Arlington Back-To-School Plans Start Taking Shape

ARLINGTON, MA — While the extent to which students will meet in person this school year, if at all, is still up in the air, the Arlington Public Schools has developed preliminary plans for in-person, remote and hybrid learning. The district released its draft plans for elementary and high schools, which will be discussed at Thursday's School Committee meeting.

Elementary Schools

Students and staff must be able to:

• maintain 3-6 feet of social distancing across the school day
• wear face masks and protective face coverings during the school day (with scheduled face mask breaks)

• remain in small classroom cohorts, with limited interaction between cohorts
• utilize the classroom for all core instruction, including specials (art, PE, music, library) and lunch

• regularly wash hands across the school day and frequently disinfect all used surfaces

In-School Learning With Restrictions

Safety equipment/considerations:

• All students and staff will be required to wear masks inside the building
• All students will be required to wash their hands multiple times throughout the day, including at arrival and dismissal.
• Teachers/staff will be provided a PPE kit with masks, face shield, and gloves
• Building hallways will be marked for one-way traffic/transition.
• May require arrival/dismissal considerations (ex. possible staggered times)
• Schools equipped with disinfecting “fogger” machines.
• Life-threatening food allergies will be considered as cleaning procedures are put in place (in consultation with the school nurse)
• Students will primarily remain in their homerooms with teachers to limit student interaction between cohorts

Classroom capacity:

• Traditional classrooms of 18-24 students
  • Larger cohorts would require repurposing larger spaces (gym, cafeteria, library, art, music room)
• 3 feet minimum social distancing with masks K-5

Lunch:

• Cafeteria capacity of 18-22
  • Addition of classroom and gym space would be required to fully accommodate lunch
• Minimum 6 feet social distancing, no masks

Mask breaks/recess:

• This will require access to outside space -
  • 6 feet of social distancing will require 5,000 to 10,000 sq ft
  • This assumes limited freedom of movement beyond dedicated personal space
• Significant limitations to using inside space when accommodating 6ft distancing
• Tents could be an option for some buildings

Specials:

• Art, PE, Music, and Library/Digital Literacy will likely require in-person and remote options

Staffing considerations:

• Each class (cohort) will be assigned teachers and paraprofessionals who will make up learning communities.
• When considering the capacity of any given classroom, three adults were included (based on the metric provided by DESE)

Hybrid Learning

Safety equipment/considerations:

• All students and staff will be required to wear masks inside the building
• Hand washing will be required at arrival and dismissal, hourly, and after eating
• Teachers/staff will be provided a PPE kit with masks, face shield, and gloves
• Building hallways will be marked for one-way traffic/transition. May require arrival/dismissal considerations (ex. possible staggered times)
• Schools equipped with disinfecting fogger machines
• Life-threatening food allergies will be considered as cleaning procedures are put in place (in consultation with the school nurse)
• Students would primarily remain in their homeroom to limit student interaction between cohorts

Classroom capacity:

• Classrooms of 9-12 students
• 6 feet minimum social distancing throughout the school day

Lunch:

• Students will be able to eat in cafeteria, classroom, and other available spaces as needed
• Minimum 6 feet social distancing, no masks

Mask breaks/recess:

• This will require access to outside space -
  • 6 feet of social distancing will require 5,000 sq ft
  • This assumes limited freedom of movement beyond dedicated personal space
• Cafeteria and gym spaces will be available for breaks and other purposes throughout the day

Specials:

• Art, PE, Music, and Library/Digital Literacy will likely require in-person and remote options

Staffing considerations:

• All staff members will be assigned to a cohort of students
• For the adults, the cohort will include both students who are at home and those who are in school (faculty will work in school every day).

Frequency Model - 2 days (aa, bb or ab, ab) Monday, Wednesday, or Friday CPT/PD and Intervention/Service:

Students would attend school for two days a week in person and two days a week remotely. Remote learning days will be a combination of live and recorded remote instruction, project based activities, and guided independent practice within the set school day schedule. Students will have scheduled access to school staff for support.

Students will attend school at every grade level, K-5. Each homeroom class will be broken into two cohorts (a and b). Each cohort will attend two in-person school days a week and two and a half remote school days. For example, cohort a may always attend school on Monday and Tuesday, while cohort b attends on Thursday and Friday.

The third day in the schedule is for work at home for the majority of students. This would include some live instruction, recorded content, and home practice. On this third day,
other students who are considered high needs could attend school or receive support from a teacher remotely or in person for a portion of the day. The remaining portion of that day would be for educator professional development, collaborative work with colleagues and district coaches, student feedback, and managing virtual classrooms.

This time will also be used to support the facilities cleaning and building improvements based on safety considerations.

Tuesday would not be an early release day, as in past years, but would be a full day.

Remote Learning

Students will be placed in fully remote classes. Instruction will be primarily synchronous with classroom teachers, with some time dedicated to guided independent work and recorded content, depending on age and ability. Under current guidelines, student schedules will include five hours per day of learning time and also include all specials (art, music, PE, and library).

Read more about the elementary school draft plans here.

High School

Students and staff must be able to:

• maintain social distances of three to six feet
• wear face-masks (grades 2-12)
• organize students at the middle and high school levels by cohorts to minimize interaction
• regularly wash hands across the school day and frequently disinfect all used surfaces
• The state guidance would allow groupings of 15-24+ in some of our classrooms

Common Program Elements:

As they do currently, students take the following number of classes during the school year. Final options will depend on available offerings.

• Grade 9 - 5 required, 1 elective, PE
• Grade 10 - 5 required, 1.5 electives. PE
• Grade 11 - 5 required 1-2 electives or possibly PE
• Grade 12 - 5 required 1-2 electives or possibly PE

Educational Program Details:

• Schedule with 4x80 minute blocks per day with semester long classes
• One day per week for prep/review for AP/Math/WL/MCAS, Community Block, planning and staff meetings (replaces the Tuesday early release)
• Physical Education all or mostly remote
• Teachers teach 5 classes per year (3 one term and 2 another)
• Students would take ~3 classes per semester, plus PEStudents can register for 6-7 classes per year, plus PE (see above)
• Consider heterogeneous grouping (Honors and Curriculum A combined) for specific 9-11 requirements to increase equity, teacher attention and even class sizes
• Special Education services will be delivered per student IEP
• Instrumental/chorus can register yearlong
• Some electives may move all or mostly remote
• Open campus - students leave or are assigned when not in class
• No homeroom
• 8:30a-2:56p School Day

In-Person Learning

• In-Person learning will involve classes of 18-24 students which meet 4 times a week in 80 minute blocks.
• The Remote Learning Program will be available to all students by request. Students will choose a program option.

• One day per week for prep/review for AP/Math/WL/MCAS, Community Block, planning, and staff meetings (replaces the Tuesday early release).
• Distancing - 3 feet distancing in all classes and activities. Teachers at 6 feet at the front of the classroom.

• Classroom arrangement - All students facing forward and seated at desks.
• Air Quality - Classrooms are being reviewed for ventilation. Air conditioning is being added in rooms adjacent to the construction or as necessary. Only rooms with adequate outside ventilation will be used.

• Passing time - 10+ minute passing time would be scheduled with one-way hallways and shifts to minimize interactions

• Lunches - 4 lunch periods in 3 different lunchrooms (Cafeteria, Blue Gym, and Red Gym) with individual tables and 6 foot distancing. Shifts allow cleaning between groups.

• Busing - capacity will be ~12 students, requiring multiple runs (~3) per Boston bus route
• Monitoring - self-certification, monitoring, and testing protocols are being developed above state guidelines in coordination with our nursing staff and the Board of Health
• PPE - Students and staff will be required to wear masks (available on request). Face shields and barriers will be available and used where appropriate.
• Hygiene - handwashing, sanitizer, cleaning, sanitizing units
• Community Behavior - Students and families are requested to maintain social distancing discipline outside of school.

Hybrid Learning

• Hybrid learning will combine 80-minute in-person seminars (9-12 students) with independent work such as videotaped lectures, readings, online quizzes, projects, and written assignments.
• Students in each class section alternate one cohort in synchronous online instruction and one cohort working independently (2 days per week “in person seminars” and 2 days per week independent work.

• Cohorts would meet on alternating days to keep class groupings between 9-12 students
• Select programs needing additional support (e.g., substantially separate programs) could be scheduled 4 days per week.

• The Remote Learning Program will be available to all students by request. Students will choose a program option.

• One day All Remote per week for prep/review for AP/Math/WL/MCAS, Community Block, planning, and staff meetings (replaces the Tuesday early release)

• Distancing - 6 feet distancing in all classes and activities
• Density - Cohorts create smaller groupings 9-12 for classes (or much bigger rooms)
• Air Quality - Classrooms are being reviewed for ventilation. Air conditioning is being added in rooms adjacent to the construction or as necessary. Only rooms with adequate outside ventilation will be used.

• Passing time - 10+ minute passing time would be scheduled with one-way hallways and shifts to minimize interactions

• Lunches - 4 lunch periods in 2 different lunchrooms (Cafeteria and Blue Gym) with individual tables and 6 foot distancing. Shifts allow cleaning between groups.

• Busing - capacity will be ~12 students, requiring multiple runs (~3) per Boston bus route
• Monitoring - self-certification, monitoring, and testing protocols are being developed above state guidelines in coordination with our nursing staff and the Board of Health

• PPE - Students and staff will be required to wear masks (available on request). Face shields and barriers will be available and used where appropriate.
• Hygiene - handwashing, sanitizer, cleaning, sanitizing units
• Community Behavior - Students and families are requested to maintain social distancing discipline outside of school.

Remote Learning

• Remote learning will combine synchronous online lessons with independent work such as videotaped lectures, readings, online quizzes, projects, and written assignments.
• Students in each class section alternate one cohort in synchronous online instruction and one cohort working independently (2 days per week "in person seminars" and 2 days per week independent work).
• Cohorts would meet on alternating days by period so that students have breaks between synchronous online classes.
• One day per week for prep/review for AP/Math/WL/MCAS, Community Block, planning, and staff meetings (replaces the Tuesday early release)

Read more about the high school draft plans here.

Zoom Info for School Committee meeting:

6:30 p.m. Open Meeting

When: July 23, 6:30 p.m.

Topic: School Committee Remote Meeting Thursday, July 23

Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webina...