D128 Parents/Guardians:

Update to Remote Learning Requirements

Based on the September 7 declaration of State Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Carmen Ayala, D128 educators will provide daily synchronous instruction in all classes to “...students who are under isolation, quarantine, or adaptive pause consistent with guidance or requirements from a local health department or the Illinois Department of Public Health.” 

Declaration

Illinois State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen Ayala issued the following declaration on September 7, 2021:

“Beginning with the 2021-22 school year, all schools must resume fully in-person learning for all student attendance days, provided that, pursuant to 105 ILCS 5/10-30 and 105 ILCS 5/34-18.66, remote instruction must be made available for students who are excluded by a school pursuant to 77 Ill. Admin. Code 690.30, or students who are under isolation, quarantine, or adaptive pause consistent with guidance or requirements from a local health department or the Illinois Department of Public Health.”

This September 7 declaration includes requirements for remote learning that are different from the guidance provided in the D128 Culture of Care Comprehensive Plan that was based on Dr. Ayala’s original declaration. The new declaration references the requirements implemented in the district remote and blended remote learning plan. 

Updated Guidance

Guidance for Quarantine and Isolation Instruction will change FROM the original D128 statement:

Within 24 hours of notification of a student’s required 10-14 day quarantine, teachers will provide coursework and assignments and will include students in daily instruction via livestream as appropriate to the teacher’s lesson plan. Students are required to complete all coursework assigned during quarantine.

TO the September 8, 2021 update:

Within 24 hours of notification of a student’s required 10-14 day quarantine, teachers will provide coursework and assignments and will include students in daily instruction via livestream according to the synchronous meetings requirements (hybrid) of the D128 Remote and Blended Remote Learning Plan 2020-21 School Year, Updated October 5, 2020:

Teachers will host required, synchronous virtual meetings during each scheduled class period identified [on the D128 daily schedule] to check in with students learning remotely and to take attendance. Meetings should begin at the start time of each scheduled period. Student attendance is required at all meetings. 

Students learning remotely will connect to the teacher and in-person learners via livestream. Teachers will plan for all students as a single group, and instruction will progress as planned during each class period.

Teachers have flexibility in determining the length and structure of synchronous meetings during scheduled class time.  

Direct instruction will be provided to both remote and in-person learners simultaneously.

Student collaboration may be structured to include in-person and remote learners. Students may collaborate in person and/or in break-out groups and may do so as asynchronous or semi-synchronous sessions during the class period. 

The classroom livestream will not provide the same experience for all students (in-person and remote learners), especially during class periods when hands-on and/or physical activities take place and when specialized equipment is needed.

Explicit expectations for engagement and behavior in these sessions should be communicated to students. Students in remote learning are expected to be visible in these sessions unless students have approved requests for other arrangements.

Google Meet or Zoom from district accounts will be the two options to conduct virtual meetings.

Students shall follow all disciplinary procedures as defined in the Student Handbook. Infractions can be referred to and will be addressed by LSTs

Implementation

The update to remote learning expectations is effective immediately. Within 24 hours of this notification, any students currently in quarantine, as well as those who may be placed in future quarantines, will attend daily synchronous meetings in all courses according to the expectations outlined above.

The District 128 Culture of Care Comprehensive Plan has been updated to reflect this change

 

Denise Herrmann, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Community High School District 128