Key: Digital learning to continue

Key: Digital learning to continue

The state’s secretary of education told school program must be planned with purpose; it must have high-quality content and instruction; students and teachers must board members that digital have equity of access; teachers, students learning models won’t end and parents must be offered support; when the pandemic does. there must be clear expectations, policies and guidelines; and school districts But he said some things must plan for regular communication are non-negotiable. and interaction. Key said 5,125 at-home students By Steve Brawner Editor had been identified by 108 participating school districts as either “no shows”

Some of the virtual and hybrid ar- who never engaged in remote learning rangements created in response to COV- or as students who were not logging in ID-19 will outlive the pandemic because to their classes. The state has 262 school parents will want to continue educating districts. their children that way. But some things SECRETARY OF EDUCATION JOHNNY In response to this situation, the state are non-negotiable, Education Secretary KEY said digital programs must be Division of Elementary and SecondJohnny Key said at the ASBA Annual planned with purpose. ary Education has partnered with Conference Dec. 11. “Even if the pandemic has subsided, the Graduation Alliance to create the

Key said 64% of students this year we expect there will be parents across Engage Arkansas initiative to engage were onsite, while 22.3%, or 105,479 the state of Arkansas that feel like this is those students along with others who are students, were studying remotely. An- a good option for them. So we have to struggling at home. The division was other 13.5% were engaged in a hybrid be prepared for that,” he said. contacting them and trying to set them model of some kind. For the upcoming 2021-22 school up with a coach through the end of the

Key said the arrangements were year, schools must offer 178 days of school year. created to give school districts a way to instruction under the law, but they will Among the students contacted at the pivot to at-home instruction if necessary be able to continue to offer blended or time, more than 95% in grades 6-12 said because of the COVID-19 pandemic. remote instruction programs as they did they did have an adult checking on their However, some patrons will want to this year. progress. continue a blended or remote education, “Families are trying. Families are so the state must be ready to continue Quality is non-negotiable trying to support their kids. Sometimes offering these choices to parents and Key said six aspects of digital they just find it difficult to do that,” Key students. programs are “non-negotiables.” The said.

How can school board members support digital learning? By replacing myths with facts, having high expectations, and offering grace. They also should be prepared to hire additional technology staff.

Those were among the suggestions in a breakout session at the Annual Conference titled, “7 Steps for School Board Members Supporting Digital Learning.”

Cathi Swan, director of the Arkansas River Education Service Cooperative, said school board members should help dispel the myths associated with digital learning: that students can’t learn without a teacher in front of them, that technology will replace teachers, and that technology isn’t necessary because

Key: Digital learning to continue