Return to Learn e-Newsletter
July 28, 2020
Our Return to Learn Plan
Last night, the Ankeny Board of Education approved both the comprehensive Return to Learn plan and the recommendation to spend the first six weeks of the school year in a hybrid learning model.
Ankeny Schools’ Return to Learn plan outlines three models: Required Continuous Learning, Traditional On-Site, and Hybrid Learning. This is to ensure the district is ready to implement any of the three models in response to changes in public health.
The Iowa Department of Education (IDOE) has indicated school districts will receive guidance in the coming weeks around the metrics to be used in decision-making about when to move from one model to another. A district recommendation for data points to indicate movement between models, based on the Iowa Department Of Education's guidance, will be reviewed by the school board. The board intends to determine the next anticipated phase of the model no later than the September 21 school board meeting.
Note that public health conditions may require us to shift between learning models more frequently and/or before the end of the initial six-week period.
As parents, we would encourage you to begin thinking beyond these first six weeks. We encourage you to prepare for childcare in planning for all three models due to circumstances such as potential building shutdowns and 14-day quarantines as directed by the Iowa Department of Public Health and Polk County Health Department (PCHD). Additionally, many employees are covered for 10 weeks of two-thirds pay by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act if you do not have childcare due to a COVID-related school closure. You may want to talk to your employer to find out how you can go about accessing this leave if necessary.
The district is providing a website page with childcare resources here.
SURVEY: Hybrid Learning Onsite Attendance Schedule
Throughout the process of designing the hybrid schedules, our Return to Learn teams prioritized the needs of transportation, special education services, continuity for students, and minimizing disruption to student learning cycles. The state changed the requirements for onsite attendance on July 17. As a result, the Return to Learn teams reexamined hybrid plans. Simultaneously, our Parent and Family Working Group shared that it might be helpful to consider other onsite attendance schedules for the hybrid model. Therefore, we developed two hybrid schedules that meet student needs and the state requirements. We would like to gather input regarding these two proposed hybrid schedules and future grab and go meal options.
The two proposed hybrid schedules will equally support the educational needs of our students PreK-12.
Group Selection Process and Timeline
Some natural questions after reviewing the hybrid options are, “How will Ankeny Schools develop the two groups, and when will I know which group my child is in?”
Process
Two groups of students will be created that:
Honor household relationships: You should expect all the students in your family to attend on the same days, regardless which building they attend.
Balance transportation needs: We are working with Durham School Services to make sure the groups allow for efficient and safe transportation.
Timeline
Once we know which students will be engaged full time in remote learning, we can develop and refine the lists for the two groups. Attendance days for each group will then be displayed in Infinite Campus according to the hybrid schedule selected. We hope to share this information when schedules go live the week of August 10.
Remote Learning Option: Deadline Extension and Parent Forum
Remote Learning Option: Deadline Extension and Parent Forum
As you are aware, Ankeny Schools is offering families a remote learning option. Please view an overview document detailing the remote learning option here. Ankeny Schools is extending the Remote Learning Option Form deadline through Sunday, August 2. This provides families an additional two days to make any decisions based on the information shared this week.
To request your child(ren) receive remote learning through Ankeny Community Schools, please complete this form by Sunday, August 2. A link to the Remote Learning (Required Continuous Learning) Model can be found on page 8 of the Return to Learn plan. Unless a student’s personal health circumstances change in a meaningful way after the deadline for submission of this form (e.g. a student is diagnosed with a health condition that makes learning from home a better learning environment), the district will not be able to honor requests to select the “remote only” option after the deadline for submitting this form has passed.
We received feedback from our parent committee that it would be helpful for parents considering the remote learning option to have an opportunity to hear more fully about this model. As a result, we will hold two parent forums tomorrow, Wednesday, July 29 at 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. Both forums will be available for view-only on our YouTube channel found here. However, if you would like to participate and ask questions, you will need to join the Webex event.
Wednesday, July 29, 12 p.m.
Link: https://bit.ly/3f7WTRd
Event Number: 146 406 2517
Event Password: BtPjFjU3S43
Audio Conference: +1-408-418-9388
Wednesday, July 29, 4 p.m.
Link: https://bit.ly/2EtoH5X
Event Number: 146 281 4448
Event Password: cwFfwmpa523
Audio Conference: +1-408-418-9388