Commissioner Seeks Waiver
Dear Education Stakeholders,
The Florida Department of Education has submitted a waiver request to the U.S. Department of Education to seek relief from federal assessment and accountability requirements as a result of school closures from COVID-19. One of the assurances of the waiver request is to provide public notice and the opportunity for public comment. If you have any comments on Florida’s waiver request, please email them to ESSA@fldoe.org.
Sincerely,
FDOE ESSA Team
Student Portal – ICONedu.org
ICONedu.org is a portal for Instructional Continuity for NEWCorp’s network of schools. Schools will reopen in a distance learning environment on Monday, March 23, 2020. Faculty training will be provided the week of the 18th. The Duval School district will begin on March 23, 2020. The Alachua School District and the Pinellas School District will not fully return in the Digital Learning Environment until March 30, 2020.
Student’s in all of the schools served by NEWCorp have always had the ability to work from home, but will need to adjust to full-time work from home with virtual support from teachers.
From US D.O.E.
Supplemental Fact Sheet 3.21.2020
To be clear: ensuring compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), † Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504), and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act should not prevent any school from offering educational programs through distance instruction.
Resource for schools
Virtual in Out Board is helping NEWCorp staff manage movements and stay connected throughout the day during the COVID-19 crisis. We are able to communicate who is “In” and “Out” and post status updates like “stepping out, be back in an hour.” We are also able to share this board in kiosk mode “view only” with our stakeholders. The cost is not prohibitive for non-profit organizations and the set up is painless. It is user-friendly.
WE Are Prepared for Distance Learning
~ Duval, Union, Sumter and Collier will begin implementing distance learning ~
Tallahassee, Fla., March 17, 2020 – Today, the Florida Department of Education praised Duval, Union, Sumter and Collier district leaders for their commitment to implementing distance learning once the districts’ extended spring breaks conclude. While the rest of Florida’s school districts will remain on an extended spring break through April 15, these four school districts will begin distance learning education while their campuses remain closed until April 15.
All NEWCorp Schools: Biscayne High School, Lone Star High School, Duval MYcroSchool, Pinellas MYcroSchool, and SIATech Gainesville will begin distance learning education on Monday, March 23, 2020. Please log in to your school website and complete the Student Family Survey as soon as possible!
The department has been working with individual districts to ensure students are still learning while they are out of the classroom.
“It is essential that students do not fall behind and are still receiving instruction, even when they are not in the classroom,” said Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran. “I praise these districts for being prepared to swiftly implement distance learning. It is crucial that we keep students safe and healthy, and I will continue working with each and every district to ensure that they have all the resources necessary as we respond to COVID-19.”
Alachua County
Due to COVID-19, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has announced that students will not return to school until at least April 15.
Obviously this will have a huge impact on students, families, staff and the entire community. The Florida Department of Education will be providing more guidance over the next few days regarding graduation and other critical issues. As soon as we have more information, we will certainly let you know.
We expect to begin providing for ‘instructional continuity’ for our students soon after Spring Break. We will notify you when we have those plans in place.
In the meantime, please know that ACPS will do all it can to support students, families and staff during this very, very challenging time.