JULY 14, 2021
Franklin Public Schools Summer Update #1
PLANNING FOR THE 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR
Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,
This communication is following up on the last district newsletter we sent to all families in mid-June where we explained how we are planning to start the 2021-22 school year. This message contains details of the virtual learning options we are offering for the upcoming school year. Please read over these details to see if your child is eligible for virtual learning and complete the form linked at the bottom before next Thursday, July 22nd at 11:59pm if you are requesting a virtual learning option for your child.
2021-22 COVID-19 PROTOCOLS
We are planning to start the 2021-22 school year with the following in place:
Mask Wearing - Current CDC guidelines still recommend that unvaccinated individuals wear masks in public. We recommend that unvaccinated students wear a mask, however, mask-wearing will not be required for students. Staff members that are not vaccinated will be required to wear a mask while at work. Please understand that as of this communication, masks are still federally mandated for any individuals riding a school bus and that all students and adults on a bus for any reason must continue to wear masks.
Mitigation Protocols - We will continue with the following protocols that were in place at the end of the 2020-21 school year: tracking of positive COVID-19 cases, community burden rate, using metrics to determine if shifting a building to virtual learning is necessary, contact tracing to support the Franklin Health Department in quarantining students who have not been vaccinated, cohorting students, promoting handwashing practices, sanitizing, and distancing students where possible.
LEARNING OPTIONS
In regards to learning options for 2021-22, we are continuing to support our families by offering the following:
Parents of students ages 5-11, for whom the vaccine is not yet available at this time, have the option for their child to join virtual learning that will be provided by Edmentum, a third-party virtual learning provider.
Click here for Edmentum’s Getting Started Guide so you can get a better understanding of what is expected by Edmentum’s programming for grades K-5. Please note there is no 4K virtual learning option available.
This learning model will not be staffed by FPS educators as it was last year. By using Edmentum, the district will be able to allow parents to return their child to in-person learning during designated time frames throughout the school year. Families of students ages 5-11 wishing to return their child to in-person learning can notify the district by the 15th of a given month to return on the 1st of the upcoming month. Details will be provided at a later time for how to properly notify the district.
Students aged 12 and older, for whom the vaccine is now widely available, will attend in-person learning unless the child is eligible for virtual learning with a serious medical condition that could be impacted by COVID-19.
Parents of a K-12 student with a serious medical condition that could be impacted by COVID-19 have the option for their child to join a virtual learning model. Edmentum will provide virtual learning for grades 5K through 8th and Wisconsin E-Learning Network (WEN) courses will be offered for grades 9-12. In most cases, this would mean a semester or full-year commitment to virtual learning.
Click here for Edmentum’s Getting Started Guide so you can get a better understanding of what is expected by Edmentum’s programming for grades K-8.
Click here for information about Wisconsin E-School Network that will provide virtual courses taught by other educators from around the state for students in grades 9-12. Please note, the catalog of available courses from WEN is not published until August. Our student services staff will work with you and your family to find courses that best match the needs of your student but please know that not all courses offered for Franklin High School in-person learners will be offered.
After reviewing the details and links above, if you wish to request virtual learning for your child, please complete this FPS Virtual Learning Request Form before next Thursday, July 22nd @ 11:59pm.
Following the deadline, Edmentum will hold a virtual town hall meeting with interested families in grades 5K through 8th so you can learn more about the program. Families of students in grades 9-12 will be contacted with more details after the WEN courses and catalog are released in August. Those who are eligible for virtual learning will be asked to complete a registration form for a final commitment in August after you have an opportunity to review virtual learning details.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through the details for offering these options for our families.
Franklin Public Schools
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Email: communications@franklin.k12.wi.us
Website: http://www.franklin.k12.wi.us
Location: 8255 West Forest Hill Avenue, Franklin, WI, USA
Phone: 414-529-8220
Facebook: facebook.com/franklinpublicschools
Twitter: @fpsdistrictwi