June 5, 2020
OUSD Parents and Community,
As we enter into the last week of school, I know there are many questions surrounding Orange USD’s plans for Fall. As mentioned in my last correspondence, multi-department teams have been focusing on plans to return to site-based instruction when the new school year begins. We are planning to reopen our schools on August 19 for students and staff with their safety, as our most immediate concern. This, as I have stated before, is fluid in nature and must be based, barring any changes, to current guidelines from the CDC, OCHA, and CDPH guidelines released today.
As a public government agency, we are required to follow federal and state health care guidelines. The Orange USD school reopening plan is dynamic in nature and based on the current guidelines and will be updated as needed given any new local, state, or federal criteria identified for schools opening during the COVID19 pandemic. Many of the health and safety changes needed to open schools will also be dependent on the budget support from State and federal sources.
While the Reimagining Schools Task Force is working to ensure a successful start of the 2020-21 academic school year, high school athletics and childcare programs are scheduled to be open during the summer and more details about dates and times will be forthcoming. and in accordance with the CDPH guidelines released today.
The Reimagining Schools Task Force which includes teachers, administrators, mental health professionals, and other certificated and classified staff have been researching numerous instructional models for elementary and secondary classrooms. Models are being analyzed based on the following criteria:
- Aligned with our OUSD Core Values of Integrity, Equity, Respect & Excellence
- Aligned with the OUSD EDGE Four Focus Areas: Excellence in Academics &. Leadership, Dedicated & Engaged Communication, Genuine Wellness & Safety, and Efficient Utilization of Fiscal Capital
- Grounded in culturally relevant research that focuses on teaching and learning
- Equity for all students with an emphasis on our English learners, Students with Disabilities, and our Homeless/Foster Youth
- Intervention and support plans
- Classroom configuration options that maximize the health and safety of our students and staff.
- Informed data gathered from stakeholder surveys
Below is a brief synopsis of the various Scheduling Modalities that are being analyzed, in the case that social distancing guidelines are still in place and a full return to a traditional school model is not feasible:
Classroom Instruction with Optional Blended Learning
- Blended learning model that is geographically neutral
- Teachers facilitate their traditional classroom both with students present in the classroom as well as with students who have chosen a virtual online option
- Both sets of students receive the same live instruction (Students can be participating virtually, entirely at home, or can be at school.)
- Additional assistance is provided via support staff
· A/B Cohorts
- 1/2 of students report on “A” days (M/W)
- 1/2 of students report on “B” days (T/TH)
- Friday is focused on planning, professional development, and student interventions
· AM/PM (Elementary Only)*
- 1/2 students report in the morning
- 1/2 students report in the afternoon
· Odd/Even (Secondary Only)
- Students go to their Odd classes 1x a week and their Even 1x a week but for a double period.
· Alternating Weeks
- Group A attends in person on week 1,3,5
- Group A attends online on week 2, 4, 6
- Group B attends online on week 1, 3, 5
- Group B attends in person on week 2, 4, 6
We are aware that there will be families who are not comfortable returning to school under any of the above-noted models. For these families, the following personalized options will be available all year:
- K-12 Homeschooling through Parkside Education Center: Homeschool opportunity where parents serve as the instructor with support from an OUSD teacher who sets up learning schedules with virtual and in-school opportunities provided weekly or monthly
- 7-12 Independent Study: Independent study opportunity providing the flexibility of instruction guided by OUSD teachers and supported with daily, weekly, or monthly check-ins virtually or in-person
- 9-12 OUSD EDGE Virtual Academy: New online learning opportunity with virtual and in-class weekly meetings with credentialed teachers.
Childcare and summer programs will also be guided by current guidelines from the CDC, OCHA, and CDPH guidelines released today.
The task force encourages all families that haven’t already, to fill out the Family Survey, which will enable you to provide your critical and necessary input. This survey will enable the Educational Services team to determine how many families prefer a 100% online model. The Family Survey can be accessed by clicking here.
I appreciate everyone's diligence and hard work as we navigate this dynamic situation together and look forward to welcoming students and staff back onto our campuses in a mindful, responsible way.
Sincerely,
Gunn Marie Hansen, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
