Dear Members of the Alvord Community,
I hope this week's message finds you and your family well and enjoying the summer.
Since the Governor's announcement on June 15, lifting some COVID-19 restrictions, I've received the following frequently asked questions:
Q: Has new guidance taken effect related to face coverings in schools since the Governor's June 15 announcement?
A: Yes. CDPH provided guidance for the Use of Face Coverings this past Wednesday, June 24.
Q: Are face coverings required during summer school?
A: Yes. Face coverings are required when indoors, even for fully vaccinated individuals. This applies to students and staff in schools, childcare, and other youth settings.
Q: Are face coverings required in outdoor settings for students and staff during summer school?
A: No. Face coverings are not required in outdoor settings throughout the Alvord Unified School District, including summer school staff and students.
Q: Is the State's requirement and Riverside County's requirement the same?
A: Yes. Riverside public health officials confirmed that children and staff do not need to wear a mask outside because we are not an area of high transmission, but must follow all State guidelines indoors.
Q: Will school be fully in-person, five days a week, when the 2021-22 school year begins on August 6?
A: Yes.
Q: Will face coverings still be required when the 2021-22 school year begins?
A: To be determined. Updated K-12 schools guidance from CDPH is expected soon, pending updates for K-12 operational guidance from the CDC. As of this date, face coverings are required indoors in schools for everyone.
Q: Will families have a home-based option if they choose not to attend school in-person?
A: Yes. Principals will survey their families during the week of July 12. Based on our interest-survey in April, we have a small percentage of families interested in a home-based learning model.
Q: What will the home-based learning option be in 2021-22?
A: Unlike last year, when thousands of students learned from home, the home-based option in 2021-22 will rely primarily on an independent study model, utilizing Edgenuity™ for 6-12 students and Accelerate™ for K-5 students.
Q: What is Edgenuity™ and Accelerate™?
A: Both are computer-based, user-friendly learning management systems that structure and monitor learning. Students are assigned to an Alvord Unified School District teacher who monitors attendance and progress, but does not directly teach on a daily basis.
Q: Regarding home-based learning, what if my child has an IEP or is an English language learner?
A: Learning from home is not ideal for many students. Principals, counselors, and IEP teams will discuss each case on an individual basis to determine the best course of action for any family requesting the home-based learning model.
Q: What if I plan for my child to attend in-person but change my mind if face covering restrictions, or other requirements that I disagree with, are mandated when school starts?
A: The option of a virtual program will always be available. After all, conditions and circumstances for families change. But for staffing and learning continuity purposes, we will ask families to make a commitment of no less than a semester in the virtual program, although special circumstances will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.
Attending to the physically and emotionally safe return of all students to classrooms is our priority. We are designing for that safe return by bolstering support services and strictly adhering to safety guidelines to ensure that our students have a sense of belonging and feel safe. Given the mental health and trauma that many students, families, and educators have faced these past 15 months, we believe in-person school provides us with the best opportunity to provide the guidance, support, and resources necessary to accelerate learning, recover learning loss, provide social and emotional support, and intervene when students are struggling academically or emotionally.
With that being said, we also have prioritized choice by providing alternatives to in-person instruction in the event conditions change related to COVID or related to family circumstances. We are confident that regardless of the model chosen, we will be prepared to meet the needs of each and every student.
