The purpose of the Wachusett Regional School District’s Remote Learning Plan is to provide a sense of continuity for our students, parent(s)/guardian(s), and staff during this unprecedented and extraordinary time. We agree with the Commissioner of Education, Jeff Riley, and also believe that students, educators and people in all of our communities will benefit from clarity with respect to remote learning, and this plan has been developed to provide this clarity.

We recognize, as does the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, that the level of instruction that will occur via remote learning cannot replace a student's experiences and what he or she would be taught in a traditional classroom environment when school is in session. We also recognize that families are currently finding their home, work and parental lives intertwined like never before. Provided that many parents may find themselves working from home, sick, or unemployed, we understand that students may have less explicit support, resources, or time available to them for learning than they would in a typical school day. This plan has been developed with all of this in mind.

Finally, as noted in a recent communication out to district leaders by Commissioner Riley’s letter, “we must all pull together-parents and caregivers, students, the community, and of course, our educators and staff-to help students continue their learning over this extended period.”