Contents:

1. Fall Reopening Plan Deadline Extended to August 14
2. Noteworthy Practices from the Preliminary Reopening Plans
3. Deadline for Remote Learning Partner Interest Survey Extended
4. Refining Hybrid and Remote Learning Models
5. School Emergency Planning and COVID-19
6. PD Offerings in August and Early September
7. Requirement to Transport Commonwealth Charter School Students
8. OSD Support for Districts
9. Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching
10. EWIS and Data Usage Sessions
11. Updated Save the Date for the Civics Literacy Conference
12. For Your Information: #MaskUpMA

1. Fall Reopening Plan Deadline Extended to August 14:

2. Noteworthy Practices from the Preliminary Reopening Plans:

• One district created “Healthy Schedules” that show parents and families what schedules will look like next year. It includes in-person, “assuming that current positive public health metrics hold”; hybrid, for when the district cannot meet health and safety requirements with all students in school simultaneously; and remote learning.
• Another district is thinking ahead about meal distribution when alternating A/B days for remote/in person in a hybrid model. They shared that “two student groups would be in person one day and working remotely the next.” This enables students to get breakfast and lunch for the next day prior to leaving.
• Given a district’s goal that students who are at home during this time will participate in the class in real time, its schools are utilizing HoverCam technology, purchased for all teachers in the district. The schedule of the day will be a traditional schedule with both the in-person students and the remote students participating in the class “live” with the teacher at the same time.
• A school that plans to be fully remote for the first two weeks before transitioning to a hybrid plan will include livestreaming to prioritize synchronous participation between students and teachers.

• Several districts are providing access to the internet; they identified remote learning sites like the Boys & Girls Club for those students and families who needed internet access and childcare.
• One school plans to open the cafeteria to students who have insufficient internet access; the school will provide computers and hotspots to any family in need of that technology.

• To support parents, one district is keeping siblings/families on the same schedule when learning remotely.
• Another district established procedures for all students to participate in remote learning by setting up a system for tracking attendance and participation; students will participate using Google Classroom and will follow a regular school day schedule, and assignments will be graded; all students will receive traditional report cards (each trimester for K-5 and quarterly for grades 6-12), and grades will be included in the high school grade point averages.

• One school is providing academic and social emotional screening in the first four weeks of school for “individual action planning and targeted interventions.”
• Another school plans to offer social groups and clinical groups to students. Families will be offered parent support groups either in person (while maintaining social distancing and mask-wearing) or via Zoom. Occupational therapists and reading/math specialists will provide services in all three formats.
• Another district used CARES Act funding to run a Saturday School for English learners that served 70 ELs. It cost $12,000 and required hiring six teachers. It plans to continue targeted support for its ELs.
• Another district is supporting students with disabilities in an inclusion setting. They receive their "B" and "C" grid supports as described in their IEPs, both during their on-site days and through remote tele-lessons and supports.

3. Deadline for Remote Learning Partner Interest Survey Extended:

4. Refining Hybrid and Remote Learning Models:

5. School Emergency Planning and COVID-19:

6. PD Offerings in August and Early September:

7. Requirement to Transport Commonwealth Charter School Students:

1. Provide transportation to students who reside in the district and who attend a charter school located within the district on similar terms and conditions as transportation is provided to children attending local district schools;
2. Make arrangements to accommodate the charter school's schedule, even if that requires scheduling additional bus runs at times when the district normally does not pick up or drop off students; and
3. Work cooperatively with local Commonwealth charter schools to ensure that all eligible students receive the appropriate transportation services. 

8. OSD Support for Districts:

9. Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching:

10. EWIS and Data Usage Sessions:

11. Updated Save the Date for the Civics Literacy Conference:

12. For your info:

• #MaskUpMA: The Baker-Polito Administration recently launched #MaskUpMA, an effort to continue to remind residents to wear masks and face-coverings in public to stop the spread of COVID-19. The effort will use multiple channels, including video testimonials on social media, a new PSA, and a website, Mass.Gov/MaskUp, to underscore the importance of wearing masks.