3-29-2020 School Closure Update

Posted by Alan Boucher on 3/29/2020

On Friday, March 27, Governor Pritzker and ISBE put forth new information for schools. The following is a summary.

No State Testing This Year
Quote from an ISBE publication: “Governor JB Pritzker’s Executive Order 2020-15 … suspends state assessments for spring 2020, including the Constitution exam. This action officially ends assessment activity statewide for the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR), Illinois Science Assessment, SAT, and Dynamic Learning Maps-Alternate Assessment for the 2019-20 school year.” The State is going to work with the test maker to see if our college-bound juniors can take the SAT in the fall.

Act of God Days Replaced
Monday, March 30 will be the last Act of God day statewide. On Tuesday, March 31, we will transition to Remote Learning Days. Like the Act of God days, the Remote Learning Days will not have to be made up at the end of the school year.

Remote Learning Day Provisions

  1. A focus on keeping children emotionally and physically safe, fed, and engaged in learning should be our first priority during this unprecedented time.
  2. All school districts must provide remote learning. It is no longer a strong suggestion.
  3. The RLP will be developed through a partnership between the District and the Sherrard Education Association.
  4. Each district must have a plan to:
    - Provide instruction to all students that, when applicable, reflects state standards
    - Allow students to confer with educators
    - Address needs of students with disabilities, English Learners, students experiencing homelessness, and other vulnerable students
    - Transition back to on-site learning
  5. The RLP must embrace the principal of “no educational harm to any child” and school districts adopt grading models of pass or incomplete.” This “pass or incomplete” can apply to daily work and to a final grade at the end of the semester.
  6. During Remote Learning Days, teachers will provide students with instruction and access to educators through whatever means possible.
  7. Quote from an ISBE document: “Grading should focus on the continuation of learning and prioritize the connectedness and care for students and staff. The RLP must include provisions for IEP students and English Learner students.”
  8. Regarding the issue of new learning, The State is not saying no new learning can take place. The judgment will be left up to the teachers. If a teacher believes that the students are ready for new learning and that it would be appropriate, then they are allowed make new learning a part of their lessons.
  9. The District will be developing the Remote Learning Plan in the coming days and will post it on the District website when it is complete.