How Distance Learning Will Be Different This Time

Dear Parents/Guardians and Staff Members:

The unprecedented disruption to public education that occurred when schools closed in mid-March is still being felt today. As you may be aware, the Chula Vista Elementary School District will begin the school year on August 31 in a distance learning instructional model. This decision was made with the safety of our entire school community in mind. While I know some of you had disappointing first impressions of distance learning based on your spring experience, I also know of parents who reported that their children had great experiences in distance learning. Still others are concerned about uneven, perhaps inequitable roll out of distance learning in the new school year.

I am dedicating this week’s message to address how off-campus instruction in a distance learning instructional model will be different this school year.

Microsoft Office 365 will continue to be the primary platform in which instruction and connection with students will be made; therefore, all teachers will continue to be offered multiple, ongoing trainings on the Microsoft Teams component of the Office 365 platform. Additional professional development will continue to be provided throughout the year. And in response to student and families’ technological needs, the District will continue to take a research-based, phased approach to loaning of devices and WiFi hotspots to those who need them. In fact, we are planning to deploy more devices within the next month.

Governor Gavin Newsom recently announced that schools are to be closed to in-person instruction until public health data indicates it is safe to return. His announcement aligned with our approach and centered on five key areas:

1. Safe in-person school instruction based on local health data
2. Strong mask requirements for anyone in the school
3. Physical distancing requirements & other adaptations
4. Regular testing and dedicated contact tracing for outbreaks at schools
5. Rigorous distance learning

In regard to rigorous distance learning, under newly enacted state law, school districts are required to provide:

• Devices and connectivity so that every child can participate in distance learning
• Daily live interaction for every child with teachers and other students
• Class assignments that are challenging and equivalent to in-person instruction
• Targeted supports and interventions for English learners and special education students.

With those considerations in mind, CVESD will host a Summer Learning Camp from August 10 – 21 in a distance learning model. The Summer Learning Camp will serve students who were selected and invited to attend based on assessment data from earlier this spring, which indicated a need for intervention and to address possible learning loss.

The Summer Learning Camp will include a rigorous instructional day for students through a structured daily schedule. The instructional day will include direct instruction in language arts and/or mathematics, with support provided in small group and one-on-one interaction. Research-based practices, and intervention materials aligned to the adopted curriculum will be used. Click here to learn more about what the instructional day will look like for our Summer Learning Camp. This program includes some parameters defined within Assembly Bill 77 (AB 77) that significantly increases academic rigor and requirements for student-teacher engagement.

Take comfort in knowing that the criteria within AB 77 will be fully implemented in this year’s distance learning, which ensures content will be aligned to grade level standards and is provided at a level of quality and intellectual challenge substantially equivalent to in-person instruction. Click here to view a visual representation of what this entails.

A Task Force on Reopening Schools is meeting continually to improve on our practices for safe reopening of campuses, and ensure that CVESD starts the upcoming school year with challenging and engaging class assignments for all students.

We share the governor’s belief that “Learning is non-negotiable,” and that school districts must provide meaningful instruction in the midst of the pandemic. The governor also made clear that schools located in counties that are on the Monitoring List must not physically open for in-person instruction until their county has come off the list for 14 consecutive days. As of this writing, San Diego County remains on the Monitoring List.

Like our students and staff, I look forward to that date when we are able to return to campuses for in-person instruction. I also know that safety is paramount. As we prepare to start the year in distance learning, take a moment to view these tips for “Virtual Learning at Home” in English and Spanish. Thank you to those who have already provided input via our recently emailed survey. If you have not yet responded, there is still time. Click here to participate. I will share the survey results in my next newsletter, as well as greater detail on what a school day might look like when the academic year begins on August 31.

Sincerely,

Francisco Escobedo, Ed.D.
Superintendent

School Year to Start in Distance Learning Model

Dear Parents/Guardians and Staff Members:

I hope your summer is off to a great start and that your families remain healthy and safe. Since March, our community has stood together to combat the COVID-19 pandemic by staying home. This time with family reminds me that “Education Starts in the Home.” And given today’s reality, so does safety. Last year, our theme was “Nurturing Relationships Through Grit” and our staff, students and community persevered throughout a difficult period completing the school year in previously unimagined ways. For the coming school year, our theme calls on our community again by “Nurturing Relationships Through Greatness.”

Since our schools closed on March 13, 2020, the Chula Vista Elementary School District (CVESD) staff supported our students and community through many initiatives. Child Nutrition Services team members provided food service to our families in need. District teachers adapted education to provide distance learning to finish the 2019-20 school year while providing meaningful social emotional support for our students. I am so thankful for the professionalism and effort provided by our employees!

We are anxious to bring students and staff back to school for in-person instruction, but we must do so in a safe manner. Reopening campuses requires a great deal of planning and preparation, and many expenses that would not have been necessary under normal circumstances.

When the 2020-21 school year begins on August 31, it will be in a distance learning format. We will continue to work towards transitioning to in-person instruction but will only do so when guidance from local health officials supports a safe transition back to learning on site in classrooms. We know that many parents, students, staff, and community members are disappointed by this decision and we understand that this will complicate many individual family situations.

When students return to campus for in-person instruction, learning will look much different than previous years because of new health and safety measures. With safety goals always in mind, our leadership team, teachers, bargaining group representatives, parents, and community members are actively collaborating on a school reopening plan that will guide us on how to safely reopen our 46 campuses. At the suggestion of Board Members and a request from Board President Armando Farías, a Task Force on Reopening Schools was established to help us gather input and suggestions on guidelines and protocols in order to provide a strong continuity of learning for our students.

Even though the 2020-21 school year will begin with distance learning, it is important to know that our District will continue developing plans to transition into either a hybrid learning model; which is a combination of in-person instruction and distance learning, or into a full in-person instructional model. In fact, there are three learning models CVESD could possibly offer during the 2020-21 school year, which are:

• Distance Learning: During High Risk Level
  • 100% of the learning occurs while the teacher and the student are in different locations.
  • Includes many new components such as daily live interaction with the teacher, and instruction that is aligned to grade level standards, provided at a level of quality and intellectual challenge substantially equivalent to in-person instruction.
  • Other criteria for delivering instruction in a distance learning model has been outlined in Assembly Bill 77, which also includes a requirement for a minimum number of daily instructional minutes, depending on the student’s grade level.
• Hybrid Learning: During Medium Risk Level
  • A combination of in-person and distance learning. There are many variations of what a hybrid model could look like. Hybrid instructional scenarios would be designed to reduce the number of students on campus up to 50%.
  • 100% distance learning would also be an option offered to students who feel safer learning at home.
• In-person Instruction: During Low Risk Level
  • 100% of the learning occurs at school, in the classroom with the teacher. Distancing norms and safety protocols would be in place.
  • 100% distance learning would also be an option offered to students who feel safer learning at home.

If at any point in the school year, conditions worsen and Public Health orders the closure of schools, CVESD will be prepared to move back into a distance learning or hybrid model at any time.

Again, all students will start the coming school year in the 100% Distance Learning model. To address circumstances in which families cannot sustain 100% distance learning at home, and have no other option other than to send students to school for the entire school day, CVESD will need to be advised in advance by the parents/guardians. We are actively exploring childcare options for families who must have students in school full time.

Once it is safe to transition into a hybrid model or an in-person instructional model, CVESD will need to determine how many students would prefer to remain in a 100% distance learning model. Therefore, on Friday, July 17, 2020, the District will send registration information to families so that they may choose the educational option that best fits their needs and comfort level.

In addition to the above options, the District is working to develop enrichment materials for all of our students to reduce any lost education opportunities during this health emergency. For parents who are concerned about the impacts of the virus on their student(s), we hope the distance learning model provides a level of comfort. We know that the process of returning to school while adapting to either in-person or online instruction, along with a host of new procedures, will be challenging for everyone in our school communities. But, as we have done throughout this ordeal, we will work together, persevere, and ensure our students are supported in every way possible.

When schools do reopen their doors, up-to-date safety protocols set forth by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) will be in place. Guidelines and protocols adapt frequently based on the status of the local community. Based on what is known at this time:

• Students are fully expected to wear face coverings; employees are required to wear face coverings. We plan to provide supervised breaks and outdoor time where students can temporarily remove their masks.
• Handwashing and hygiene will be regularly enforced.
• Daily disinfection of classrooms will occur.
• Daily health screenings and temperature checks will occur.
• Physical distancing will be in place within the classroom to the extent possible and following state/local guidelines.

Between now and the beginning of the school year, the District will be communicating frequently. Additional information on changes to our school environment will be shared with you prior to the start of school.

I want to reiterate the pride I have for our community and its response to the ongoing epidemic. The events that began to unfold in March and have continued have created enormous challenges and we as a school district are here to help support our families, staff, and community during this difficult time.

Sincerely,

Francisco Escobedo, Ed.D.
Superintendent