{"id":9293,"date":"2020-09-16T04:00:24","date_gmt":"2020-09-16T08:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/?p=9293"},"modified":"2020-09-22T14:15:24","modified_gmt":"2020-09-22T18:15:24","slug":"reminder-about-news-media-and-emergency-communications-policy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/staff\/reminder-about-news-media-and-emergency-communications-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"Reminder About News Media and Emergency Communications Policy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our first week has passed and I am thrilled to see the strides we have made in the few days since the start of the 2020-21 school year. In spite of a pandemic, our ACPS staff and leaders have worked extremely hard to ensure that we had the best Virtual PLUS+ opening possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

I could not have asked for more from our incredible team of dedicated educators and support staff. If you missed it, check out the Washington Post’s coverage of how the first day went across our region featuring <\/span>T.C. Williams High School Geometry Teacher Danielle Thorne<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

I thank you for embracing Virtual PLUS+, which nobody chose but most accepted as the only feasible path forward at the current time. The early weeks are certainly a process of testing, refining and taking stock of what works well and what less so.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Virtual PLUS+ is not set in stone. We remain adaptable and flexible and continue to keep an open mind as we review constant feedback from staff, families and students. But we do ask you to give our Virtual PLUS+ learning experience the test of time. Things that did not work well for you yesterday may improve tomorrow. As with all new and unfamiliar routines, it is natural to have doubts to start. but with each passing day things often become easier. If changes are necessary, we will absolutely make refinements and we will remain methodical and strategic with our approach so that we are able to make changes with fidelity. We need to be considerate and thoughtful about the impact our decisions will have on students, families and staff prior to making adjustments so we understand the implications.<\/span><\/p>\n

To that point, I would like to thank you for all the constructive feedback we have received so far.<\/span><\/p>\n

One issue that has already been flagged is the concern, particularly from our families with our youngest learners, that screen time is too long. Keeping little ones engaged over an extended period is difficult enough in the classroom, let alone in a virtual setting. It is hard for our students and our teachers and also families and child care providers. Be assured, we are looking at this carefully and have established a Virtual PLUS+ Advisory Team to consider all concerns. Our school leaders met with staff on Monday to discuss praise, concerns and possible solutions regarding delivery of instruction with our Virtual PLUS+ learning approach. Our team is reviewing this anecdotal and experiential data to make an informed decision about what specifically needs to be refined. We look forward to sharing our findings and next steps on this matter early next week. We are also working on plans to make learning more accessible for our students with special needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Be sure to also read details of the MAP Screener that teachers will be administering this semester. We feel it is a valuable tool that will help us to determine the level of learning loss that students have suffered this year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stay safe, stay healthy, stay informed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sincerely,
\n<\/span>Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr.<\/span><\/p>\n

A Reminder About News Media and Emergency Communications Policy<\/b><\/h2>\n

You can see from our <\/span>In-the-News<\/span><\/a> webpage that we want to help you get the good news out. However, when it comes to contacting the news media, you may not do this alone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In accordance with <\/span>School Board Policy KBC (PDF)<\/span><\/a>, all communications with news media, including all news media interview requests, approval for news media interviews and the interviews themselves, should be coordinated through the Office of Communications. This also includes responding to reporters via social media.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This helps us align our messaging as a division and ensure we are complying with state and federal laws regarding confidentiality.<\/span><\/p>\n

In an emergency or crisis, please wait for the official notification to come out from the Office of Communications via our <\/span>official communication channels<\/span><\/a>. Any information that has been shared via these official ACPS channels (ACPS social media, the website or email) can be disseminated.<\/span><\/p>\n

For all the details see Policy KBC (PDF)<\/b><\/a>.<\/b><\/p>\n

Coming Next Week\u2026 <\/b>We will be sharing information about our School Social Media Liaisons, their role in this new pandemic environment and how you can work through them to ensure the work you are doing each and every day with our students is being shared with the community.<\/span><\/p>\n

Are Kindergarten Zoom Hours Too Long?<\/b><\/h2>\n

We have received many questions about the length of time our youngest learners are expected to engage in live, synchronous learning. Your concerns are being heard and addressed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Last Thursday, our <\/span>School Board discussed the issue<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Members of our senior leadership team met with our staff on Monday to discuss division-wide areas of concern, including instructional time with our youngest learners and we look forward to sharing our findings with families and staff.<\/span><\/p>\n

While we are all new to this virtual learning experience, it is understandably most unfamiliar for our youngest students. We know screen time, concentration levels and the lack of physical movement are all issues that are particularly challenging for those in grades K-2. We are also aware of recognized screen time guidelines. We are cognizant of balancing all these factors with the need to provide a quality education during this period.<\/span><\/p>\n

Please know that we are developing a process to respond to what we are learning and to make the necessary refinements to our instructional delivery. We are continuously discussing virtual instruction and the structure of the day, including coordination of breaks, with our school leaders and teachers, especially our teachers for early learners.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We have established a Virtual PLUS+ Learning Advisory Team to help guide us on what students are experiencing in the classroom. The team, which will meet on Mondays, will consist of a teacher representative from each grade level from every elementary school. The advisory team will also include teacher representatives from Encore, Specialized Instruction, English Learners (ELs), and Talented and Gifted (TAG), as well as core and elective teachers from the secondary schools. A chairperson from each elementary grade level and secondary core and elective area\u2019s Virtual PLUS+ Learning Advisory Team will serve on the division\u2019s Teaching, Learning and Leadership Team.<\/span><\/p>\n

Both teacher groups will focus on: early learners, students with special needs, EL students, secondary students, technology challenges, and any other areas identified throughout our Virtual PLUS+ learning experience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Our commitment is to refine our practices as well as monitor our progress with staff and students so that the Virtual PLUS+ experiences are personalized, engaging, age appropriate and interactive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Virtual PLUS+ is designed to be an evolving and collaborative model and we welcome all feedback.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thank you for your continued support, flexibility and understanding as we embark on this journey together!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For more information, visit the <\/span>Virtual PLUS+ Learning Advisory Team<\/span><\/a> webpage.<\/span><\/p>\n

MAP Screening for Grades 2-12<\/b><\/h2>\n

In 2020-21, ACPS will be using MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) as our universal screening tool for reading and math in all schools for grades 2-12. MAP will be given three times this school year, with the first assessments taking place in mid to late October.<\/span><\/p>\n

For the first administration, we will give the MAP Screener, a shortened version of <\/span>MAP Growth<\/span><\/a> that may be more feasibly administered remotely. All teachers, specialists, interventionists, instructional coaches, and administrators will receive training using online sessions focusing on administering the assessments, analyzing data for instructional planning, and using various MAP reports with colleagues, students, and parents.<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the spring and summer, a MAP Task Force composed of experienced ACPS school staff developed a robust suite of guidance documents to prepare teachers, students, and families for MAP testing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the next several weeks, we will begin preparing schools, including students, for the assessment. Each school will develop an in-house team of MAP Champions who will lead implementation efforts using both ACPS and <\/span>NWEA<\/span><\/a>-developed resources that will support schools before, during and after testing. The first testing window for MAP will open in mid-October. Stay tuned for more information about testing and training schedules. Be on the lookout for an email from NWEA inviting you to set up your password and start your training in the coming weeks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To improve your knowledge and understanding of MAP, here are some facts, figures and general information about MAP Screening and how we can use the assessment to improve student outcomes in ACPS.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

MAP Screening is:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n