Remote Academy

What is the Remote Academy (RA)?

The Remote Academy (sometimes referred to as RA) is a district program designed to serve as an alternative to the in-person instructional option in school. It will mirror the the number of hours and the curriculum of the hybrid learning model, but with adjustments appropriate for online/remote instruction. It is designed for families that are uncomfortable sending their children to hybrid in-person instruction in our schools. It is not a homeschool program or an individualized program. There will be a schedule, learning expectations and community building as well as appropriate assessment and feedback for student progress. Families interested in homeschooling their children can get more information here about what they need to do.

Will Remote Academy be using the same curriculum as delivered in the hybrid (Yellow) learning model?

Yes. See 'Returning to Learning' section.

Will RA students get workbooks to accompany their online learning experience?

Yes - students will get access to some physical materials and any workbooks that are a part of the core curriculum.

What is the difference between synchronous vs. asynchronous?

Synchronous means learning that is scheduled at a specific time with live instruction.

Asynchronous means learning will not occur in the same place or the same time. Asynchronous may be recorded lessons that can be watched at the learner’s best time or assignments that can be completed offline.

What happens to the families who select RA, then, before Sept 14, the county is changed to yellow, which means school will open with all students remote. Will the RA students be reintegrated back with their neighborhood schools and classmates?

We anticipate these students will stay in their class through the first trimester. If this situation happens before school starts, there is a chance we could change classes but for purposes of planning, assume they will be in this class for at least the first trimester.

If we do not elect RA initially and go with hybrid but then don't feel comfortable and wish to change our mind, can we still select RA?

We are asking families to make a choice that they will see through for at least the first trimester. We'll review requests for changes on a case-by-case basis but approval is contingent on having the staffing to make it work and is not guaranteed.

If we take it a step further and homeschool, can we still access the curriculum and workbooks?

We are not set up to provide curriculum for homeschooling at this point. Families interested in homeschooling their children can get more information here about what they need to do.

Will my child be given "assignments" that need to be completed and "turned in" for the asynchronous portions of the day?

Students will be given assignments and will receive regular feedback on their work. Most of this work will be turned in via Seesaw or Google Classroom. The details are being planned over the next three weeks.

Will assignments primarily be worksheet based rather than "hands on" learning?

We are building out more detailed unit and lesson plans now. The curriculum will involve a mix of pedagogy and will not be all worksheet based.

What is the minimum requirement for "attendance" for the remote academy?

Students are expected to attend four days a week and attendance will be tracked during the morning meeting or advisory.

How flexible will the Remote Academy be in terms of completing assignments and "online" participation provided that there is evidence the child is keeping up with learning and meeting learning goals?

The Remote Academy will include a mix of synchronous and asynchronous learning. This means that portions of the day and week will be more flexible than a typical in-school day and week. Students will be expected to complete both synchronous and asynchronous elements of the program.

Will there be flexibility within Remote Academy to work with our assigned teacher to develop our own lesson plans and schedules that work best for our family?

We are unable to develop tailored lessons and schedules for individual students and families (aside from students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs)). Teachers will always work to differentiate their instruction and support and Wednesdays are intentionally built in to provide targeted individualized supports.

Will requirements and attendance be mandatory for online sessions?

Yes, attendance will be required for all synchronous learning experiences.

Is there any scenario in which we can remain enrolled, be assigned a virtual teacher but "opt-out" of all of the online learning and instead have check-ins/periodic assessments on my child's progress?

We are not set up to provide this sort of support to families who are essentially choosing to homeschool their child(ren).

Why is the district making remote learning centralized rather than keeping it within the child’s home elementary school?

We are organizing this centrally to ensure that students are matched with teachers who have the appropriate background and experience. We will start by trying to prioritize student/teacher matches from the same neighborhood school but we cannot promise all students will be assigned to a teacher from their neighborhood school.

How many children will be in a remote learning classroom? How many children will participate in the morning meeting?

We will create class sizes using the same thresholds we always use.

Will children in remote learning classrooms be assigned the same teacher for the year, or will teachers change?

They will be assigned the same classroom/core instruction teachers. Their Specials or Related Arts teachers may change over the course of the year.

Will teachers create ways for students to form social communities online?

Yes, teachers will work to create classroom community within their remote class.

How will the learning progress of remote learning participants be assessed?

Students will receive regular feedback on their learning each week. They will also receive grades consistent with the approach to grading in the hybrid model.

How will educational programming be provided to students who receive special education services? How will my child's IEP goals and or services be met?

See 'PPS Reopening Plan' for full details (scroll down to SPECIAL EDUCATION & IELD section)

Remote Academy Technology FAQ

How do I get my password to access my computer?

If you do not know or remember your password, you can ask your teacher or advisor, or you can call your home school to request that the secretary look it up in our student information system, “IC”.

Does my child get a Portland Public Schools email?

What do I do if I missed the device pick-up and need to get a computer?

Devices will be available at the district office at 353 Cumberland Ave. You may come during regular business hours and speak with our front desk staff.

How do I get help if my device is broken?

Please inform your teacher, and they will submit a support request. You will then be contacted directly to address the issue.

How can I expect to get login information for SeeSaw and Google Classroom?

Your teacher will share the student specific login information for SeeSaw or Google Classroom. If you are interested in general information about navigating our learning platforms, please see this recording of our Parent University session that was offered recently to help families for this school year.

Page updated

Report abuse