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In this Message
Upcoming Events
- August 18 – First Day of School
- August 19 – Board of Education Meeting
Dear OUSD Community:
As the new school year approaches, I am pleased to share that our 2021-2022 Safety and Health-Driven Plan is now available on our website. This plan details the educational options and steps we are continuing to take to promote wellness and prevent the spread of illness on our school campuses in alignment with public health guidance. A few of the plan highlights:
- Outdoor handwashing stations have been added to school campuses to supplement the existing restroom sinks.
- Hand sanitizer is available in all classrooms, meal areas, workstations and on buses.
- Ventilation has been improved Districtwide, including the introduction of fresh air (weather permitting), replacing filters more often, and upgrading filters to MERV 8 Tri-Dim filters that are specialized for fine particulate filtering and treated with an antimicrobial solution to provide additional protection against bacteria and viruses.
- Three instructional options will be offered: Option 1 - traditional in-seat instruction, five days per week; Option 2 - full-day virtual instruction through the OUSD EDGE Virtual Academy (grades TK-12); Option 3 - OUSD Home School (Grades K-8)/Independent Study (Grades 7-12).
Recent legislation requires that we inform you of your right to enroll your student in the option of your choice for the upcoming school year. Families choosing either option 2 or 3 have the right to request a pupil-parent-educator conference meeting before enrollment to review the academic program delivery, student support, enrollment process, specific academic expectations as well as the withdrawal process for that particular program. All requests for students with disabilities will be considered on an individual basis; please contact your school administrator to discuss the process. Additional information is on the OUSD website at https://www.orangeusd.org/resources/2021-22-school-year-ab-104
Opportunity to Change Grades to Pass/No Pass
Students who were enrolled in high school during the 2020-21 academic year may apply to have one or more letter grades replaced with a pass or no pass grade. There is not a limit on the number or type of courses eligible for the grade change. Interested students must fill out the Grade Change Request Form and submit it to the Office of Student & Community Services no later than August 14, 2021. It is imperative to note that Local Education Agencies are prohibited by Assembly Bill 104 from accepting late applications. Once the application is received, Student & Community Services will notify the student and family of the grade changes within 15 calendar days.
The following is the link to the CDE list of postsecondary institutions that have indicated that they will accept Pass or No Pass grades: https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/gs/ps/ab104surveyresults.asp. Other higher educational institutions, including those from other states, may not accept a Pass or No Pass grades. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to continually check the California Department of Education (CDE) website for the most updated list of postsecondary institutions that will accept for admission purposes, a transcript with a Pass or No Pass grade instead of a letter grade before the expiration of the deadline to submit grade change requests. If you have immediate questions and/or to submit applications please contact Executive Director Ed Howard at (714) 628-5424 or by email at ehoward@orangeusd.org.
Graduation Requirements
Students who were enrolled in their 3rd or 4th year of high school during the 2020-21 school year and who are not on track to graduate in four years, will be provided the opportunity to complete the minimum state graduation requirements to graduate. Options can include, but are not limited to, a fifth year of instruction or credit recovery. The Office of Curriculum & Instruction in conjunction with high-school administrators/counselors are in the process of identifying eligible students and will be contacting each family to discuss viable options. If you have immediate questions please contact Katie Treat, Coordinator of Career Counseling at (714) 628-5463 or by email at ktreat@orangeusd.org.
We look forward to a successful school year guided by our Safety and Health-Driven Plan guided by EDGE Focus Area 3.0: Genuine wellness and safety. We are currently accepting new student enrollment at orangeusd.org/enroll, and data confirmation through the Aeries Parent Portal is now available for continuing students. Transitional Kindergarten is available for children turning five years old between July 1 and December 3, and younger children, aged 3-5, are eligible for one of our high-quality preschool programs. In addition, families with students in elementary grades who need before- or after-school child care can now enroll in the CARES program. Space is limited in each program, and students are admitted on a first-come, first-served basis. Please get in touch with your school site if you have questions regarding educational opportunities, enrollment, registration, and the new school year.
