Full services according to IEPs/GFECLPs will continue to be delivered. For a short period of transition, service provision, with the exception of self-contained classrooms, will be delivered virtually, while we work to determine who is returning and how schedules will be adjusted to provide in person services.  We look forward to making the shift to in person service provision as soon as possible.

Special Education Evaluations will begin to take place in person as soon as possible.  A team of school psychologists have already begun working to schedule in person evaluations for students with outstanding evaluations.  We take this process very seriously and understand the importance and impact an evaluation can have on a child's life. We will work tirelessly to ensure every student has received the appropriate evaluations as soon as possible and continue the evaluation process into the summer if necessary.

For stage 1 (SC, PK, Y5,K, small groups 6-12):  March 22, 23, and 24

For stage 2 (1,2)):  March 24, 25, 26

For stages 3 & 4 (3-12):  April 7, 8, 9

• Students in all grades participating in hybrid instruction will attend in person 2 days per week, either Monday and Tuesday OR Thursday and Friday, depending on the cohort assigned. 
• Students in self contained placements will attend in person 2 days per week on Thursday and Friday, March 25, 26 & Monday and Tuesday April 5 and 6.
• Beginning April 12, students will attend 4 days per week on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
• Students in secondary (Grades 6-12) self contained placements will  attend school in person from 8:20am - 3:10pm.  Students in elementary self contained placements attend according the elementary bell times above.

Staff will do their absolute best to maintain the 6 feet of distancing but for instances in which that is not possible staff will be wearing masks and other PPE.

Teachers and case managers will be contacting parents from Thursday, March 11 through March 17, to communicate plans and respond to any questions you may have.

Yes. Paraprofessionals will serve students in person at school.  Students remaining in remote instruction will continue to receive paraprofessional supports in much the same way moving forward. We’ve mentioned that additional PPE is provided to staff who will need to be in close contact with students to provide that support.

Whether students participate in-school hybrid learning or continue with virtual learning, full special education services will continue to be delivered, according to IEPs and GFCLPs. Upon return to in-school learning, building teams will review IEPs and assess whether the full extent of the IEP can be implemented during the in-school hybrid instruction phase.  It’s important to remember that while we remain in a hybrid situation.

During remote and hybrid learning, many students received GFECLPs to accommodate limitations in these settings.  Our goal is to begin to recover these services and supports over the coming weeks and months.  An important part of this planning is the continuation of robust summer learning and service opportunities for our students with IEPs. Families can expect a continuation and enhancement of the  Extended School Year, Summer Academies, and Intensive Reading Interventions. These programs range from one- to four-week sessions.  Recovery Services will be available to all students with IEPs, especially those who have been identified as recovery service eligible in IEP team meetings.

Our Facilities department has worked diligently to ensure that our buildings are prepared according to CDC protocol.  That means thorough disinfecting and cleaning, updated ventilation systems and water filtration.  Also,there will be signage to guide students through the building in a socially distanced manner.

Students in self contained placements who select hybrid are scheduled to attend 4 days a week beginning April 12.  Should a parent wish to keep their child at home for two of those days is they may do so according a set schedule arranged with the building principal and teacher.

We recognize that this question is coming up and we are working to consider ways to support this.   Due to distancing, cohorting, scheduling among multiple service providers and restrictions for families entering the building, we face challenges in accommodating special schedules for students and we will share more information over the coming days.

Early On, Community Based preschool, and services for students in nonpublic schools will begin to transition to in person services on April 12th. Your student’s teacher/case manager will contact you to discuss the process and help you make the best decision for your student.

Since Early On has a huge parent coaching component and takes place in student’s naturally occurring environments, which is often their home, it will be important to discuss the best options for your student and family.

We have been working directly with the WISD Early On coordinator to create guidelines to help in making these decisions.  These decisions will be made based on the progress students are making currently with a  virtual delivery model, preference of the family, and of course health and safety guidelines.

I would like to let you all know that our outstanding nurses have worked tirelessly to prepare guidelines to ensure safe assistance for medical procedures such as feeding and toileting. Staff will do their absolute best to maintain social distancing but for instances in which that is not possible staff will be wearing masks and other PPE.

At each stage of student return, principals will work with school teams to schedule students into cohorts and will be communicating these with families as soon as possible.

We plan to offer robust in person ESY programming  this summer as well as some virtual options and opportunities.

For the purposes of health and safety, we are unable to have building tours in advance of in person instruction.  However, building principals and teachers will be sharing video tours and reaching out with social stories and other supports to serve this purpose.