COVID-19 Continuity of Education Plan

  • School District
    мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø

    Superintendent
    Dr. Jennifer Murray

    Address
    800 Washington Street
    Reading, PA 19601

    Website
    www.readingsd.org

Goal of Plan

  • The intent of the мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø plan is to continue the education of all students enrolled through remediation and enrichment.  The Reading District has approximately 18,000 students enrolled from diverse backgrounds.  The district participates in community based free and reduced lunch programs so 100% of students are provided free breakfast and lunch.  The goal is to provide equal access to education to all students despite the challenges that some students face while living in poverty.

    Update as of April 20, 2020:
    THe school district will transition to planned instruction for K-12 and distribute chromebooks for students to use in their home. 

Overview of Plan

  • The plan focuses on communicating offline and online materials focused on remediation and enrichment and planned instruction to families and students through the utilization of google classrooms, email, phone, or dojo messaging.  Teachers have the opportunity to virtually plan with their grade level/content area one day a week to offer a variety of resources for students. Teacher created materials are provided for students electronically or hard copied at food distribution sites.  There are challenges that exist in reaching students who do not have devices or connectivity at home.  мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø will distribute chromebooks for student use in the home to connect with the planned instruction mode of teaching and learning.

Expectations for Teaching and Learning

  • Week of March 16 and 23, 2020:

    The district developed hard copied work packets for each grade level band, prek-1, 2-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-12,  to engage students during this two week time period.  The activity packets contained both online and offline activities to adapt to the resources students and families had available to them at home. These were disseminated  at the 10 food distribution sites as well as posted on the мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø website.

    March 30 to April 30, 2020:
    мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø has created a structure for all teachers to follow in order to plan, deliver and communicate with families. The purpose of these activities is to continue to engage students in learning during the time at home.  Teachers will be planning virtually and pushing out 5 days worth of assignments and activities to students. Students are not graded during this time period.

    The district is currently planning how teachers can deliver planned instruction for the rest of the year.


    Updated information as of April 20, 2020

    April 13 to April 30, 2020:
    мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø has been distributing chromebooks for students to use at home as мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø transitions from remediation and enrichment to planned instruction.

    May 1, 2020 to June 16, 2020:
    Teachers and students will be participating  in planned instruction for the remainder of the school year.

Communication Tools and Strategies

  • Students, Parents and Teachers utilize the following communication methods:

    • Class Dojo and Remind system
    • Google 
    • Google Meet
    • Email
    • Phone call
    • Website
    • Blackboard notifications
    • мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø Mobile App
    • Translation Services

Access (Devices, Platforms, Handouts)

  • мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø is not a 1:1 device district.  Students can access the remediation and enrichment activities on line via their home computer or they can access the work in the hard copy form/ handouts when they pick up their meals at one of the 10 food distribution sites. 

    Updated April 20, 2020:
    мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø began to distribute chromebooks to students who did not have technology at home so they could virtually connect with teachers. 

Staff General Expectations

  • мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø is functioning under the Enrichment and Remediation choice for Continuity of Education and is transitioning into Planned Instruction as of May 1, 2020. мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø will survey students to determine if online education is currently feasible with at home access. Students will access instructional materials in a variety of ways depending on their access to devices and the internet.

    Elementary (K-4)
    Fully Online Option

    • Students will access asynchronous lessons assigned by classroom teachers through current district resources. 
      • Wonders, Reading Eggs, Math Seeds, Go Math, HMH Science
    • Access to the lesson will be provided through a range of options including Clever Log-ins, Class Dojo and Google Classroom
    • Accommodations will be made to the assigned materials for English Learners and Special Education Students in conjunction with ESL and Special Education teachers including the assignment of materials in adaptive platforms. 
    • Work will be assigned on Monday for five days of instruction. Students will have until the following Monday to complete the assignments 
    • Students may access support for the assigned materials through a mix of synchronous office hours and asynchronous video support.
    • All teacher assignments will be remedial in nature.
    • Students will receive feedback from teachers - material will not be graded.

     

    Blended Option

    • Students will access district platforms (Google Classroom, Class Dojo) to download district created choice boards or supplemental items offered by their classroom teacher. 
    • Choice boards are constructed of one daily activity per core area and one weekly activity for related arts courses. 
    • Choice boards are translated in Spanish and Language Development activities are embedded into the choice boards
    • Students may also access printable presentations and worksheets available on the district platforms 

     

    Offline Option

    • Students and parents can pick-up a weekly choice board at the district feeding sites. 
    • Choice boards are constructed of one daily activity per core area and one weekly activity for related arts courses. 
    • Choice boards are translated in Spanish and provided to each family. 
    • Language Development activities are embedded into the choice boards

     

    Middle School (5-8)
    Fully Online Option

    • Students will access asynchronous lessons assigned by classroom teachers through current district resources. 
      • Wonders, Suite 360, Go Math, HMH Science, My Perspectives, Code.org
    • Access to the lesson will be provided through a range of options including Clever Log-ins, Class Dojo and Google Classroom
    • Accommodations will be made to the assigned materials for English Learners and Special Education Students in conjunction with ESL and Special Education teachers including the assignment of materials in adaptive platforms. 
    • Work will be assigned on Monday for five days of instruction. Students will have until the following Monday to complete the assignments 
    • Students may access support for the assigned materials through a mix of synchronous office hours and asynchronous video support.
    • All teacher assignments will be remedial in nature.
    • Students will receive feedback from teachers - material will not be graded.

     

    Blended Option

    • Students will access district platforms (Google Classroom, Class Dojo) to download district created choice boards or supplemental items offered by their classroom teacher. 
    • Choice boards are constructed of one daily activity per core area and one weekly activity for related arts courses. 
    • Choice boards are translated in Spanish and provided to each family. 
    • Language Development activities are embedded into the choice boards
    • Students may also access printable presentations and worksheets available on the district platforms
    •  

     

    Offline Option

    • Students and parents can pick-up a weekly choice board at the district feeding sites. 
    • Choice boards are constructed of one daily activity per core area and one weekly activity for related arts courses. 
    • Choice boards are translated in Spanish and provided to each family. 
    • Language Development activities are embedded into the choice boards

     

    High School (9-12)
    Fully Online Option

    • Students will access daily asynchronous activities and instruction via Google Classroom. 
    • Instruction will be differentiated  in conjunction with Special Education and ESL staff members to meet students' individual needs. 
    • Staff will provide weekly office hours to provide support to students academically.

     

    Offline Option

    • Students and parents were provided choice boards  at the district feeding sites. 

Student Expectations

  • мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø is functioning under the Enrichment and Remediation choice for Continuity of Education. мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø will survey students to determine if online education is currently feasible with at home access. Students will access instructional materials in a variety of ways depending on their access to devices and the internet.

    Elementary (K-4)
    Fully Online Option

    • Students will access asynchronous lessons assigned by classroom teachers through current district resources. 
      • Wonders, Reading Eggs, Math Seeds, Go Math, HMH Science
    • Access to the lesson will be provided through a range of options including Clever Log-ins, Class Dojo and Google Classroom
    • Accommodations will be made to the assigned materials for English Learners and Special Education Students in conjunction with ESL and Special Education teachers including the assignment of materials in adaptive platforms. 
    • Work will be assigned on Monday for five days of instruction. Students will have until the following Monday to complete the assignments 
    • Students may access support for the assigned materials through a mix of synchronous office hours and asynchronous video support.
    • All teacher assignments will be remedial in nature.
    • Students will receive feedback from teachers - material will not be graded.

    Blended Option

    • Students will access district platforms (Google Classroom, Class Dojo) to download district created choice boards or supplemental items offered by their classroom teacher. 
    • Choice boards are constructed of one daily activity per core area and one weekly activity for related arts courses. 
    • Choice boards are translated in Spanish and Language Development activities are embedded into the choice boards
    • Students may also access printable presentations and worksheets available on the district platforms  

    Offline Option

    • Students and parents can pick-up a weekly choice board at the district feeding sites. 
    • Choice boards are constructed of one daily activity per core area and one weekly activity for related arts courses. 
    • Choice boards are translated in Spanish and provided to each family. 
    • Language Development activities are embedded into the choice boards

     

    Middle School (5-8)
    Fully Online Option

    • Students will access asynchronous lessons assigned by classroom teachers through current district resources. 
      • Wonders, Suite 360, Go Math, HMH Science, My Perspectives, Code.org
    • Access to the lesson will be provided through a range of options including Clever Log-ins, Class Dojo and Google Classroom
    • Accommodations will be made to the assigned materials for English Learners and Special Education Students in conjunction with ESL and Special Education teachers including the assignment of materials in adaptive platforms. 
    • Work will be assigned on Monday for five days of instruction. Students will have until the following Monday to complete the assignments 
    • Students may access support for the assigned materials through a mix of synchronous office hours and asynchronous video support.
    • All teacher assignments will be remedial in nature.
    • Students will receive feedback from teachers - material will not be graded. 

    Blended Option

    • Students will access district platforms (Google Classroom, Class Dojo) to download district created choice boards or supplemental items offered by their classroom teacher. 
    • Choice boards are constructed of one daily activity per core area and one weekly activity for related arts courses. 
    • Choice boards are translated in Spanish and provided to each family. 
    • Language Development activities are embedded into the choice boards
    • Students may also access printable presentations and worksheets available on the district platforms 

    Offline Option

    • Students and parents can pick-up a weekly choice board at the district feeding sites. 
    • Choice boards are constructed of one daily activity per core area and one weekly activity for related arts courses. 
    • Choice boards are translated in Spanish and provided to each family. 
    • Language Development activities are embedded into the choice boards

     

    High School (9-12)
    Fully Online Option

    • Students will access daily asynchronous activities and instruction via Google Classroom. 
    • Instruction will be differentiated  in conjunction with Special Education and ESL staff members to meet students' individual needs. 
    • Staff will provide weekly office hours to provide support to students academically.

     

    Offline Option

    • Students and parents were provided choice boards  at the district feeding sites. 

Attendance and Accountability

  • It is the goal of the мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø for student engagement in the remediation and enrichment activities and planned instruction  provided by teachers.  No child will be penalized for work not being completed under this premise.  Teachers will monitor who is engaging in the materials and will reach out to those students not interacting with instruction.

    Students will be marked as present unless a parent provides notification the student is sick.  Teachers will make attempts of connecting with students/parents via Class Dojo/Remind, Google Meet and/or phone.  If a teacher has a concern or is unable to connect, he or she will notify the administrator, counselor and social worker.

    Activities are provided via multiple outlets, Class Dojo, Google Classroom, мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø Website and paper copies are provided at meal distribution sites.  Activities include language acquisition tasks and are translated in Spanish.

Good Faith Efforts for Access and Equity for All Students

  • A survey is being conducted to determine the access to devices and internet families have.  The мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø will utilize these results to determine the distribution of devices.   Presently, мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø is utilizing both online and offline remediation and enrichment activities.  These activities are provided at the meal distribution sites and are translated in Spanish.  Beginning on May 1st, students will be participating in new learning.  Teachers will be providing new instruction through virtual format  utilizing мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø current platforms.

     

     

Special Education Supports

  •  

    Home Mentoring Program

    The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically impacted our way of life and the operation of our school community.  In an effort to support our students in maintaining academic and social-emotional skills, keep students connected to their school community, and support families to create a sense of normalcy and routine, the Office of Special Education is launching the Home Mentoring Program.  The Home Mentoring Program will be led collaboratively by Special Education Teachers, Related Service Providers, Social Workers, School Counselors, Principals, Assistant Principals and the Central Office Special Education Department.  Parents/guardians will be pivotal partners in the school district’s ability to provide special education services in the home environment.   

     

    Which students will participate in the Home Mentoring Program?

    • The Home Mentoring Program will be offered as a voluntary support to students receiving special education services or accommodations through a Section 504 Service Agreement.
    • The мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø will attempt to provide as many supports and services outlined in students’ IEPs and Section 504 Service Agreements as reasonably possible during the mandated shutdown. 

     

    What supports/interventions are being provided as a part of the Home Mentoring

    Program?

    The Home Mentoring Program consists of some or all of the components listed below, depending on the student’s IEP and the student’s ability to access the supports from the home learning environment.  Please review the detailed explanations below regarding each component. 

               

    • Home Mentoring Program Components:
    • Special Education Case Manager Check-Ins
    • Special Education Case Managers will contact students and parents/guardians via phone call or video conference (Google Meet) once or twice weekly to perform a wellness check and support students in establishing a routine.
    • Special Education Case Manager Office Hours
    • Special Education Case Managers will maintain office hours at regularly scheduled times throughout the shutdown for the following purposes:
    • Provide support to caseload students 
    • Troubleshoot barriers to student engagement
    • Conduct Special Education Case Manager Check-Ins
    • Provide academic skill review
    • Academic Skill Review 
    • Academic skill review led by the Special Education Case Manager will include live, direct individual, small group, and/or whole group concept review in core content areas and according to the students’ IEP goals. 
    • If technology is accessible in the home, students will be offered online resources/activities.  If technology is not accessible in the home, students will be offered resources/activities that do not require technology. 
    • Adaptive/Functional Skill Review
    • Students will continue to receive adaptive/functional skill review during the shutdown.  
    • Adaptive/functional skill review led by the Special Education Case Manager will include live, direct individual, small group, and/or whole group instruction.
    • Social Skills Review
    • Students will continue to receive social skills instruction during the shutdown.  
    • Special Education Case Managers will schedule small group social skills sessions via video conference (i.e. Google Meet).
    • Related Services including Counseling
    • Students will continue to receive related services during the shutdown.
    • Students receiving special education services that have related services in their IEPs will receive the same rate of service during the shutdown to maintain skills if they have technology access (device and internet access).
    • Related service providers will provide service via video conference (i.e. Google Meet).
    • Verbal Behavior (VB)
    • Students will continue to receive verbal behavior programming during the shutdown if they have technology access (device and internet access).
    • The Special Education Case Manager will schedule Intensive Teaching and/or manding sessions with the students in individual sessions via video conference (i.e. Google Meet).  Depending on the student, parental involvement may be needed in order to provide this service in the home environment.

     

    Confidentiality

    The мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø has made reasonable efforts to ensure that such video conferencing is confidential, and access is limited to students in the assigned groups.  However, some of these services will be provided in a group format and when this occurs students will be able to see other students in the group. In addition, the мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø is unable to control who else may be in the room in which a student is receiving these services remotely, including other family members or others who are living with the other students, who may observe the session and what other students are in the group.  Therefore, the мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø expects all families will review and implement the following guidelines and expectations to ensure the confidentiality rights of all students are protected during instructional methodologies which will include group communications, and/or video conferencing.

    1. Neither мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø nor parent shall make or maintain recordings of the course content or classroom activity or other group communication that is conveyed via the virtual attendance services. Recordings will be maintained of the live classroom instruction with the teacher present in the recording only for students who are unable to receive the instruction during the virtual instruction time period. Students will not be recorded.

    2. Parent shall make every effort to ensure that no one other than the student scheduled to participate in a virtual attendance service can see or hear the virtual attendance service.

    3. If parental or other third-party involvement in a virtual attendance service is necessary to enable a student to participate, the individual assisting the student shall not re-disclose any personally identifiable information about any student involved in the virtual attendance activity.

    4. If the parent’s electronic equipment malfunctions in any way, the planned virtual attendance services will continue as scheduled.

    5. The parties agree that this Agreement does not apply to the video- or audio-taping of any course material by teachers that have been or may be made available to students from time to time.

EL Supports

  • All English Learners will participate in their general educational programs which will be offered through synchronous and asynchronous online activities as well as through offline options communicated on weekly choice boards.  It is the expectation of the District that general education, special education and ESL teachers will collaborate regularly to develop instructional materials that are equitable and accessible to as many students as possible.

     

    Offline Options:  

    • The District has assigned ESL Teachers to work with general content teachers to create a bank of tasks for each content area, including English language development, which will be used to create printed choice boards on a weekly basis.  
    • The tasks will be submitted to a group of Professional Development Facilitators who will then select and analyze each task through the lens of access and equity and add any additional scaffolds to ensure that all learners, including ELs, will be able to complete them successfully.  
    • These weekly choice boards will then be translated, printed and distributed at our weekly food distribution sites.  They will also be made available on our district's remote learning website.

     

    Online Options:  

    General Content Classes:  ESL Teachers will be assigned to work with content teachers to ensure that online content resources are differentiated to meet a wide range of English language proficiency levels.  For students at the higher levels of English proficiency, this will include content-based integrated ELD activities, as needed, to help ELs the language skills needed to access the content instruction.

     

    English Language Development:  In addition to the content-based integrated ELD instruction offered to ELs at higher proficiency levels, ESL Teachers will continue to provide instructional resources to students in need of designated English language development by designing lessons focused on Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing.  ESL Teachers will create designated Google Classrooms for their ELs and will post asynchronous assignments, videos, and other digital activities.  They will also offer synchronous ELD opportunities for students who can access them.

    ELs with Special Needs:

    • ESL Teachers will collaborate with Special Education teachers and will continue to be active participants on the IEP teams for dually identified students.
    • ESL Teachers will continue to provide appropriate levels of ELD support (integrated, designated or consultative) commensurate to the students' English proficiency levels and in alignment with the students' academic/developmental needs.

     

    Ensuring Effective Communication with ELs and their Families:

     

    • ESL Teachers will make their email addresses available to students and their families.  They will also offer virtual office hours to support ELs in need of additional remediation or support in accessing the assigned tasks.  ESL Paraprofessionals have been given devices to assist them in helping teachers with remote interpretation during these sessions, as needed.
    • All mass communications sent out by the District and schools will be sent out in both English and Spanish, at minimum.  Families in need of translation/interpretation services in low-incidence languages may be provided those services through remote interpretation systems like TransPerfect and Language Line.
    • Materials, instructions and communication will be translated, as needed and when appropriate, either through the use of electronic translation apps, remote interpretation, our district-wide interpreters/translator, bilingual family engagement facilitators or through bilingual paraprofessionals.

     

    Professional Development:

    • The ESL Department will offer a variety of virtual professional development opportunities to all teachers on teaching and supporting ELs with an emphasis on remote instruction.

     

Gifted Education

  • Students in elementary and middle school will have contact with their gifted teachers once in a cycle. High school students will meet for small group instruction once per week.  GIEP meetings will be held as regularly scheduled via Google Meet or over the phone. Translation services are available for GIEP meetings. 

     

    High School Gifted:

    The identified Gifted students at Reading High School will be working on interest areas which they have chosen during the school year.  Students have selected one of six interest areas: Geography, Astronomy, 2020 Presidential Election, Natural Science, Personal Finance and Engineering. Students will continue to be offered small group instruction in their area of interest via Google Classroom and Google Meet.   

     

    Middle School Gifted:

    Middle school gifted programs will follow the middle school academic delivery options. Gift teachers will hold weekly office hours. In addition students will access enrichment activities through offline and online platforms.

     

    Online Options:

    Offering Khan Academy to track progress in various topics based on grade level

    5th grade: math, ELA, hour of code, computer science (select the entire unit)

    6th grade: math - illustrative math, ELA, hour of code

    7th grade: math, ELA, hour of code, World History

    8th grade: math, ELA, hour of code, U.S. History

     

    Track student progress on DuoLingo

    Social-emotional journaling - free writing - Google Document 

    Book Discussions

    Peardeck - weekly wonders

     

    Offline Options:

    STEM challenges 

    100 Brick Lego Challenge-

    Journaling- Students will journal their thoughts and feelings on the current state of affairs as though someone will find and read their journal in 50 years.

     

    Elementary Gifted:

    Teachers will communicate with parents and students at least once per 6 day cycle via Class Dojo, Google Classroom, email, or phone. Teachers will post enrichment activities for students at least once per 6 day cycle. 

     

    Activities to include:

    Journal prompts using higher order thinking questions

    News articles of high interest with reflection

    Khan Academy lessons

    TinkerCad activities

    Research modules in digital breakout format

    Student Choice Via a Gifted Google Classroom

Building and Grade-Level Contacts

  • Teaching and Learning Departments

    ESL
    Contact Wanda Crespo 

    Special Education
    Contact Siobhan Leavy 

    Professional Development
    Contact JuliAnne Kline 

    Curriculum Resources
    Contact Kevin Handerhan or Dr. Lindsey Stock

    Team/Department Meetings
    Contact Building Principals

    Google Questions
    Contact Building Principals 

    General Questions
    Contact Building Principals 

    Other
    Contact Dr. Jennifer Murray 

Resources

  • мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø COVID 19 Information Hub
    /Page/2330#

    Coronavirus Activities and Resources for At Home Learning Webpage, housed on the мÓÆÂÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø Website
    /domain/3901

    Second Step: Social Emotional Lessons K – 5 and information about coping during COVID 19

    Naviance: College & Career Readiness     

    Kaplan:Free SAT/ACT and AP Prep as well as free college, career and life readiness lessons