OPENING OF SCHOOLS GUIDE 2020-2021

OPENING OF

SCHOOLS GUIDE

2020-2021

Birmingham City Schools is committed to

guiding all students to achieve excellence

in a safe, secure and nurturing environment.

As Birmingham City Schools (BCS) prepares to reopen for the 2020-2021 School Year, it is important to

note that we are committed to the overall well-being of our students and staff. The school year will start

on August 24, 2020 with remote teaching and learning for at least the first nine weeks. The Interim

Superintendent and the Board of Education will later reassess local conditions surrounding the COVID 19

pandemic and decide whether to continue with remote learning or choose other options outlined in this

guide. The BCS Interim Superintendent and Board of Education will review the recommendations from the

Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE), Jefferson County Department of Health (JCDH),

Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to make the best and safest decisions for our students and staff.

PAGE ONE

OPENING OF

SCHOOLS

GUIDE

BCS LEARNING

MODEL OPTIONS

FOR OPENING OF

SCHOOLS (2020-2021):

The purpose of the following information is to describe the learning options the district could use during

the 2020-2021 school year. Each option is described in detail. The goal is to inform all stakeholders of the

various learning options, think critically about the implications of each option, and then, use various insights

to select an option that is most appropriate for our school district.

The Interim Superintendent has recommended the remote option, which was one of three under

consideration for the start of the school year. These options are subject to change at any time at direction

of the Superintendent & School Board.

The Virtual Learning Option is not subject to district choice and cannot change until the end of every

nine-week grading period. (See district calendar for specific dates). At the end of each nine-week grading

period, parents can choose to keep this option or return to the BCS Learning Option.

BCS Learning Option

Face-To-Face

Remote

BCS Virtual Option

BLENDED

Blended

Virtual

&

This option will

This option will

This option will

Students who

be used if the

be used if the

be used if the

choose this

current risk is

current risk is

current risk is

option will be

¡°LOW¡±

¡°HIGH¡± or ¡°VERY

¡°MODERATE¡±.

taught by BCS

(OR)

HIGH¡±.

(OR)

teachers and will

be required

to remain in this

option for at least

nine weeks.

PAGE TWO

OPENING OF

SCHOOLS

GUIDE

Face-To-Face

BCS LEARNING

MODEL OPTIONS

FOR OPENING OF

SCHOOLS (2020-2021):

(CON¡¯T)

TRADITIONAL (FACE-TO-FACE)

THIS OPTION WILL BE USED IF THE CURRENT RISK IS ¡°LOW.¡±

? All Students (PK-12)

? Students attend classes in a traditional, on-campus setting.

? Students will return to traditional face-to-face instruction with social distancing and ongoing deep cleaning

and disinfecting expectations in place.

Remote

REMOTE (TOTALLY ONLINE)

THIS OPTION WILL BE USED IF THE CURRENT RISK IS ¡°HIGH¡± or ¡°VERY HIGH¡±.

? All Students (PK-12) (Taught by a BCS Teacher)

? Students attend classes ¡°remotely¡± using a variety of virtual and paper resources.

? All students and teachers will remain at home to engage in teaching and learning, using electronic devices and BCS

learning materials online. Students will be taught through live instruction by BCS teachers and will utilize the district¡¯s

online learning resources to enhance their academic growth.

BLENDED

Blended

BLENDED (FACE-TO-FACE & REMOTE)

THIS OPTION WILL BE USED IF THE CURRENT RISK IS ¡°MODERATE¡±.

? All Students (PK-12) (Taught by a BCS Teacher)

? Face-to Face (Learn 2 days at School)

(Group A: Monday/Tuesday)

&

(Group B: Thursday/Friday)

? Remote (Learn 3 days of online at home)

(Group A: Wednesday/Thursday/Friday)

(Group B: Monday/Tuesday/Friday)

? All students will participate in a blended option, alternating between traditional face-to-face and remote learning with

all Wednesdays and Saturdays being school deep cleaning days. Students will be taught by BCS teachers and will utilize

the district¡¯s online learning resources to enhance their academic growth.

BCS VIRTUAL SCHOOL OPTION

BCS is committed to ensuring we provide options for all our students. Therefore, should parents decide not to send their child to back to

school during the COVID-19 crisis but want them to continue their education with Birmingham City Schools, the district will provide

these parents with an option to choose the BCS Virtual School. Students registered for the BCS Virtual School will have the opportunity to

continue their education with Birmingham City Schools. Additionally, the students in this option will be taught by BCS teachers. However,

students who enroll in BCS Virtual Schools will not have the ability to transfer to the district¡¯s chosen learning option until the end of the

nine-week period. At the end of this period, students will have the choice to remain in the BCS Virtual School or return to the district¡¯s

learning options (traditional, remote, or blended).

Virtual

VIRTUAL SCHOOL

? Students who choose this option will be enrolled full-time in virtual learning at home for at least the first

grading period.

? Students participating in this option will be taught by BCS teachers and will be required to remain in this

option for at least nine weeks.

PAGE THREE

OPENING OF

SCHOOLS

GUIDE

TRADITIONAL ATHLETICS

? BCS staff will closely monitor guidance from AHSAA related to decisions about sporting events.

? Masks will be required for everyone at all events.

? Athletes/students cannot share water bottles, towels, etc.

? Limit participants at practice to essential staff and students.

? Limit concessions ¨C water, sodas, and pre-packaged products (candy, chips, etc.) ONLY.

Traditional

Social distancing will be enforced. The actual numbers listed below may be adjusted based on venue size and the most

recent health guidelines:

? Outdoor athletic facility will operate below 20% capacity (300 season passes, 200 AHSAA pass entrance, 400 digital tickets sold

(250 home/150 visitor).

? Inside athletic facilities will operate below 10% capacity (Season passes and AHSAA credentials).

? Stadiums and gyms will have no more than two ingress/egress points.

Competition Requirements:

to a Regular,

? All competitions (if approved) must adhere to the above requirements for participants and audience size.

? Limit the participants at games to essential staff and students.

? Only home auxiliary units will perform.

? Limit manager and parent volunteers ¨C scoreboard, chain crews, etc.

? Purchase of NFHS Network package will be available for livestreaming, and the BCS Game of the Week will be featured on the

district¡¯s cable channel.

Face-to-Face

TRADITIONAL INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT

All Students

(PK-12) Return

Schedule.

? Instruction (core and electives) will be in the traditional model used prior to COVID-19.

? BCS will incorporate online resources and platforms.

? Instruction will be aligned to the Critical Alabama College and Career Ready Standards (CCRS).

? Student learning gaps will be identified and addressed through learning recovery block/intervention (all schools).

? Students will receive Social Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons to address needs due to COVID-19.

? Students will utilize the district¡¯s online application menu on Clever to increase consistency and effectiveness of online resources.

? Students will participate in assessments during the traditional school day and/or remotely.

? The data from student assessments will be used to inform instruction and plan for student learning.

? Open House will be virtual (Schools will post specific dates and times).

? All fieldtrips will be virtual.

? Students will participate in benchmark, diagnostic and summative assessments as outlined in our Assessment Calendar.

TRADITIONAL ENROLLMENT, SCHEDULING, COUNSELING

? Registration began July 20th

? BCS students (new and returning) must register online using the new PowerSchool Enrollment software for the 2020-2021

school year, prior to enrollment in classes at the local school.

? Each parent/guardian will be required to upload a copy of two current proofs of residency.

? Finalization of student schedules will be handled by the local school.

? Student schedules will be loaded in PowerSchool for parent viewing by August 15, 2020.

? BCS Code of Conduct will apply for all learning options.

? Attendance will be recorded by the teacher and students will be marked as present or absent.

? Students who are required to quarantine will be marked as ¡®All Day Other¡± and ¡°COVID Positive¡± or ¡°COVID Exposed¡± (This

will not be counted as an absence).

? The option chosen by the Superintendent and BCS School Board will apply for students in Dropout Recovery, Fast Track, and

Temporary Placement.

? Teachers will assign grades and confer academic credit for work and activities performed by students in accordance with

objectives and generally accepted instructional and grading standards outlined in BCS Board Policy.

PAGE FOUR

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