Return to Learn: CCSD15's 2020-21 Roadmap

RETURN TO LEARN: CCSD15's 2020-21 ROADMAP July 10, 2020

CONTENTS 03

Foreword

04

Executive Summary

06 Restore Illinois Phase 4 Guidelines

07 District 15's Phase 4 Options

08 School Reopening Considerations

09 Phase 4, Option 1 Safety Protocols

14 Phase 4, Option 1 Instruction

15

Phase 4, Option 2

16

Phase 4, Option 2 Instruction

18 All Phases/Options Mental & Social-Emotional Wellness

19 All Phases/Options Operations

20 Restore Illinois Phases 1, 2 & 3

21 Phases 1, 2 & 3 Instruction

22 Conclusion

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Superintendent Laurie Heinz

Return to Learn Roadmap

FOREWORD Dear District 15 Parents and Guardians: District 15 is preparing to welcome students and staff back for the 2020-21 school year—a year unlike any we have ever had both in District 15 and across the country. I am grateful for your support as we navigate this unknown territory together, with the health and safety of our students and staff as our top priority.

“District 15 is dedicated to safely educating every student every day —all 12,000 students from early childhood through eighth grade.”

—Dr. Laurie Heinz, Superintendent of Schools

While there are still unknowns about the future of COVID19, District 15 is dedicated to safely educating every student every day—all 12,000 students from early childhood through eighth grade.

I also want to reassure you that District 15 remains committed to the success of the whole child. We will continue to use responsive teaching practices and ensure that our students learn in a safe and dynamic environment, stay academically and socially-emotionally engaged, and feel supported and challenged as learners.

The District 15 administration has spent the last several months collaborating with parents, staff, teachers and colleagues about how to safely return to school in August.

The result of our conversations, committees, focus groups, surveys and research is outlined here in the Return to Learn Reopening Plan.

Please review the document thoroughly, and visit our website for frequently asked questions, timelines and resources related to COVID-19 and our schools.

Thank you for your continued support and collaboration.

Your partner in education,

Dr. Laurie Heinz Superintendent of Schools

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Return to Learn Roadmap

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY What is the purpose of the Return to Learn Roadmap?

The Roadmap was created to give parents a look at what to expect in the 2020-21 school year. COVID-19 has forced schools to drastically change safety, health and instructional practices and pivot between in-person and virtual instruction based upon the status of COVID-19 in Illinois. The 2020-21 school year will not be business as usual.

The Roadmap will help parents understand how District 15 will operate in 2020-21 based upon guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).

How was the Return to Learn Roadmap developed?

The Roadmap was developed using guidance from ISBE, IDPH as well as District 15 parents, teachers, administration and staff.

The Return to Learn committee submitted its recommendations for mental & social-emotional wellness, technology & distance learning, health & safety, instruction, workforce needs and finances. Those recommendations were paired with parent and staff input from surveys and focus groups to form the Return to Learn Roadmap.

What are the reopening scenarios for the 2020-21 school year?

If Illinois is in Phase 4 of Restore Illinois, parents will have two pathways to choose from : Option 1: In-person instruction with health & safety modifications Option 2:Â Virtual learning at home (Opt-out of in-person instruction) If Illinois is in Phase 1, 2 or 3 of Restore Illinois, all learning will be remote. More information on these pathways is included in this document.

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How does the Return to Learn Roadmap relate to the Restore Illinois plan?

Restore Illinois was used as a guiding document when developing the Return to Learn Plan. State guidelines and mandates direct what schools statewide are permitted to do during the COVID-19 pandemic. That being said, District 15 has made a district-specific plan that will best meet the needs of our community, while following all mandates from the state.

What happens next?

After reading this information and learning about the options available for the 2020-21 school year, parents will be asked to select an option for their child(ren). The deadline to make this decision is Friday, July 17, 2020.

Parents can select in-person instruction or virtual learning from home (opt-out of in-person instruction) if Illinois is in Phase 4 of Restore Illinois. If Illinois regresses to Phase 3, 2 or 1, all learning will be remote/virtual. No in-person instruction will take place.

Where do I go for more information?

District 15 has created a frequently asked questions page, along with additional information related to the reopening of schools in 2020-21. Please visit www.ccsd15.net/ReturnToLearn.

The District website will be frequently updated with information as it becomes available. Any emergency or urgent news will be sent to all parents through text, email and/or phone.

Community members who are not parents in District 15 can subscribe to our newsletter by visiting www.ccsd15.net/news.

Parents and staff are automatically subscribed to these lists.

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RESTORE ILLINOIS

PHASE 4

Virus Status

Rate of infection and the number of patients admitted to the hospital continues to decline

School Operating Status

Child care and schools reopen under guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health

Mandatory Safety Protocols

No more than 50 people in one space Face coverings required for all students, staff & visitors Increased sanitation of buildings Temperature and symptom checks or selfcertification for students, staff and visitors

Illinois entered Phase 4 on June 26, 2020. It is assumed school will begin under Phase 4 guidelines, unless the COVID-19 virus resurges and the state goes back to Restore Illinois Phase 1, 2 or 3.

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RESTORE ILLINOIS PHASE 4 District 15 Pathways

OPTION 1

OPTION 2

In-Person Instruction with Health & Safety Modifications

Virtual Learning at Home (Opt-Out of In-Person Instruction)

*If parents/guardians are uncomfortable with both choices, they have the option to disenroll their children from District 15 and pursue other educational opportunities (homeschool or private school):Â ISBE.net/Homeschool

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SCHOOL REOPENING CONSIDERATIONS

Safety Protocols

Instruction

Social-Emotional Learning

Operations

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OPTION 1 Restore Illinois Phase 4

In-Person Instruction with Health & Safety Modifications

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SAFETY PROTOCOLS Option 1, Restore Illinois Phase 4: In-Person Instruction with Health & Safety Modifications PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Face coverings are mandatory for everyone inside a school facility or school bus.

IDPH exceptions made for individuals who have trouble breathing, are incapacitated, unconscious or unable to remove the cover without assistance.

Physician's note required for students unable to wear face covering for medical reasons.

Face masks must cover both nose and mouth.

Face shield may only be used in lieu of masks for specialized circumstances.

Face coverings may be removed outdoors if social distancing can be practiced.

SCREENING STUDENTS, STAFF & VISITORS All staff must self-certify they are COVID-19 symptom and temperature-free each day before entering buildings or buses.

Parents must self-certify their child is symptom and fever-free before boarding a bus or entering a school building.

All school visitors will have temperatures taken and asked symptom screener questions.

HYGIENE Adequate hand soap and hand sanitizer will be available throughout the buildings.

Staff will teach and reinforce handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and/or the safe use of hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Scheduled handwashing or sanitizing will take place throughout the school day.

Use of lockers will be suspended.

Sharing of personal items such as writing utensils will not be permitted.

CLEANING Buildings will be disinfected daily.

High-touch areas such as doorknobs, handles, desks and tables will be sanitized frequently.

Professional-grade sanitizing sprayers to be used in buildings.

School buses will be cleaned with anti-viral spray between routes.

Sensory rooms and other shared spaces will be disinfected after use.

Bathrooms to be cleaned more frequently.

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SAFETY PROTOCOLS Option 1, Phase 4: In-Person Instruction with Health & Safety Modifications PROTOCOLS FOR RESPONDING TO INDIVIDUALS WITH COVID-19 SYMPTOMS OR POSITIVE TEST Students who present with COVID19 symptoms will be supervised in a protected health space until a parent or guardian can pick them up.

Protected health spaces will be separate from the nurse's office and will not be used by students with other health concerns.

Staff who present with COVID-19 symptoms will leave the building immediately.

As mandated by ISBE & IDPH, any individual who has been in close contact with a person testing positive for COVID-19 must selfquarantine for 14 days.

Any individual required to quarantine to do close contact will transition to remote learning.

ISBEÂ and IDPH do not require a full school closure due to a positive COVID-19 test.

Those required to quarantine due to close contact may include school bus contacts.

District 15 will be contact tracing to the greatest extent possible and will notify affected families in a timely manner.

SPACING & MOVEMENT Classroom desks and tables will be spaced apart to the greatest extent possible.

Desks and tables will all face the same direction to the greatest extent possible.

Parents and visitors are not allowed in the school building except under extenuating circumstances determined by district and school officials.

Students will remain in classroom cohorts for the full school day, when possible.

Staff will develop bathroom/ hallway use guidelines to limit numbers of individuals in these spaces at one time.

Signage will be posted in each school to indicate proper social distancing.

Students will stay, teachers will travel to the greatest extent possible.

Arrival and dismissal routines to be developed at each school to limit numbers of people entering individual doors and hallways.

Only 50 people will be allowed in any one space.

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SAFETY PROTOCOLS Option 1, Phase 4: In-Person Instruction with Health & Safety Modifications SPECIAL AREA SUBJECTS Art and music will take place with modifications that may include content being delivered in the classroom.

Librarians may modify how instruction is delivered that may include in-classroom or in-library instruction.

Library book check out is still being explored based upon the latest safety guidance available.

Physical education may take place in a variety of locations depending on available space for social distancing in each school.

Face masks must be worn during indoor physical education. While outdoors, masks may be removed if students are able to remain 6feet apart from each other.

JUNIOR HIGH CONSIDERATIONS To decrease student movement, students will stay in homeroom cohorts to the greatest extent possible. Students stay, teachers transition.

Safety modifications made to science, S.T.E.M. and art to restrict material sharing.

World & native language courses will be offered.

Music classes will be offered with safety modifications. The format of band is under evaluation due to health and safety precautions.

District 15's goal is to offer band in a safe and modified format.

Junior high lockers will not be in use-P.E. uniforms will not be worn.

SPECIAL EDUCATION CONSIDERATIONS 504 Plans or IEPs may be revised, on an individualized basis, for additional health and safety requirements.

Physician verification of face covering accommodations will be addressed by each student’s IEP or 504 Plan teams.

Social distancing may be modified in special education and preschool classrooms, coupled with increased disinfecting and hand washing practices.

Health & safety modifications across District 15 special education programs may look different based upon individual classroom/programmatic needs.

ASSEMBLIES, FIELD TRIPS & EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Assemblies will be suspended.

No field trips will be permitted.

Extracurricular activities will be evaluated upon the successful start of the school year.

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SAFETY PROTOCOLS Option 1, Phase 4: In-Person Instruction with Health & Safety Modifications PLAYGROUND USE & RECESS The use of playgrounds equipment is undetermined (July 10, 2020).

Students will wash or sanitize hands before and after recess.

Social distancing will be monitored to the greatest extent possible.

Recess areas will be limited to 50 individuals at a time.

TRANSPORTATION Bus transportation will be limited to 50 individuals on a bus, inclusive of school personnel.

Everyone on a bus is required to wear a face covering.

Physical distancing through special seating arrangements will be implemented to the greatest extent possible.

Paid transportation will be limited and only offered if space permits.

Buses will be disinfected with anti-viral cleaning solution daily.

High-touch surfaces disinfected after each route.

Windows will be open when possible to promote increased ventilation.

Students/parents must self-certify children are COVID-19 symptom and fever-free prior to arrival at the bus stop.

CAFETERIA & WATER FOUNTAINS Students may eat lunch in a variety of locations in a building to maximize social distancing.

Lunch areas could include cafeterias, classrooms, outdoor areas or other locations.

Meals purchased/provided by the District will be individually packaged and delivered to classrooms for consumption.

Hands will be washed before and after eating and tables/desks will be cleaned.

Water fountains will not be in use.

Students should bring water from home daily.

Special accommodations are being considered for students with food allergies. The D15 food allergy policies will be revised as needed.

C.A.R.E. C.A.R.E. will continue operations for enrolled students.

Access will be restricted to specific areas at each building to include only those absolutely needed.

C.A.R.E. will submit its safety protocols to D15 before the program begins and will follow all safety guidelines and requirements.

Face coverings will be required.

Physical distancing will be required to the greatest extent possible.

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INSTRUCTION Option 1, Phase 4: In-Person Instruction with Health & Safety Modifications LEARNING LOSS & RECOVERY District 15 is planning to address potential learning loss and/or acceleration as a result of the global pandemic.

Addressing challenges will require extended time and a high level focus on proven strategies to accelerate student learning.

Focus on four key areas of instructional practice: Consistent opportunities to work on grade-appropriate assignments.

Strong instruction, where students do most of the thinking in a lesson.

Deep engagement in what students are learning.

Teachers holding high expectations and believing students can meet gradelevel expectations.

INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIONS

Develop guidance and tools for how teachers should diagnose students’ unfinished learning to responsively guide instruction.

Update District pacing guides/ scope and sequence to reflect priority standards.

Develop teacher and leader communication and training plan to support staff to follow responsive teacher/student learning model (rather than remediate learning).

BENCHMARK & ASSESSMENT Assessments will be administered to inform teachers as to readiness levels of students.

In addition to rigorous core instruction, additional resources will be available for students.

PREPAREDNESS FOR CHANGE Staff will be ready to transition to remote learning at any point due to COVID-19.

Alignment of vision and goals under a common responsive instructional framework.

Virtual learning instructional standards (page 16) will be utilized if/when a transition is made.

Prioritize the most critical standards and prerequisite skills for each subject area and grade level.

Teachers will receive continuous professional development to strengthen virtual instruction.

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OPTION 2 Restore Illinois Phase 4

Virtual Learning at Home (Opt-Out of In-Person Instruction)

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INSTRUCTION Option 2, Phase 4: Virtual Learning at Home (Opt-Out of In-Person Instruction) VIRTUAL LEARNING PLACEMENT Available to students with elevated health risks or family members with elevated health risks.

Parents or students who prefer to learn from home until Phase 5 are also permitted to enroll.

VIRTUAL LEARNING SECTIONING Students in a virtual classroom may come from several District 15 schools and will be placed in a grade level cohort.

Class size targets set by the Board of Education will be followed to the greatest extent possible.

Each classroom will have a dedicated virtual learning teacher.

VIRTUAL LEARNING INSTRUCTION Virtual teachers will consistently deliver guaranteed and viable virtual curriculum following a synchronous and asynchronous approach.

Virtual learning will align with inperson learning through common resources & digital platforms, scope & sequence and pacing guides.

Special area classes including art, music and physical education.

Consistent teacher feedback and grading comparable to in-person instruction.

Weekly social-emotional learning (SEL) lessons designed to identify and support student needs and build community.

To learn more about the differences between virtual and in person instruction, please visit the Return to Learn website.

TECHNOLOGY Every child will receive (or already has) a Chromebook.

Hotspots available for families without Internet connectivity.

Staff to continue helping with Comcast Internet enrollment.

Google Classroom and/or Seesaw will be used as learning management systems.

ENROLLMENT DECISION The decision to participate in the virtual learning environment will be for the full year, or until Phase 5.

Change requests made will be reviewed by the Intra-district Transfer committee and will be granted when possible.

Goal: To feel safe, connected, & have access to learning.

Both live, virtual instruction on & independent work.

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INSTRUCTION Option 2, Phase 4: Virtual Learning at Home (Opt-Out of In-Person Instruction) INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIONS Focus on four key areas of instructional practice: Consistent opportunities to work on grade-appropriate assignments.

Strong instruction, where students do most of the thinking in a lesson.

Deep engagement in what students are learning.

Teachers hold high expectations and believe students can meet gradelevel expectations.

BENCHMARK & ASSESSMENT Assessments will be administered to inform teachers as to readiness levels of students.

In addition to rigorous core instruction, additional resources will be available for students.

LEARNING LOSS & RECOVERY Addressing challenges will require extended time and a high level focus on proven strategies to accelerate student learning.

Alignment of vision and goals under a common responsive instructional framework.

Prioritize the most critical standards and prerequisite skills for each subject area and grade level.

Develop guidance and tools for how teachers should diagnose students’ unfinished learning to responsively guide instruction.

Update District pacing guides/ scope and sequence to reflect priority standards.

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MENTAL & SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL WELLNESS In-Person and Virtual Learning SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL FOCUS AREAS District 15 values educating the whole child, inclusive of mental and social emotional wellness.

Supports in place to establish routines, structures, and lessons for all students.

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Cool Tools will help address new expectations and routines to address increased safety expectations returning to school such as hand washing, distancing at school and how to wear your mask during the school day.

Social-emotional curriculum educates students on how to respond to their emotions and other difficult situations, allowing staff to explicitly teach and students to apply new learning with their classmates.

Create a classroom community.

Provide teachers with tools, activities, and lessons that promote positive classroom community and the use of social and emotional practices.

DISTRICT 15 HELP LINE District 15 help line will remain open through all phases of Restore Illinois.

Help line can be used for phone calls or texts and is available to anyone needing mental health or other resources.

Helpline will be available MondayThursday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

English: 847-460-2099 Spanish: 847-460-2129

Emphasize connections and acknowledgment.

Provide schools with activities that promote positive connections for both students and staff through acknowledging positive behavior.

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OPERATIONS In-Person and Virtual Learning COMMUNICATIONS We are committed to keeping parents informed through all phases of COVID-19.

District 15 will communicate with families and staff when an individual tests positive for COVID-19 — whom to communicate with will be based on results of contact tracing.

Families and staff will be asked to report possible cases to school to initiate contact tracing.

Bi-weekly district newsletters and monthly school newsletters with general updates.

Emergency communications will be sent by text and phone.

Website to be updated daily with any new information.

STAFFING & HUMAN RESOURCES Top goal is connecting with staff to ensure readiness & availability to return to work.

COVID CARES Act dollar allocations for additional staff, when necessary.

Permanent substitutes Additional lunch and recess supervisors Additional custodial staff Program assistant assigned to the office

PARENT RESOURCES AND EDUCATION Regularly scheduled instructional videos will be available to increase comfort and competency to support virtual learning.

Learning will be available “on demand” for access at any time after publication date.

Parent U options will be available to support our student population and language needs.

Staffing plans to be made based upon parent selection of inperson or virtual learning.

Due to staffing implications, enrollment change requests will be reviewed by our intradistrict transfer committee and granted when possible.

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RESTORE ILLINOIS

PHASES 1, 2 or 3 Virus Status

Rate of infection is either spreading or flattening.

Only essential businesses remain open for indoor shopping. Outdoor activities are permitted

School Operating Status

School buildings are closed for in-person instruction.

Remote/virtual learning is implemented

If Illinois re-enters Phase 1, 2 or 3, social-emotional learning and operations guidelines from Phase 4 options will still apply.

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INSTRUCTION Phases 1, 2 and 3 District-Wide Virtual Learning TECHNOLOGYÂ Every child will receive (or already has) a Chromebook.

Hotspots available for families without Internet connectivity.

Staff to continue helping with Comcast Internet enrollment.

VIRTUAL LEARNING TRANSITION Teachers will transition from inperson instruction to virtual learning for all children.

Teachers will utilize a learning management system for virtual learning. Seesaw and/or Google Classroom will be used in each classroom.

VIRTUAL LEARNING INSTRUCTION Virtual teachers will consistently deliver guaranteed and viable virtual curriculum following a synchronous and asynchronous approach.

Special area classes including art, music and physical education.

Consistent teacher feedback and grading comparable to in-person instruction.

Weekly social-emotional learning (SEL) lessons designed to identify and support student needs and build community.

To learn more about the differences between virtual and in person instruction, please visit

RESPONSIVE TEACHING PRACTICES If Illinois goes back to Phase 1, 2 or 3, teachers, students and parents will need to be flexible and ready to transition in and out of virtual learning until a widely available vaccine or effective treatment for COVID-19 is available.

Virtual learning will align with inperson learning through common resources & digital platforms, scope & sequence and pacing guides. Goal: To feel safe, connected, & have access to learning.

Both live, virtual instruction on & independent work.

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Return to Learn Roadmap

CONCLUSION The Return to Learn Roadmap was created to share expectations and options for parents during Restore Illinois Phase 4 and the opening of the 2020-21 school year. This document also provides a summary of instructional expectations if Illinois regresses to Phases 3, 2 or 1. When the state reaches Phase 5 of Restore Illinois, all staff and students will return to our buildings where we can teach and learn together once again.

This document was created using several resources to guide District 15's planning. The resource list is included below.

RESOURCES: Restore Illinois Illinois State Board of Education Phase 4 Guidance Illinois Department of Public Health Centers for Disease Control We understand parents may have additional questions after reading the Return to Learn Roadmap. For answers to frequently asked questions, a parent calendar and links to COVID-19 resources, visit www.ccsd15.net/ReturnToLearn. *Based on the unpredictable nature of COVID-19, District 15 is poised and ready to adapt to any changes in the environment and/or new guidance from IDPH and ISBE. We remain committed to communicating with you regarding any new information about the 2020-21 school year and appreciate your continued support and collaboration.

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