Frequently Asked Questions
Updated November 11, 2020
Students started the 2020-21 school year participating in full online distance learning when school began on Wednesday, August 19, 2020. With full online distance learning, curriculum and instruction is delivered in a 100% distance education format, which uses online instruction, online class meetings, online exams, and online submission of projects and assignments.
At a special board meeting on July 15, 2020, the Evergreen School District Board of Trustees unanimously approved a full online distance learning model to commence the 2020-21 school year, which began on August 19, 2020.
The Evergreen School District's Safe Together Schools Reopening plan approved by the Evergreen Board of Trustees on July 15, 2020 directed staff to develop a hybrid learning model, which, pending board approval, is tentatively scheduled to be implemented in January 2021, when students return from Winter Break, depending on whether Santa Clara County is still in a county risk level that allows for schools to be open.Below are answers to some Frequently Asked Questions we have received from our community. Additional information is available on our district
2020-21 School Teaching and Learning Plans Update webpages.
FAQ TOPICS
Distance Learning Schedule and Calendar
Q: When do student return from Winter Break?
A: School will resume on Monday, January 4, 2020.
Q: When are observed school holidays and inservice days?
A: During distance learning we will observe regularly scheduled holidays and inservice days. The weekly school calendar is available on the front page of each school’s website The district approved calendar for the year listing holidays and inservice days is available on our calendar page.
2020-21 Teaching and Learning Update: Timeline, Process, Communication & Policies
Timeline
Q. What is the timeline for the planning process?
A. The Distance Learning plan was approved by the Evergreen Board of Education on July 31, 2020. The Hybrid Learning Model process is currently being evaluated.
Q. What is the status of the Hybrid Learning Model?
A. The District is currently evaluating the hybrid model, which is tentatively scheduled to be implemented in January 2021, if it is safe for students to return to campus. We recognize that many steps must be taken before the district can consider reopening at any level. For this reason, the Evergreen School District has begun implementing the following steps:
- Reconvening the Superintendent's Teaching and Learning in Safe Environments Advisory Committee (TLSEAC) to review and discuss the county guidelines and hybrid model. This committee has 89 members, including ESD staff from all bargaining units, administrators, staff members and parents. The charge of the committee is to address four Guiding Principles: health and safety, flexibility, students' social emotional well-being, and learning;
- District staff continues to assess readiness for opening schools based on the California Department of Public Health guidelines;
- District leaders will be meeting with student representatives to include their input in this process;
- District leaders are meeting with representatives of the two bargaining units for their input and feedback from their members; and
- Parents have been surveyed to determine their preferences and level of comfort with returning their child to campus in the hybrid model.
The Superintendent's Teaching and Learning in Safe Environments Advisory Committee met on October 27, November 2, and will be meeting again on November 9 to solidify their recommendations regarding the hybrid model. The committee is provided data about the current COVID-19 cases in Santa Clara County, results of the parent survey, and considerations related to the hybrid schedule. This committee's recommendation, along with parent, student and staff input will be reviewed at an upcoming Board Study Session on December 3, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. and the Board Meeting on December 11 at 6:30 p.m.
Process
Q. How is Evergreen School District approaching evaluating the Hybrid Learning Model?
A. The process for how teachers and students will return to school sites and the learning model (or combination of learning models) to be implemented in the Evergreen School District are approved by the Evergreen Board of Trustees, per the recommendation of the Superintendent. The Superintendent has appointed parent and staff stakeholders to the Superintendent's Teaching and Learning in Safe Environments Committee (TLSEAC), which provides feedback and recommendations regarding the schools reopening process and learning models. The committee includes parent and student stakeholder input, as well as working district staff subcommittees. Learn more about this process here.
Q. What factors are being considered in the Hybrid Learning Model?
A. The District's ability to proceed with the hybrid model will rely on several considerations:
- The county's COVID-19 restriction phase and number of COVID-19 cases;
- The availability of teachers and staff to teach in this model from the classroom;
- The implementation of required health and safety measures, which will require reinforcement by teachers, staff and parents;
- Feasibility for facilities to support safe distancing of student cohorts indoors in the classrooms and other areas of campus; frequency of required cleaning in the hybrid schedule; and ability to install required air ventilation by January 2021;
- Impacts on the quality of teaching and learning that may change if the district brings students back to in-person learning in a hybrid learning model;
- Ability to maintain stable cohorts on campus;
- Potential of disruptions to on campus learning due to increases in COVID-19 cases, necessitating a transition back to distance learning for all students;
- Addressing the needs of the district's highest need students and students who are struggling academically; and
- Parent preferences to return to hybrid versus continuing distance learning.
While we eagerly anticipate the return of our students to each of our school sites, it is critical that we take a cautious approach and address all safety concerns before considering having teachers and students return to school sites. The safety of our staff, students and families has always been and will continue to be a top priority in our district. We also want to emphasize that parents will continue to have the option of distance learning for their student when and if the district transitions to the hybrid model this school year.
Q. What guidance is Evergreen School District consulting as it considers for teaching and learning models appropriate for after students return from Winter Break?
A. Evergreen School District’s Schools 2020-21 teaching and learning goals include developing a robust plan that addresses:
- How we keep students and employees safe
- How to reopen schools under various circumstances
- How we adapt our learning environment to various circumstances
Evergreen School District will continue to work closely with regional officials in determining when and how to open schools for in-person education.
Guidelines that will influence our in person reopening plans include:
- COVID-19 Industry Guidance - Schools and School Based Programs, California Department of Health, July 17, 2020
- COVID-19 Prepared: Reopening Santa Clara County K-12 Schools for the 2020-2021 School Year
- California Department of Education Coronavirus Resource and Reopening Guidance
- CDC School Reopening Flowchart
Q. What standards and requirements will the district be following for distance learning?
A. Please review the information on the Distance Learning webpage.
Q. How will grading be handled in the upcoming school year?
A. Each of our schools have returned to a traditional grading approach this school year.
Q. Will my child be enrolled at their home campus for distance learning?
A. Yes, students are enrolled through their home campus for distance learning
Q. Will there be childcare for ESD staff members’ children, students?
A. Contracted childcare services are being provided for families at some of our school sites. These services are delivered through a third-party childcare provider.
Communication & Stakeholder Engagement
Q. How does Evergreen School District update families and other stakeholders?
A. We know that the District’s decisions about how we return to teaching and learning at school sites has a big impact on all of our students, families, and staff. As decisions are made, we will let you know through social media, our website, email, text, and phone calls, as well as through our board meetings, and the Superintendent’s Teaching and Learning in Safe Environments Committee.
Q. How were individuals for the Superintendent's advisory committees selected?
A. Members of the Superintendent's Teaching and Learning in Safe Environments Advisory Committee (TLSEAC) and its subcommittees were appointed by the Superintendent in order to provide a balance of stakeholders from schools, employee, and parent groups, including parents who are knowledgeable and engaged in a number of different ways across the district.
Policy, Procedures, & Protocols
Policies, procedures and protocols will be influenced the guidance, requirements and recommendations included in the following:- Distance Learning: Senate Bill 98
- COVID-19 Industry Guidance - Schools and School Based Programs, California Department of Health, July 17, 2020
- COVID-19 Prepared: Reopening Santa Clara County K-12 Schools for the 2020-2021 School Year
- California Department of Education Coronavirus Resource and Reopening Guidance
- CDC School Reopening Flowchart
Additional and specific information regarding policies, procedures and protocols for in person student learning will be provided in the upcoming months, as this process is still in the planning phases and may be subject to frequent changes.
Employees
We will be providing employees updates via email. FAQs are available on our Employee Resources page, along with information about opportunities for employee input. Employees with personal requests or need additional assistance should contact Cesar Torrico, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources at ctorrico@eesd.org.