July 27, 2020

 

Dear Parent Leaders and Family Support Professionals, 

​

We hope everyone is doing well and finding time to enjoy the summer.  This week, DOE announced guidelines around physical education and art for remote and in-person instruction.  Our schools and district/central offices are busy planning for re-opening, and will continue to provide more updates as they come.  As always, thank you for uplifting parent voice and helping to ensure that our communities are informed and empowered.  Below is an overview of what’s happening next week: 

Registering for Remote-Only Learning 

Parents have two choices: (1) 100% Remote Learning (all online, from home); or (2) Combination of In-Person and Remote Learning where students follow their school’s schedule of a mix of in-person and remote learning days.  Parents should make their choices by completing this survey by August 7, 2020.   

Parents who need assistance in completing this survey can call 311.  If you chose 100% Remote Learning but want to change your child’s preference back to Blended Learning, you should fill out the form again by August 7.  After August 7, any family who chose 100% Remote Learning will have the option to change back to Blended Learning at a few specific times during the school year. 

Family and Student Information Sessions  

Please join us for our upcoming Family and Student Information Sessions where our Department of Education leadership will share the latest updates as we plan for the return to schools in Fall 2020.   

Next Tuesday, families will be able to hear re-opening updates directly from the Chancellor who will be joined by all of our Executive Superintendents.  The event will feature a Q&A where Executive Superintendents will answer questions from families about the re-opening plans rolling out in their districts.  Below are the links to register: 

·         Tuesday, July 28, 2020 from 6:30-8pm 

·         Wednesday, August 12, 2020 from 6:30-8pm 

·         Thursday, August 27, 2020 from 6:30-8pm 

 

Family Engagement Toolkit for Schools  

Face has shared a family engagement toolkit for schools.  The toolkit includes guidance, strategies, and resources to support communications and engagement efforts.  The toolkit gives schools samples that make family engagement easier and provides a sample calendar, letters and agendas that can be modified to fit schools’ needs.    

 

Apple Workshops 

Apple is hosting virtual learning sessions for parents and guardians from July 27th - August 22nd  on topics ranging from how to set up an iPad and how to manage parental controls to a review of build-in apps and features.  Learn more here. 

 

UFT Workshops for Parents 

During the summer, UFT will be offering a host of workshops for parents on Thursdays from 5-6pm.  The topics are below, and you can register here. 

July 30: Dare to Lead, a Leadership Workshop for Parents 

Aug. 6: Cleaning Your Home Safely  

Aug. 13: Social-Emotional Learning for Parents  

Aug. 20: Meeting Governance for Parent-Teacher Associations — Amending Bylaws and Creating Standing Rules  

Aug. 27: Leadership 2.0, a Second Leadership Workshop for Parents  

Sept. 2: Growing Up Cavity-Free, an Oral Health Workshop for Families 

 

5 Day Virtual Institute for Parents of MLLS 

The Office of Multi-lingual Learners is offering a 5-day Virtual Institute for Parents of ELLS.  Parents can register here, and a description of the sessions is listed below:  

·         Thursday, July 23 - 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM - Know Your Rights 1. Learn more about the Rights for Parents of English Learners 

·         Tuesday, July 28 - 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM  - Know Your Rights 2. Learn more about the Identification of ELLs/Commissioner's Regulation Part 154 

·         Wednesday, July 29 - 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM  - Know Your Rights 3. Geared towards Undocumented families and online/offline resources for immigrant families 

·         Tuesday, August 4 - 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM  - Bilingual Programs 

·         Thursday, August  6 - 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM  -  College Planning 

Families will receive the information to log in one-day before the event.  The 60-minute English sessions will be interpreted in Arabic, Chinese Mandarin, Haitian Creole.  The 30-minute group sessions will be led in Albanian, Arabic, Chinese Mandarin and Chinese Cantonese, Haitian Creole, Polish, Uzbek, by our partners in Citywide Council for English Language Learners. 

LIVE Virtual Summer Field Trips for Families 

In partnership with parent leaders, we have organized a series of LIVE virtual summer field trips with cultural institutions across NYC.  Here are the trips that families can log onto next week: 

·         Sumer Art Studio at the Whitney Muesum for PreK-5 | July 28 | 11AM-11:40AM  

Participants will experiment, create, and learn together with at-home art materials.  

·         Star Stories at the Intrepid for grades 3-12 | July 28 | 3PM-4PM  

Using images of the night sky, stories from different cultures and examples of simple navigation tools, an Intrepid Museum Educator will help participants view their sky in a whole new way. 

·          Meet Victoria at the Tenement Museum for grades K-8 | July 29 | 11AM-12PM  

Journey back in time to 1916 and learn from an actor playing Victoria Confino, a real 14-year-old girl who immigrated to the United States in 1913. Victoria will show us her home, and share stories of her daily life and how her family keeps their culture alive through food, language, holidays and more. Throughout the program, participants will have a chance to ask Victoria their own questions. 

·         Summer Art Studio at the Whitney Museum for grades 6-8 | July 29 | 11AM-11:40AM  

Participants will experiment, create, and learn together with at-home art materials. Join us to create your own version of Experiments of Color inspired by Emma Amos. 

·         What Floats Your Boat at the Intrepid for grades 3-12 | July 30 | 3PM-4PM  

How exactly does a ship float? Join the Intrepid Museum as we learn about the steps engineers take as they carry out a project such as making a ship large as Intrepid float and create your own floating vessels. For kids and adults at home. Materials: A sheet of foil, large bowl, and 20 to 40 pennies. 

·         Summer Art Studio at the Whitney Museum for grades 9-12 | July 31 | 11AM-11:40AM  

 Participants will experiment, create, and learn together with at-home art materials. Join us to create your own version of Experiments of Color inspired by Emma Amos. 

·         Exploring Creative Careers at the MET for grades 9-12 | July 31 | 1PM-3PM  

How can artists and art lovers turn their interests into careers? Join the MET on this interactive virtual event to investigate careers in the arts, discover new interests, hear from creative professionals, and build your skills in special workshops. 

School Programming Exceptions Guidance 

The Department of Education has developed three baseline programming options for schools to choose from, as plans for re-opening are underway. The proposed models are based on analysis of system-wide constraints, national research, international best practices, parent and student surveys, and school leader focus groups. The models intend to support schools as they address the needs of their students and families and align with health and safety guidance. Proposed models exist for Elementary, Middle, and High Schools; two additional models are available for District 75 schools. In extreme cases where, for example, schools are managing space and staffing issues, schools can apply for an exception to implement an innovative model that will address these specific needs (see below for details). Exceptions will be considered only in the most of extreme circumstances.  Families will be notified of their student’s specific schedule in late August. 

School Programming Model Selection Process 

·         Principals will review all programming models with the School Leadership Team, inclusive of Chancellor’s recommended models, which prioritize consistency for families. 

·         Schools will host engagement meeting with families by August 10, 2020 to receive parent input on programming model selection. Schools are encouraged to present families with 2 potential models during the initial engagement period. For general resources to engage families, see Family Engagement Toolkit. 

·         Principals will share, in writing, the models that the School Leadership Team is considering with all families. If for any reason a District Review Team (defined below) rejects a school’s submission, schools will need to reassess models with their school community and SLT and reach out to families in writing (a second time). Alternatively, schools that presented families with 2 potential models during the initial engagement period can reference those engagements should they need to revise their proposed plan based on the District Review Team’s feedback. 

·         Schools will have the opportunity to reconsider their initial selections as COVID-19 Reasonable Accommodations staff responses and data from the Learning Preference Survey are available and updated up until August 14, 2020. 

·         Principals will submit preferred models for approval by their District Review Team using the School Programming Model Selection Survey(Open external link) by August 14, 2020. 

Upon approval, schools will notify students and families by late August. 

Exceptions Process 

Only in the following situations, may a school request an exception to the proposed programming models: 

·         The recommended models are not feasible given space, staffing, family choice and expected in-person attendance. 

·         Schools have unique programmatic needs that must be addressed, to better meet the needs of the community and has staff and parental support. 

In these limited cases, schools will be asked to submit an exceptions request explaining: 

·         Why existing models don’t meet their community’s needs 

·         How their proposed model better responds to their: 

o    Space/capacity issues 

o    Staffing concerns 

o    Learning Preference Survey results 

o    Specific programmatic need (multiple grade bans, i.e. K-8; CTE, etc.) 

Note: No group of students may be prioritized above students with disabilities for in-person instruction, such that members of that group receive more in-person instructional time or in-person instructional ahead of a student with disability. 

School exceptions to DOE-defined models must be afforded by the school’s budget. Program model exceptions should not be approved where costs exceed school funding. 

Prior to submission, principals in co-located buildings must share the proposed exception plan with campus principals to facilitate smooth scheduling of shared spaces. 

If a school submits an exception request, the school is required to share the exception model with families prior to submitting a proposal to the District Review Team. This includes holding at least one parent meeting where families can provide input on the programming selection prior to submitting the exception request. 

Additionally, principals must receive signed approval of the proposed model from the School Leadership Team and indicate this approval within the School Programming Model Selection Survey. 

Principals in co-located buildings must share the exception plan with campus principal/s to ensure adequate scheduling of shared spaces without disruption of other school’s programs. 

Superintendents Process for Review: District Review Team 

Each Superintendent must establish a District Review Team (DRT) to review and approve all schools’ reopening plans. This includes schools choosing from pre-identified programming model options and those submitting exceptions. To ensure that every criterion is considered in the approval or request for revision of a plan, District Review Teams (DRTs) should include varied personnel from across the Superintendent Team/District, Borough Citywide Office (B/CO), and Central Office. At minimum, DRTs must include: 

·         Superintendent 

·         Academic Policy, Performance, and Assessment Lead (APPA) 

·         Instructional Personnel (from BCO and/or Superintendent’s Team) 

·         Director of Operations 

·         Human Resources Director or Budget Director 

·         Additional point as per Executive Superintendent 

It is highly recommended for DRTs to include added instructional and planning personnel, including the T-DEC, Director of Teaching and Learning, Instructional Technology Director (where applicable), B/CO staff who support special populations, and/or relevant members of the Central Office (i.e. from Division of Multilingual Learners). Team members will have access to the School Programming Model Selection District Review Tracker, which will be available beginning July 30, 2020. 

The District Review Team must review each school’s model selection and articulate their approval or disapproval of each school’s program, as well as the rationale for their decision, within the tracker. The District Review Team should consider additional information when determining the viability and approval status of the school’s model selection. This information might include, but is not limited to: 

·         The school model choice number or details for how the exception request meets the requirements laid out by the proposed models 

·         Why other model choices do not apply/reason for exception 

·         Number of children selecting 100% remote learning (as per Family Learning Preference surveys) 

·         Staff accommodations (number of staff requesting COVID-19 Reasonable Accommodations) 

·         Requisite space and facilities-specific information, including square footage 

·         Efforts to address co-location challenges, including assurance from the campus council that plan does not infringe on other schools in the building 

·         Efforts to address specific needs based on student populations or programs (ASD Nest, MLL, CTE, etc.) 

·         Efforts to maintain COVID-19 safety and health guidelines 

·         Specific information about scheduling and programming 

·         Confirmation that the exception plan can be funded with existing school budget 

·         Consultation with B/CO Transportation Liaison regarding busing 

Upon the District Review Team’s approval of pre-identified models, the school will be informed of its status so that it may begin to program students. If the District Review Team does not approve a pre-identified model, which will only occur if it is not possible to logistically implement the model, the school will automatically be notified so that it can work with their Superintendent to select another model. 

The District Review Team is expected to review all exception requests with the Executive Superintendent. 

·         Exception requests with a status of ‘Central Review Required’ will be automatically forwarded to the Central Review Team (defined below) for Central DOE approval. Any recommendations or comments from the District Review Team or Executive Superintendent will be included for the Central Review Team to review. 

·         All exception approvals and denials must be reviewed with the Executive Superintendent. 

Central Process for Review of Exception Requests 

To ensure that all exception requests meet DOE standards and guidelines, DOE will develop a Central Review Team consisting of members from Academic Policy, District Planning, Space Planning, DHC, OPT, MLL, and SEO to review all exceptions requests. 

·         Once a superintendent reviews an exception and has preliminarily approved the request, they will mark the decision as ‘Requires Central Review.’ This will automatically submit the request to the Central Review Team. 

·         The Central Review Team will then review each request routed to them, using the Central Review Tracker, to ensure viability. 

·         Once the Central Review Team grants final approval, with a decision of ‘Approved’, the school principal will receive an email and the result will be stored in the tracker. 

Key Dates 

·         8/7: Learning Preference Surveys due 

·         8/10: Schools receive Learning Preference Survey results and staff accommodation approval results 

·         8/14: Last day for principals submit program model selection or exception requests 

·         8/21: Last day for Superintendents and District Review Teams to review all school submissions . 

·         8/21: Schools with DRT approval, may begin programming students. 

·         8/28: Last day for re-submission of models (only schools whose model submissions were not approved by DRT during initial submission). 

·         8/28: Last day for the Central Review Team (CRT) to approve exception requests 

·         8/28: Schools with CRT approval begin programming 

·         8/28: Schools can notify parents 

·         8/28: School plans are posted 

 

NYSED Interim Commissioner Resigned 

Shannon Tahoe, who has served as acting and interim commissioner of education since November 2019, will leave the State Education Department on Aug. 13. No successor has been named.  The Board of Regents continues its search to find a permanent commissioner and expects to appoint an acting commissioner before Aug. 13. 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Issued Re-opening Guidance 

This week, the CDC issued guidance on re-opening for school districts.   
 

Professional Developments for Family Facing Staff 

Future Ready Summer Series July 29, 2020 Flyer Future Ready Summer Series  

This online session is designed to develop student leaders who take ownership over their postsecondary planning journey. The College Career Planning Team will take a hands-on approach to researching colleges and programs that students can see themselves attending. We will walk students through the process of seeking out opportunity programs, campus resources, apprenticeships and offices that are designed to support their postsecondary plans, with the goal that students feel more confident in their postsecondary list. 

Summer 2020 Tech Ambassador Program 

The DOE is partnering with New York Cares to launch the Summer 2020 Tech Ambassador Program. Through this program, volunteer staff can connect with families who need tech support with their DOE-issued iPads and help resolve other remote-learning inquires. FACE Invites parent coordinators, family support coordinators, and family leadership coordinators to register for an upcoming training session, by July 29, to learn more about this opportunity. Family Liaisons will also be notified via email from FACE@schools.nyc.gov. 

Watch Party Wednesday:  Kognito At-Risk 

During this pandemic, we are all at increased risk for trauma.  To create a community of awareness, New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in partnership with the Department of Education has adopted the Kognito At-Risk Suite, an online role-play simulation to help us learn to recognize signs of distress, use conversations to approach a student and discuss our concerns, and if necessary refer parents/students to the appropriate resources.  Please register (in advance) at the link below to attend this Watch Party Wednesday on July 29th at 1:00 pm to learn about the Kognito At-Risk Suite:    

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcudO-srz8uEtMdSjvbs2soKUQbsSZjGzFR    

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. If you have any questions, please email FACE @schools.nyc.gov   

We hope that you and your families and safe, healthy and enjoying the summer.  Thank you for your continued partnership. 

 
Warm Wishes, 

The FACE Team