On behalf of the Superintendent, as announced last week (http://bit.ly/ccsdbbb321), in addition to traditional in-person learning for the 2021-22 School Year, CCSD will continue to offer a Digital Learning option for students in Grades K-12 for the first semester (Aug. 2-Dec. 17). Any further extension of Digital Learning will be considered in the fall.
DIGITAL LEARNING
Elementary School: Students in Grades K-2 will continue to be assigned to one Digital Learning teacher’s online class, and will receive a blend of direct live instruction during the school day on Microsoft Teams and assignments to be completed on their own through Canvas. Students in Grades 3-5 will have the same model as lower grades, but they may have more than one teacher deliver instruction for different content areas. This model will allow Grades 3-5 teachers to partner to teach their classes together, with the teacher who has more expertise in science and math teaching both classes those subjects, while the teacher who specializes in ELA and social studies teaches those lessons – similar to how two teachers split these responsibilities for in-person classes. Digital Learning is not available for preschool or PreK students with the exception of students who have an existing Individual Education Plan (IEP) for Special Education services. See more information at http://bit.ly/CCSDdlelem21.
Middle/High School: Digital Learning students in Grades 6-12 also will see changes in their model. Instead of the Apex online curriculum platform, CCSD teachers will create blended learning lessons that will mirror classroom lessons and be available in Canvas for Digital Learners to access. Select electives, middle school Connection courses, CTAE (Career, Technical and Agricultural Education) courses and AP (Advanced Placement) courses will not be available through this model. Teachers also will regularly provide recorded videos of lessons and/or direct live instruction through Microsoft Teams. See more information at http://bit.ly/CCSDdlmshs21.
If you want to enroll your child in Digital Learning for the first semester of the 2021-22 School Year, the CCSD Digital Learning Declaration Form must be completed by 4 p.m. Friday, April 2, 2021. This form is online at http://bit.ly/CCSDdl21 in English and at http://bit.ly/CCSDdlES21 in Spanish. A separate form is needed for each child you want to enroll full time in Digital Learning. You do not need to complete the form if your child will attend in-person school. The Digital Learning Declaration Form only can be completed by a parent or guardian who has educational rights for a CCSD student. If you are a Spanish speaker and need help understanding the form, you can watch a brief video online at http://bit.ly/CCSDdlvideo21. Within a week of the completion of the form, you will be emailed a DocuSign form by CCSD that you must electronically sign in order to complete the Digital Learning declaration process.
iGRAD VIRTUAL ACADEMY
CCSD’s new iGrad Virtual Academy will begin in the 2021-22 School Year, initially for 200 students in Grades 9-12. This school choice option will use an application process to ensure students will be successful participating in an online learning model that gives them greater ability to learn at their own pace. This will be organized as a separate CCSD school, so high school students who enroll in iGrad no longer will be enrolled in their traditional high school. The iGrad Virtual Academy will use Edgenuity online curriculum facilitated by a CCSD teacher. Detailed information about iGrad and the application process will be emailed to all high school parents the first week of April. If you want your child to attend a CCSD online learning choice, whether it be Digital Learning or iGrad should your child be accepted, please complete the Digital Learning Declaration Form by the 4 p.m. April 2 deadline to hold a seat in the Digital Learning program. Should your child be accepted for iGrad, they will be removed from the Digital Learning program roster.
IN-PERSON LEARNING
The current in-person school operations guidelines outlined in the Reopening of School Plan (https://bit.ly/CCSDplan20) will be updated later this spring with any changes for next school year. The updated plan then will be shared with all parents. We do not anticipate a mask mandate for all students will be approved. We do anticipate that the mandated precautionary quarantines rules set by the Department of Public Health may be adjusted, but not eliminated. If you are hesitant to return your child to in-person learning based on this information, we advise that you complete a Digital Learning Declaration Form by the 4 p.m. April 2 deadline to hold a seat for your child in that program.