When SPPS transitions to hybrid, will my student(s) have the same teacher?

To the extent possible, students will remain with their current teacher. In the process of moving to hybrid, students may change teachers and classmates in some cases. 

As Virtual Learning School classrooms are created, some staff within each building will be reassigned to Virtual Learning School classrooms. It’s important to recognize that creating Virtual Learning School classrooms will impact all the classrooms in the school.

As teachers are reassigned, the students they served at the beginning of the school year may change for students in both hybrid learning and the Virtual Learning School.

Will my child stay at their current school when SPPS transitions to hybrid learning and Virtual Learning School?

To the extent possible, it is our priority that students will remain connected to their currently enrolled school. Depending on enrollment and staffing, there may be situations where Virtual Learning School students are in classes with students across the district.

If student(s) in the Virtual Learning School are placed in classes outside their current school, it will not impact their enrollment status at their current school for the 2021-22 school year.

Students in hybrid learning will remain with their currently enrolled school for the remainder of the school year.

Will Virtual Learning School students from magnet schools receive the same level of magnet-related instruction?

This will depend on the overall enrollment of students from the magnet program in the Virtual Learning School.

If the number of students enrolling in the Virtual Learning School from a magnet school is high enough (approximately or greater than 25), then grade level or multi-grade classrooms consisting of students from that school may be created.

However, if the number of students enrolling from a magnet school into the Virtual Learning School is low (approximately or less than 25), it may be necessary to combine those students with students from another school. In this scenario, content from the magnet school program will be reduced or eliminated.

Hybrid Stage 1 (HS1)
Special Education Federal IV Programs and Special Sites: The Downtown School (JDC), Care and Treatment Hospital, Bridge View School, Focus Beyond Pathway 1 and 2, River East Secondary, Journeys Secondary

Hybrid Stage 2 (HS2)
All PreK-2 including special education, Special Education Programs: ECSE Programs, Birth-PreK, Federal III K-12 Autism and DCD Specialized Classrooms, Montessori E1

Hybrid Stage 3 (HS3)
All 3-5 including special education

Hybrid Stage 4 (HS 4)
All 6-12 including special education

Saint Paul Public Schools’ ultimate goal is to welcome students and school staff back to our buildings when it is safe and possible to do so. As fall planning progressed this summer, it became clear that bringing staff and students back in stages would be the best and most logistically feasible way to accommodate the diverse needs of our large school community.

SPPS has developed four stages of hybrid learning, grouping students by special education programs and grade bands. Stage 1 includes our Special Education Fed. IV programs and special sites, which are:

• The Downtown School (JDC)
• Care & Treatment
• Hospital
• Bridge View
• Focus Beyond (Pathway 1 & 2)
• River East
• Journeys

These programs have important therapies and supports, including one-on-one academic support and therapeutic services including physical and occupational therapy, that are best delivered in person. Stage 1 families and staff were surveyed about their readiness to return to buildings. Families that are not comfortable with their students returning to school will have a distance learning option if the decision is made to move to hybrid learning.

For more information on the specific guidance for special education programs, see pages 44-52 of the MDE Planning Guidance for Public Schools.

If it is decided to transition to hybrid learning for one or more of the above stages, those students will be in Distance Learning three days a week and on-site two days a week on the below schedule. Families in these stages will receive surveys about their readiness to return to hybrid learning.

At SPPS, the hybrid schedule will split students into two groups, which each group in school two days per week and distance learning the other three days. Efforts will be made to place siblings on the same schedule. SPPS is working to develop distance learning support options for the days that students are not in school.

More details and background on why this hybrid schedule was chosen are available at spps.org/hybrid.

In addition to the COVID-19 case rate in Ramsey County, 23 other readiness targets will be considered in order for any stage to move into hybrid learning. These targets include building readiness, adequate supply of PPE, finalized health protocols, viable transportation and meal service plans, and available instructional staff.

Note: Targets with * must be met. Others are factors to be weighed.

Access and Connection

• 95% of stage students have iPad access*
• 95% of stage students have wifi connection*

Community

• 50 % of students are comfortable with transition (Stage 4 secondary only)
• 50 % of stage families are comfortable with transition
• 50 % of stage staff are comfortable with transition

Facilities

• 100% of stage sites have completed room use mapping (including cafeterias) for 50% capacity and social distancing*
• 100% of stage sites have coordinated room capacities and furniture arrangement with class schedules
• 100% of stage sites have completed building systems readiness checklist and all items are on target for stage return (revised 9/29)
• 100% of stage sites have PPE inventory for staff, students, and visitors*

Health and Wellness

• 14-day case rate by county is under 30 per 10,000*

Instruction

• 80% of stage teachers have completed Culturally Responsive Instruction PD
• 95% of stage schools report that all teachers are posting daily lessons in Seesaw or Schoology*

Meals

• 100% of stage schools have plan for on site meal service*
• 100% of stage nutrition staff trained for onsite meal delivery and off-site meal delivery

Schools

• Overview of health protocols implementation training for administrators has been completed for 100% of stage sites* (revised 10/6)
• 95 % of stage schools have verified enrollment in preparation for Oct. 1*
• 95 % of enrollment in VLS are verified per stage school*
• 95% of stage schools have determined the number of sections needed for Virtual Learning School/Hybrid based on enrollment to date* (Revised 10/14)

Staffing

• 95% of the stage school instructional staff needed for are available
  for hybrid*
• 90% of stage site custodial assignments are revised and additional custodians needed are available*
• 80% of bus drivers needed for stage routes are available*
• 100% of the Nutrition Services off-site delivery positions are filled
• 80% of Nutrition Services on-site positions for stage schools are filled*

Transportation

• 100% of stage programs have viable transportation plan*

SPPS is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for our students, staff and their families. Some of the changes that staff, students and families will see when returning to school include a masking policy, passive health screening guidelines, and changes to our cleaning protocols and meal service, among others. Building leaders have collaborated on these guidelines and are prepared to implement them at our schools.

Some of these health protocols include: 

• COVID-19 Student and Family Guidelines
• Updated reporting system for individuals with COVID-19 symptoms
• Guidance around masking (cloth face coverings)
• Health screening checklist and guidelines
• Signage around masking, social distancing/floor markings, health screening checklist, handwashing and COVID-19 symptoms

Regardless of the scenario that MDE advises school districts to follow, SPPS will be offering SPPS Virtual Learning School throughout the year for any family who does not want their students to attend an in-person or hybrid schooling option for the 2020-2021 school year.

SPPS Virtual Learning will maintain a student's path to graduation and will address state standards.

The purpose of the SPPS Academic Support Center is to provide in-person academic and/or social-emotional learning support for Pre-K-12 grade students and their families during distance learning. The centers will provide academic support, not classroom instruction. 

A team of Educational Assistants, Teaching Assistants, SPPS temporary staff, retired teachers, contractors, community partners, and volunteers with a background in education and teaching, will provide the support to all students visiting these centers. 

The first center opened on Oct. 12 at Washington Technology Magnet School. To start, referrals will come from schools based on students’ academic needs. For more information, visit spps.org/asc.

In addition, K-8 students who meet Area Learning Center (ALC) qualifications can register for Extended Day for Learning (EDL)/Extended School Support (ESS) at these centers. These programs include a snack, transportation, and instruction by certified teachers and specialists. Visit the EDL website for more information.

When Distance Learning was introduced this spring, it was an emergency response to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in Minnesota. Since that time, SPPS has engaged several stakeholder groups for feedback. We listened to that feedback, and will introduce Distance Learning 2.0 as an improved platform for learning for the 2020-21 school year.

Our staff is committed to providing students and families the high-quality learning opportunities they expect. This fall, students will experience a new way of organizing lessons, one that aligns the look and feel of Schoology and Seesaw between courses to make them easier to navigate. There will be more “same time” learning, and grading expectations will be explained at the beginning of the course. 

Instruction for Distance Learning 2.0 will have daily same-time (synchronous) lessons for all students. Using technology tools we have in place, there will also be daily student-to-student interaction. More information about Distance Learning 2.0 will be shared in the coming weeks.

We know that distance learning in the spring was particularly challenging for our special education and English Language (EL) students. Special education teachers will meet virtually with families at the beginning of the school year to discuss individualized student needs and services for the 2020-21 school year. Trained interpreters will be available to support communication with families as needed. Service delivery will be individualized to meet IEP/IFSP goals and align with the learning model that SPPS is in at any given time.

English Language (EL) learners will have access to standards-based content courses as well as differentiated instruction in all academic content areas in each learning model (distance learning, hybrid or in person).  In all stages, educators will follow the EL service models:

• EL Service Plan - Elementary
• EL Service Plan - Secondary 

Students enrolled in Pre-Kindergarten and Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) programs will be provided regular instruction through Seesaw, resources from the School Home Partners in Learning program (available in multiple languages) as well as "Talk, Read, Write, Play, Sing" family learning opportunities. All Pre-Kindergarten students will receive an iPad and learning kit, which contains hands-on materials to enrich learning opportunities. 

It is a regular feature of SPPS Pre-K programming that families agree to collaborate and support learning activities with their children. This will continue in Distance Learning.

Students receiving Early Childhood Special Education services will have learning activities tailored to their IFSP and IEP goals, including consulting with caregivers on implementing strategies during daily routines.

Meal Service during Distance Learning

We will continue to provide meal boxes through home delivery and curbside pickup while SPPS is in distance learning. All Saint Paul kids 18 and under, plus those with a disability enrolled in a school program, will receive meals at no cost. Additional details are available at spps.org/fallmeals.

All families should fill out the Application for Educational Benefits/Free or Reduced Price Meals. Applications are available online on SchoolCafe, and paper applications will be mailed to homes in the coming weeks. These applications are very important; please fill one out even if you don’t think you qualify.

In-School Meal Service

When we are back to in-person learning for students, SPPS will adjust our typical breakfast and lunch service in each of our schools.

Salad bars and self-service options will be replaced with full-service meals in clamshell containers. Nutrition staff will have acrylic dividers and/or face shields to use during meal service.

Cafeteria attendants and additional lunch monitors will assist with traffic flow, cleaning and customer service. Weekly meal boxes will be provided to students to take home for their distance learning days, if applicable.  

Breakfast: Breakfast service will continue with slight modifications to allow for social distancing and some menu changes. Breakfast will be prepackaged in breakfast bags, and students will pick up milk on their way to class. Students will continue to eat breakfast in their classroom.

Lunch: School cafeterias will be used for serving and eating lunch. In buildings where the cafeteria is not large enough to meet social distancing guidelines, classrooms may be used as overflow dining space. Hallways will be used for students lining up, partitions will be placed between Nutrition staff and students, and reusable clamshells will replace traditional lunch trays. 

SPPS is pleased to offer two childcare options while the district is in distance learning. SPPS students ages 12 and under who are children of Tier 1 critical workers will be cared for at no cost during normal school hours. Learn more about Essential Kids Care here.

For families who do not qualify as Tier 1 critical workers, a fee-based full-day childcare program is available at four schools. Learn more about Discovery Club here.

Both programs are staffed by non-licensed child care staff. Children are with the same small group of peers and staff each day. Masks are required, and Minnesota Department of Health guidelines for childcare programs are strictly enforced.

Time is set aside for students to work on their distance learning. They are expected to work independently with minimal assistance from staff. Breakfast and lunch are also provided.

The Minnesota Department of Education has asked school districts to plan for fall based on these three models: 

Scenario 1: In-person learning for all students

• Create as much space between students and teachers as is feasible during the day
• Not held strictly to enforcing 6 feet of social distancing during primary instructional time in the classroom
• Implemented if state COVID-19 metrics continue to stabilize and/or improve
  
  

Scenario 2: Hybrid model with strict social distancing and capacity limits

• Limit the overall number of people in school facilities and on transportation vehicles to 50% maximum occupancy
• Sufficient social distancing with at least 6 feet between people must occur at all times
• Contactless pick-up and/or delivery of meals and school materials for days that students and staff are not in the school building
• School-age care program for students of critical workers
• Implemented if COVID-19 metrics worsen at the local, regional or statewide level OR within individual school(s) if they experience clusters of cases within a classroom or the school
  
  

Scenario 3: Distance learning only

• Schools may be open to provide emergency childcare or other functions
• Implemented if local, regional or statewide COVID-19 metrics worsen significantly enough to require the suspension of in-person learning

In addition, SPPS will offer SPPS Virtual Learning school for any family who does not want their students to attend an in-person or hybrid schooling option for the 2020-2021 school year.

The Facilities Department has been busily preparing schools and buildings for staff and student safety. Improved ventilation, daily building sanitation, and safety reminders posted throughout schools are some of the many steps being taken to ensure a safe return to school.

Additional information about our facilities plan can be found here: spps.org/Page/40753

Student Health and Wellness, Environmental Services Group (ESG), Security and Emergency Management, and custodial staff are working closely together to ensure the safety of our students and staff. Saint Paul Public Schools follows a four-tiered cleaning plan to reports of COVID-19 related symptoms and/or diagnosis. 

Our custodial staff will significantly increase the wiping down and disinfecting of public spaces and high-touch surfaces across our buildings and throughout the school day. We will also provide greater access to cleaning materials for our teachers and staff so that they can clean and disinfect spaces, as needed.

Each evening, our custodial team will conduct a thorough cleaning of our spaces, again disinfecting high-touch surfaces like sinks, drinking fountains, door handles, tables and desks.