Learning Opportunities During COVID-19

What will learning opportunities look like during this school closure?

According to guidance from the Iowa Department of Education, schools may choose to use online learning options, but they may not require student participation.

This guidance indicates that if schools do use online learning options, they should:

• Consider the needs of students living in poverty
• Consider students who do not speak English as their first language
• Provide equitable services for students with disabilities

“If a district continues to provide educational opportunities to the general student population during a school closure, the district must ensure that students with disabilities also have equal access and the same opportunities, including the provision of FAPE under section 504 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.”

• Iowa Department of Education Guidance, March 16, 2020

At this time virtual/online courses are not an option for Iowa K-12 school districts. According to guidance listed above, schools may choose to use online learning resources, but they may not require student participation. These options may review and/or extend learning, and should be designed to be accessed by all students.  We will be sending out some online resources to families. This is not a comprehensive list, but a resource to get them started after Spring Break. You may also send out additional resources within the parameters of the DE guidelines. Teachers are welcome to connect with students, and you may want to send out an article or an activity for them to consider.  Since no formal classes will be held and assessments and grades will not be collected, this might be a good time to implement some of the feedback practices we have been working on. 

We do have some online resources in place at Southeast Polk, including Newsela and Lexia Core. In addition, many companies have waived their fees for online learning resources. It's easy to get overwhelmed with all of the information out there, so we are recommending to parents that they start with one or two resources, and keep it simple. We can partner with students and families to help with this, including ideas for a structured routine. Our goal during this time is to give children a chance to read, write, respond, solve, communicate, move, create, and discover in order to sustain and build learning.