Frequently Asked Questions - At-School Learning
The following questions and answers are intended to help parents/guardians learn more about JPS' At-School option for the 2020-21 school year. As always, this information is subject to change at any time. There are still many more questions to be answered, so please check this page regularly for new answers and updates.
View this page in Burmese - ဤစာမျက်နှာကိုဗမာဘာသာဖြင့်ကြည့်ပါ
When is the first day of school?
The first day of school is Monday, August 24. Click here to view the full 2020-21 instructional calendar.
What is the difference between “distance learning” and the “virtual option”?
In the event of a site or district closure, students attending school in-person will transition to distance learning. Distance learning classes are taught by the same JPS teacher as the in-person class and will continue to follow the established JPS curriculum.
In the virtual option - also known as the Trojan Connect Program - students opt-in at the beginning of the semester and take all classes online for the remainder of the semester regardless of whether school sites are open or closed. The curriculum in the Trojan Connect Program is generated by Calvert (K-6) or Edgenuity (7-12). A JPS teacher monitors students’ progress and is available via email, however, the JPS teacher is not leading the class or posting assignments. All course work is assigned and completed through the Calvert or Edgenuity platform. Click here to view the Frequently Asked Questions page about the Trojan Connect Program.
If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, how will they know when to return to school?
Sick students and staff members should not return to school until they have met the CDC criteria to discontinue home isolation. Here is a helpful guide from the CDC website:
I think or I know I had COVID-19, and I had symptoms.
You can return to school after:
-
At least 10 days since symptoms first appeared and
-
At least 24 hours with no fever without fever-reducing medication and
-
Symptoms have improved
I tested positive for COVID-19 but I had no symptoms.
If you continue to have no symptoms, you can return to school after:
-
10 days have passed since test
Source: CDC website-When you can be around others after you had or likely had COVID-19
Will parents be notified if their child has been in direct contact or close contact with an individual who tested positive for COVID-19?
Yes, the parents will be notified. While JPS must adhere to confidentiality requirements of health information, parents will be notified and provided with as much information as possible.
Will parents be notified when any student at their child’s school has tested positive for COVID-19?
No. Parents will only be notified if their child has been in close contact with someone who has tested positive. In cases of secondary or incidental contact, there is no need for quarantine or for any additional action to be taken.
“Close contact” is defined by the CDC as being near a positive individual at a distance of six feet or less for more than 15 minutes.
Should parents notify the school site if their child or someone in the family has tested positive for COVID-19?
Yes. Parents are asked to notify the school and the child should not return to school until they have met the CDC criteria to discontinue home isolation.
How will collaboration days be different this year?
For the 2020-21 school year, District Collaboration Days will be Distance Learning Days for all JPS students. Instead of a late start at all school sites, students will stay home on these dates to participate in distance learning. Teachers will notify students of assignments via Canvas or other digital platforms. On these dates, students enrolled in the Trojan Connect Program (all virtual option) will continue their coursework as normal, while students enrolled in the At-School option or Blended Learning option will participate in distance learning.
JPS staff members will still collaborate on these dates to collaborate, but students will not attend school in-person at any time during these dates.
Distance Learning/Staff Collaboration Dates:
Friday, September 25
Friday, October 30
Friday, December 4
Friday, January 29
Friday, February 26
Friday, March 26
How will the mask requirement for staff and students in grades 3-12 be enforced?
The Board of Education will adopt a policy governing mask-wearing for students, staff, and visitors.
Will students have their temperature taken upon arrival at school?
No. It is not feasible or efficient for staff members to check temperatures of students every day. It is more practical for parents to check temperatures at home and monitor students for symptoms. Children should not be allowed to go to school if they are running a fever or displaying symptoms.
If a Pre-K parent chooses not to send their student to school in the fall, will they lose their spot for the spring or can they stay home in the fall and return in the spring?
Parents may contact the JPS Enrollment Center to be placed on a waiting list for the spring semester. Space is not guaranteed.
Will field trips take place during the fall semester?
Field trips will not be scheduled until further notice. Teachers will be encouraged to pursue virtual options for students whenever possible. Of course, this guidance could change based on the nature of the pandemic.
Will students have recess?
Yes. Each school site will determine what recess will look like and if/how any restrictions need to be put in place.
If a student tests positive, will only students in surrounding desks need to quarantine or will every student in the classroom be required to quarantine?
Once a positive case is confirmed, JPS will conduct thorough contact tracing and work as quickly as possible to determine which students had close contact with the positive student. Seating charts - at the secondary level - will help JPS determine which students were in close contact. Seating charts will be required in all secondary classrooms and will play a key role in the contact tracing process.
“Close contact” is defined by the CDC as being near a positive individual at a distance of six feet or less for more than 15 minutes.
What happens when a teacher tests positive? Does the entire class need to stay home for 14 days? Will those students immediately transition to distance learning?
Those students determined to have close contact with the teacher will be required to quarantine and transition to distance learning. As stated in the answer above, JPS will conduct thorough contact tracing to determine which individuals had close contact. Those with close contact will be notified.
What happens if school is unable to start on August 19? Will the start of the school year be postponed or will distance learning begin on August 19?
At this time, there are no plans to postpone the start of the school year. If at-school learning is not possible on August 19, students enrolled in the at-school option will begin the year with distance learning.
What if a student misses more than 10 days in a semester due to illness or possible contact with someone who has COVID-19? Will this result in a loss of credit?
No. Both school board policy and state guidelines governing chronic absenteeism allow for exceptions based on serious illness. Students who are required to quarantine or who are ill due to COVID-19 will not be penalized.
If school is disrupted, will meals be available for students/families to pick-up?
Child nutrition services operate under federal guidelines. Meals will be provided for pick-up during distance learning periods as long as this method of service continues to be allowed.
Will extra masks be made available to students riding the bus?
Students should provide their own mask or face covering and bring it to the bus stop each day. The mask or face covering should be treated just like a backpack or an article of clothing - don’t leave home without it. For those who forget, masks will be available on buses in limited quantities.
Will visitors be allowed in school buildings?
Visitors, including parents/guardians, will not be allowed past the school’s front office.