Remote learning set to begin in Centre County school districts, but access still a problem for some
As Pennsylvania schools prepare for the third week of mandatory closures, State College Area School District will launch required remote learning Monday while other area school districts work to implement learning plans for students with and without internet access.
On March 23, Gov. Tom Wolf extended the closure of all K-12 classes through at least April 6 as officials monitor the coronavirus, or COVID-19. Here is what area school districts have planned for students.
Required remote learning in SCASD
After distributing Chromebooks to students, the SCASD launched an optional online learning program last week. Starting Monday, however, students will be required to participate in online instruction.
“Beginning Monday, March 30, teachers will communicate specific expectations for particular classrooms and courses,” Superintendent Bob O’Donnell wrote in a letter to parents. “To provide flexibility, our plan is mostly asynchronous, meaning that lessons and materials can be accessed throughout the day.”
SCASD teachers will be available for live conversations and instructional support, O’Donnell said, but required assignments are dependent on grade levels.
Elementary students’ attendance will not be taken from Monday-April 6, but teachers will give students feedback on their learning. Grades 6-12, including the Delta Program, will be graded on assignments, and instruction will be available through the SCASD learning management systems — Canvas, Google Classroom and Zoom.
The third marking period ended March 6, but teachers are permitting students to hand in any missed work for credit until April 8.
“As a district, we understand that during these challenging times for families, not all students will be able to fully participate,” O’Donnell wrote. “We want students and our employees to put their families first, so please know that this flexibility exists.”
If the district finds that students aren’t engaging with the online coursework, staff will reach out to those students and families directly.
More information can be found on the district’s website.
Options available for Bellefonte students
The Bellefonte Area School District has not launched a mandatory online learning program, as Superintendent Michelle Saylor said during Tuesday’s board meeting that going online is not an available option available for all kids in the district.
“We are not a district where 100% of our students have access to the internet,” she said.
If the shutdown runs longer than expected, Saylor said Bellefonte is working to create a “user-friendly” program that will work for everyone in the district, including students, teachers and families.
“It’s designed to continue the education of our students but it’s also designed to be able to reach all of our students and have all our students access it,” Saylor said.
No decisions have been made to alter the district’s calendar or move graduation, but Saylor said Bellefonte is considering making arrangements to accommodate graduates.
“Teachers are meeting virtually this week with our instructional coaches and our department chair people,” Saylor said. “They’re developing a specific menu of options for our continuity of education plan, and we anticipate rolling that out next week.”
Bellefonte has compiled a list of resources includes free reading, math, social studies, science, writing, art, movement and language activities for students in grades K-12, though participation is not required.
Stay-at-home order changes plans for Penns Valley
The Penns Valley Area School District has cited challenges — particularly limited broadband access for many of its families — to remote learning.
The district has implemented a plan for professional development to educate staff and faculty members on how to deliver effective online instruction. But with no required remote learning program yet in place, the district is encouraging students to learn at home.
The district had planned to distribute materials left at school by students, including textbooks and technology, by bus to students Monday. But with Wolf’s stay-at-home order issued Saturday, those plans are temporarily suspended, according to a note to parents.
“Know that we are all doing our very best to respond to this ever-changing environment,” the note from Superintendent Brian Griffith states.
BEA, P-O work to provide access to all students
Bald Eagle Area and Philipsburg-Osceola Area school districts have not implemented formal online instruction but have begun assessing the needs of students and parents within the district to ensure any program will work in every household.
Through a phone survey, BEA found that at least 20-25% of students are without reliable internet access. Because not every home has access to broadband and some students require special accommodations, BEA cannot mandate online instruction.
“Accordingly, work that students engage in during this time is optional and non-graded,” BEA Superintendent Joseph Clapper wrote in a letter. “Nonetheless, we believe that students ‘doing nothing’ academically during this time is not an option. It is important that all students become involved in educational activity, including reading, writing, problem solving and much more.”
BEA teachers began professional development activities on Wednesday to receive training in Google Classroom, Zoom and the creation of online and hard copy learning activities.
During Tuesday’s virtual school board meeting, P-O Superintendent Gregg Paladina said P-O is working to implement a learning program that will provide education for all students. He added that P-O is exploring ways to use packets as a means of instruction for younger students and those without internet access.
“It’s going to have to be flexible as far as how much we can grade or not grade, simply because of internet access,” he said. “People can come into our middle school. They can sign onto Wi-Fi, those types of things, but some people work. I understand these times are challenging.”
This story was originally published March 28, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
