Instructional Information

Update, as of April 15, 2021 | Addendum to The Track Back School Re-Opening Plan

Grades Pre-K - 8

Beginning Thursday, April 29, 2021, students in grades pre-k - 8 can begin to attend school four days per week, with Wednesdays remaining as remote days. We chose this date due to planning purposes around food service ordering, transportation coordination, capacity and building needs, and instructional planning. Wednesdays are reserved for extra disinfecting in our school buildings as well as focused instruction for our virtual learners. Because our students are already grouped in small cohorts, we will be able to provide four-day instruction at this level. Remote instruction remains an option for those not ready to return to in-person instruction.

Grades 9-12

Chemung County has been identified as a county with a high risk of transmission. As a result of this designation, high schools can only move to social distancing of three feet between students if they can use cohorting. When schools cannot maintain cohorting, they must maintain social distancing of at least six feet between students. In high school, students take different courses based on their individual needs and graduation pathway. As a result, we are not able to keep students in the same groups together throughout the entirety of the school day.

September 2020

School districts across New York State were directed to develop plans that allow for three types of instruction. This fall, Elmira City School District will be implementing instructional practices to provide consistency across learning environments and ensure the safety of students and staff.

Model	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday

IN-PERSON Under current NYSDOH/NYSED guidelines, this is not currently an option for ECSD.	100% of students attend school following PPE & social distancing guidelines	100% of students attend school following PPE & social distancing guidelines	100% of students attend school following PPE & social distancing guidelines	100% of students attend school following PPE & social distancing guidelines	100% of students attend school following PPE & social distancing guidelines

HYBRID Group A	In-person instruction for 50% of students	In-person instruction for 50% of students	Scheduled Remote/Virtual Instruction	Scheduled Remote/Virtual Instruction	Scheduled Remote/Virtual Instruction

HYBRID Group B	Scheduled Remote/Virtual Instruction	Scheduled Remote/Virtual Instruction	Scheduled Remote/Virtual Instruction	In-person instruction for 50% of students	In-person instruction for 50% of students

REMOTE INSTRUCTION	Scheduled Remote/Virtual Instruction	Scheduled Remote/Virtual Instruction	Scheduled Remote/Virtual Instruction	Scheduled Remote/Virtual Instruction	Scheduled Remote/Virtual Instruction

Parent Choice for Instruction

In mid-July, the District conducted a parent survey as part of a comprehensive plan to determine the overall pulse for returning to school in September. After a review of the survey results, families made it clear that at the very least they wanted a choice that represented an opportunity to keep their child home while the pandemic continued to impact our community. As a result, District leadership worked alongside stakeholder groups to develop a reopening plan incorporating input from all stakeholders with student and staff safety as the priority.

Our intent has always been to bring students back to school full-time as we believe that the most ideal educational experience for children is to be in front of a teacher. However, we would never intentionally jeopardize the safety and health of students and staff, and by extension, our families. This Reopening Plan remains fluid and will be updated strategically depending on the status of the Coronavirus spread throughout our community in the coming weeks. It is impossible to predict what the spread may be like in our community in September.

The models we examined covered a full continuum of designs ranging from all students returning to school full-time, to a blended face-to-face and remote learning, to a complete online educational experience at home.

As a collective District community, we have reviewed and considered the number of students and staff allowed to return in person. Considerations for determining resumption of in-person instruction include:

1. Ability to maintain appropriate social distance or face coverings
2. PPE and face covering availability
3. Availability of safe transportation
4. Local hospital capacity - in consultation with our local health department
5. Regional and local infection rates of COVID-19

Considering the size of our student body, classroom capacity to accommodate social distancing, and the ability to transport students safely (socially distanced on school busses), we are unable to return all students to school at one time.

Based on the criteria and compliancy guidelines set forth by the NYSDOH and NYSED for re-opening schools, the Elmira City School District will begin the year using a hybrid model of instruction. An on-line only option is available for students and families who make that choice.

How will families indicate which option they prefer?
Families will receive information about how to indicate their preferences for the 2020-21 school year on August 4 and will have until August 10 to complete an electronic form for each of their students. Families that do not have online access can contact their students’ school to indicate their preference. The Elmira City School District will use the information gathered from these requests to determine class assignments and coordinate transportation.

Will teachers and families be able to change which option they select before or during the school year?
Although we understand that both personal and state-wide factors may shift circumstances throughout the summer and year, families will need to maintain their selection through at least January 29, 2021. We will be re-assessing learning options at that time.

Can families choose different options for different students in their household?
Yes

Why didn’t the Elmira City School District choose a reopening scenario that would allow all students to return to full-time instruction at the start of the year?
NYSED required school districts to develop plans for three different models of instruction: in-person learning, a hybrid model, and remote learning. Based on the safety guidance provided by NYSED and NYSDOH, we are unable to achieve all of the required safety guidelines and transport and educate 100% of our students in person, at the same time. As the regulations change, we will look to bring students back for a greater percentage of in-person instructional time as soon as it is safe to do so.

Individual student schedules will be shared with families once we have received the choice of instructional options. Students and families that do not make a choice will be scheduled into the hybrid model and assigned a group. Student schedules will be determined and shared as soon as possible.

The Elmira City School District has a school schedule planned for implementation at the beginning of the 2020-21 school year and, to the extent practicable, contingent scheduling models if the situation warrants. Students will have the opportunity to sign out devices until such item that we return to normal daily in-person attendance.

Some special education students, identified by Elmira City School District, with more intensive needs will be assigned to both Group A and Group B of the Hybrid Model (4 days of in-person instruction).

IN-PERSON

Under current NYSDOH and NYSED guidelines, this is not currently an option for ECSD.

* In this model – 100% ECSD students report to school daily.

* Staff and Students will wear masks (when unable to appropriately social distance)

* Scheduling and classroom set-up, take into account the need for social distancing and disinfecting staff/student work and personal spaces.

• In this setting, teachers will provide face-to-face instruction, learning resources and support utilizing the designated educational platforms for each building (Schoology and Zoom)

• Teachers will plan instruction that is quickly and easily transferable from face-to-face to remote in the event of a temporary, or extended, school closure due to COVID-19 spread.

• District-directed and building-designed safety procedures will be implemented.

• Gr. 7-12 students will be assigned schedules based on their course selections made last spring

HYBRID

* In this model – ECSD students will receive instruction in both a remote/virtual setting and in the classrooms.

*All in-person regulations, cleaning schedules, social distancing apply when students are in the school buildings.

*Elmira City School District recognizes the need to ensure all students have reliable access to adequate technology resources in order to fully participate in academic programming.

*ECSD is preparing for ECSD REMOTE LEARNING @ HOME and possible school closures due to COVID-19 as follows:

• Learning devices will be provided as need.
• No deposit is required.
• Students and families are expected to follow guidelines for care and use in order to ensure these public resources are effectively maintained.
• Relevant notifications, instructions, procedures, policies and processes are available on the ECSD website and Facebook page.

>>read more

REMOTE OR VIRTUAL CLASSROOMS

* In this model – ECSD students will receive remote/virtual instruction.

*The Elementary school building (Pk-6) will use Schoology and Zoom and educational platforms for learning.

*The Secondary buildings
(7-12) will use Schoology and Zoom for educational platforms for learning.

*100% Online learning is an option for students who don’t plan to attend in-person instruction. Families choosing this option are required to commit to this option through January 2021.

**ECSD is preparing for ECSD REMOTE LEARNING @ HOME and possible school closures due to COVID-19 as follows:

• Learning devices will be provided as need.
• No deposit is required.
• Students and families are expected to follow guidelines for care and use in order to ensure these public resources are effectively maintained.
• Relevant notifications, instructions, procedures, policies and processes are available on the ECSD website and Facebook page.

>>read more

Each instructional space was evaluated and the appropriate number of students allowed was determined based on appropriate social distancing guidelines.

The Elmira City School District has reviewed and considered the number of students and staff allowed to return in person. Considerations for determining resumption of in-person instruction include: (1) Ability to maintain appropriate social distance or face coverings; (2) PPE and face covering availability; (3) Availability of safe transportation; and (4) Local hospital capacity – in consultation with our local department of health.

Regardless of learning environment, the Elmira City School District is committed to ensuring that students have an equitable experience and access to high quality instruction:

Elmira City School District will utilize the strategies and best practices in the classroom and using technology associated with blended learning to design learning activities for all students.

• Learning experiences are designed to meet the needs and environment of the learner where they are.

• Students, regardless of learning environment, will engage in daily high quality learning experiences aligned to Elmira City School District curriculum and NYS Next Generation Standards.

• Students who begin the year in face-to-face learning at school may move into remote learning for a period of time if needed for school closure due to student/staff illness or county or state regulations.

• Both the remote and face-to-face experience will utilize Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Schoology, providing similar expectations, instruction and coursework and following the same grading guidelines.