging and evolving times including COVID-19 restrictions, it is critical that the IEP team meets and works collaboratively with the family to jointly determine appropriate services, accommodations, and modification to allow for the greatest access and academic success.

District approved APPR plan will be fully implemented.

Teachers will hold a valid certificate for their teaching assignment

Uncertified substitutes will be able to work up to 90 days for the 2020-21 school year

Student teachers will be under the direct supervision of a certified teacher and work collaboratively with an approved college student teaching program.