Teacher Weekly
Learning remotely, but together.
April 8, 2020
Supporting You During Remote Learning
Dear Educators,
 
This week marks the beginning of remote learning with your students -- and we realize for most of you this is a whole new way of teaching. Thank you so much for the spirit of teamwork and sense of mission that you’re bringing to the work.

Across roles and regions  -- we are all in this together, and we are all here to support you. While there will be challenges faced and adjustments needed, the first step, as we all know, is simply coming to the work with optimism and excitement -- and that alone will mean the world to our students.
 
As you move forward on the path ahead, please remember to check back with these remote learning resources in the coming weeks for new updates and supports:
 
  • For all remote-learning guidance and support, please see the Remote Learning Website. This website includes curriculum resources, guidance for specific populations, technology support, and many other resources to help you develop and implement your remote learning plan.
 

 
Thank you for all you are doing, and please reach out to us or your school leader if you need anything.

Many thanks,
Tamara and Mike
Student Data Privacy during Virtual Meetings
As we transition to remote learning, there are many online tools and platforms that schools are considering. Below is guidance on virtual meetings and a reminder on the Student Data Privacy policy process.

Virtual Meetings:
  • Google Hangouts Meet: At this time, the district only allows for schools use of Google Hangouts Meet for virtual meetings due to the safeguards in place to manage usage and monitor student activity. These documents provide guidance for using Google Hangouts Meet effectively for classes and students:
  • Google Meet Tutorial
  • Google Meet One-Pager
  • Google Meet Tips
  • Zoom: We are prohibiting the use of Zoom with students at this time because we cannot ensure safety and privacy. In addition, to date, we do not have any schools who have listed Zoom in the Academic Technology Menu and gone through the parent consent process. If you were planning to use Zoom with students, please work with your school leader to determine a different solution that meets your school’s needs.
 
Student Data Privacy Policy Process Reminder:
  • In this time of total remote learning, schools have added new technology to best support our students at home. It is important that schools continue to follow our Student Data Privacy policy process. In lieu of hard-copy consent forms, please use this form to gain parent consent for all non-FERPA-approved tools your students will be using (please make a copy and add your name). This consent will supersede any prior consent.
  • Learning Management Systems: Schools can use Schoology and Google Classroom without parent consent since they are FERPA approved. For schools using Seesaw, they need to obtain parent consent since this is a non-FERPA-approved tool.
Grab-and-Go Meal Update: More Pickup Sites and New Meal Delivery
As we begin the transition to remote learning this week, we wanted to share some updates about how we’ll be supporting students and families with grab-and-go meals in the coming months. Starting this week, we’ve added more meal pickup sites and launched an enhanced meal delivery program for families.

We’ve added 12 new locations throughout the city where families can pick up grab-and-go breakfast and lunch meals, as well as food to take home on Fridays for the weekend. Families can now visit one of 24 pickup locations Monday-Friday from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. to pick up meals for kids and adults.

We also launched a new, enhanced meal delivery program. Yellow school buses will deliver meals to schools and community locations throughout the city at designated times each weekday for the remainder of the school year. They will stop at each site for 20-30 minutes to hand out breakfast and lunch. On Fridays, weekend breakfast and lunch are also available for pickup.

Please note that the current stay-at-home order does not affect the Emergency Meals program, and students do not need to be present for adults to pick up meals. Vegetarian meals are available.

Automated messages were sent to all families this weekend with these meal updates. All the details, including grab-and-go pickup locations and the new meal delivery schedule, can be found on the Food Distribution page on the DPS website. Please help share these important meal resources with your school community, and direct families to www.dpsk12.org/coronavirus/food-distribution to learn more.
This Week's Top Things to Know
Computer Pickup April 8 for Students in Grades K-12
Students who still need a laptop computer for remote learning can pick one up today, April 8, between 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at one of 12 DPS schools. Computer pickup is now open to students in kindergarten through 12th grade and will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Students do not need to be present to pick up a computer; all that's required is their name and student ID number. Click here for more information and locations.
Grading Guidance for Remote Learning
Grading Guidance for Spring 2020 Semester (K-12):
  • All spring semester courses for grades 9-12 will convert to a credit/no credit model. This model will focus on the essential understandings/big ideas/competencies of a course and will rely on a body of evidence (e.g., essay, presentation, project) for determining credit for the course. Specific course examples will be provided the week of April 13.

  • Grading guidance for K-8 will also follow the model of credit/no credit. Further details will be provided the week of April 13.

  • In addition, the 2020 spring semester will be removed from all cumulative GPA calculations for students in grades 9-12. Class ranking for seniors will be based on GPA through the fall of 2019.

  • As a reminder, the first few weeks of remote learning should be focused on engagement and participation as students and teachers get accustomed to this new environment.

If you have questions, please contact your school leader.
Educational Technology Troubleshooting Resources
As we learn together during remote learning, please reference this Educational Technology FAQ for up-to-date information on troubleshooting issues with LMSs, online instructional tools, ATM and general device questions. This FAQ is housed on our Remote Learning website and updated on a regular basis. Additionally, you can reach out to your digital/regional coach, for specific educational technology support.
Limited Building Access During Remote Learning
Building access will remain limited to principals and facilities managers this April. Additionally, some essential maintenance and construction teams will be in buildings to continue work where health guidance permits. Please work with your school leader if access is required for essential needs. 

We will continue to talk with our state health officials, and will share updates later this month regarding access for the month of May, including plans for staff to pack up classrooms and offices.   
Special Educators: Assistive Technology and Remote Learning Requests Due Soon
As part of DPS special education’s remote learning contingency plan, we must identify Assistive Technology (AT) needs for students with disabilities and distribute that technology to each student.
 
To support this effort, all Special Educators and SSPs (in collaboration with their general education colleagues), must submit one AT request by April 10 for each student with a disability (IEP and 504) when any additional AT is identified in their contingency plan. Please note, while contingency plans are not due on April 10, we must align these AT requests with delivery windows and DoTS' technology distribution plan.
 
The AT team will prepare requested devices the week of April 13 and distribute ready devices as soon as possible. If you have questions, please email jackie_bott@dpsk12.org .
Also, please continue to check  this page for critical Special Education Remote Learning updates being added to guidance previously shared. Look for additional resources to be uploaded by  April 10, including example contingency plans and additional PWN templates.
Cyberbullying and Social Media Help
 To support parents with their child’s online learning, please consider sharing the following resources on cyberbullying and social media . If you have questions, please reach out to Wes Ogburn .
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