Is LCPS doing that concurrent foolishness?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The DL only crowd going forward will lose out.

Come over to the dark side if you are having FOMO!

We’ll be even by the end of the year then. My child spent half the year suffering through DL and now your child can suffer through concurrent the last half of the school year! Lose-lose!

With winter (cold & flu) season around the corner and not leaving until end of March you can rest assured DL will be pushed until beginning of Q4. By then, they’ll just wrap up the year.

Oh, and HS sports will he cancelled again.

+1

I can’t imagine they’ll actually play sports without school

[Anonymous]

Eric made it official. LCPS is also doing that concurrent foolishness as OP asked. What a charade this year will be:

October 30, 2020


To All LCPS Families and Staff Members:

At the Tuesday, October 27, Loudoun County School Board meeting, the board conducted additional discussions regarding the continued planning and implementation of the Loudoun County Public Schools Hybrid Model in Stages plan. I want to share additional information about some of the topics discussed with you directly today as we continue to work to return students to schools for in-person learning as soon as possible, so long as we can do so safely.


Secondary Students

The School Board reviewed options for implementing the hybrid model for middle school and high school students beginning January 21, 2021 (the start of the second semester). Following a presentation by the LCPS staff, the School Board considered a plan for concurrent, interactive hybrid in-person instruction and distance learning instruction, in the same classes, for students in grades 6 through 12. Under that plan secondary students whose parents/guardians select hybrid learning in an upcoming parent survey (see below) would receive two days per week of in-person synchronous instruction and two days per week of synchronous distance instruction. Secondary students whose parents/guardians choose 100% distance learning will receive four days per week of synchronous, interactive instruction. All students would participate in asynchronous distance learning on Mondays.

This approach is distinct from “livestreaming” classes. With concurrent, interactive instruction, students sitting in the classroom and students participating remotely are taught at the same time by the same teacher using digital-friendly teaching strategies, and both synchronous and asynchronous learning.

Concurrent, interactive hybrid in-person instruction and distance learning instruction, in the same classes, is described in more detail on page 29 of the Hybrid Model in Stages implementation plan.

LCPS staff recommended that the School Board consider motions at its November 10 meeting that would provide guidance in implementing instruction in the second semester.


Parent/Guardian Survey for Second Semester Choices

LCPS will ask the parents/guardians of all students to complete a survey between November 11 and November 20 to register their choices for type of instruction for their students in the second semester, which begins January 21. The survey will be conducted through ParentVue. School principals are planning town hall meetings during the survey period to help families understand the choices available to them. More information about the survey will be provided in the next week.


Students in Grades 3 - 5

LCPS staff recommended that the School Board approve at its November 10 meeting a motion to authorize the start of hybrid in-person instruction on December 1 for students in Grades 3 to 5 whose parents/guardians selected the hybrid model for the first semester, conditions permitting. Those students would join other students participating in the hybrid model, including nearly 7,000 students in Kindergarten through grade 2 who began hybrid in-person learning on Tuesday, October 27.


AET and AOS Students

LCPS staff also recommended that the School Board approve at its November 10 meeting a motion that would allow the start of hybrid in-person learning on December 1 for Grade 12 Academy of Engineering and Technology (AET) and Academy of Science (AOS) students whose parents/guardians selected the hybrid model for the first semester, conditions permitting. They would join the MATA students at the Academies of Loudoun currently participating in the hybrid model.


Updated Comprehensive Plan

These plans are described in more detail in the October 30 Update on Implementation of Hybrid Model available online.

In addition to information about the instruction plans described above, the plan includes information on LCPS Health Mitigation Plan, which was submitted to the Commonwealth in July; enhanced cleaning practices for schools; plans for responding when individuals test positive for the virus; contact tracing; and other important topics related to the safe return of students and staff members to LCPS facilities. Much of this information was published previously in other locations and has been consolidated in this document for easy reference.

LCPS administrators and teachers remain committed to returning students who choose hybrid learning to classrooms as soon as we can safely do so, and to supporting students who prefer to continue with the 100% distance learning option. With the start of additional students in the hybrid learning model this week we have taken another step toward our ultimate goal of seeing all students safely back in school, and we are looking forward to making additional progress with the guidance and support of the community and the School Board.

Sincerely,


Eric Williams, Ed.D.
Superintendent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Eric made it official. LCPS is also doing that concurrent foolishness as OP asked. What a charade this year will be:

October 30, 2020


To All LCPS Families and Staff Members:

At the Tuesday, October 27, Loudoun County School Board meeting, the board conducted additional discussions regarding the continued planning and implementation of the Loudoun County Public Schools Hybrid Model in Stages plan. I want to share additional information about some of the topics discussed with you directly today as we continue to work to return students to schools for in-person learning as soon as possible, so long as we can do so safely.


Secondary Students

The School Board reviewed options for implementing the hybrid model for middle school and high school students beginning January 21, 2021 (the start of the second semester). Following a presentation by the LCPS staff, the School Board considered a plan for concurrent, interactive hybrid in-person instruction and distance learning instruction, in the same classes, for students in grades 6 through 12. Under that plan secondary students whose parents/guardians select hybrid learning in an upcoming parent survey (see below) would receive two days per week of in-person synchronous instruction and two days per week of synchronous distance instruction. Secondary students whose parents/guardians choose 100% distance learning will receive four days per week of synchronous, interactive instruction. All students would participate in asynchronous distance learning on Mondays.

This approach is distinct from “livestreaming” classes. With concurrent, interactive instruction, students sitting in the classroom and students participating remotely are taught at the same time by the same teacher using digital-friendly teaching strategies, and both synchronous and asynchronous learning.

Concurrent, interactive hybrid in-person instruction and distance learning instruction, in the same classes, is described in more detail on page 29 of the Hybrid Model in Stages implementation plan.

LCPS staff recommended that the School Board consider motions at its November 10 meeting that would provide guidance in implementing instruction in the second semester.


Parent/Guardian Survey for Second Semester Choices

LCPS will ask the parents/guardians of all students to complete a survey between November 11 and November 20 to register their choices for type of instruction for their students in the second semester, which begins January 21. The survey will be conducted through ParentVue. School principals are planning town hall meetings during the survey period to help families understand the choices available to them. More information about the survey will be provided in the next week.


Students in Grades 3 - 5

LCPS staff recommended that the School Board approve at its November 10 meeting a motion to authorize the start of hybrid in-person instruction on December 1 for students in Grades 3 to 5 whose parents/guardians selected the hybrid model for the first semester, conditions permitting. Those students would join other students participating in the hybrid model, including nearly 7,000 students in Kindergarten through grade 2 who began hybrid in-person learning on Tuesday, October 27.


AET and AOS Students

LCPS staff also recommended that the School Board approve at its November 10 meeting a motion that would allow the start of hybrid in-person learning on December 1 for Grade 12 Academy of Engineering and Technology (AET) and Academy of Science (AOS) students whose parents/guardians selected the hybrid model for the first semester, conditions permitting. They would join the MATA students at the Academies of Loudoun currently participating in the hybrid model.


Updated Comprehensive Plan

These plans are described in more detail in the October 30 Update on Implementation of Hybrid Model available online.

In addition to information about the instruction plans described above, the plan includes information on LCPS Health Mitigation Plan, which was submitted to the Commonwealth in July; enhanced cleaning practices for schools; plans for responding when individuals test positive for the virus; contact tracing; and other important topics related to the safe return of students and staff members to LCPS facilities. Much of this information was published previously in other locations and has been consolidated in this document for easy reference.

LCPS administrators and teachers remain committed to returning students who choose hybrid learning to classrooms as soon as we can safely do so, and to supporting students who prefer to continue with the 100% distance learning option. With the start of additional students in the hybrid learning model this week we have taken another step toward our ultimate goal of seeing all students safely back in school, and we are looking forward to making additional progress with the guidance and support of the community and the School Board.

Sincerely,


Eric Williams, Ed.D.
Superintendent

This isn’t news. We spent all last weekend debating this. Note the bolder paragraph is exactly what teachers said would be the case as well. Kids on concurrent virtual instruction. It isn’t live-streaming. It’s concurrent virtual class. Breakout rooms will be a mix of in person/at home kids. Things like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Eric made it official. LCPS is also doing that concurrent foolishness as OP asked. What a charade this year will be:

October 30, 2020


To All LCPS Families and Staff Members:

At the Tuesday, October 27, Loudoun County School Board meeting, the board conducted additional discussions regarding the continued planning and implementation of the Loudoun County Public Schools Hybrid Model in Stages plan. I want to share additional information about some of the topics discussed with you directly today as we continue to work to return students to schools for in-person learning as soon as possible, so long as we can do so safely.


Secondary Students

The School Board reviewed options for implementing the hybrid model for middle school and high school students beginning January 21, 2021 (the start of the second semester). Following a presentation by the LCPS staff, the School Board considered a plan for concurrent, interactive hybrid in-person instruction and distance learning instruction, in the same classes, for students in grades 6 through 12. Under that plan secondary students whose parents/guardians select hybrid learning in an upcoming parent survey (see below) would receive two days per week of in-person synchronous instruction and two days per week of synchronous distance instruction. Secondary students whose parents/guardians choose 100% distance learning will receive four days per week of synchronous, interactive instruction. All students would participate in asynchronous distance learning on Mondays.

This approach is distinct from “livestreaming” classes. With concurrent, interactive instruction, students sitting in the classroom and students participating remotely are taught at the same time by the same teacher using digital-friendly teaching strategies, and both synchronous and asynchronous learning.

Concurrent, interactive hybrid in-person instruction and distance learning instruction, in the same classes, is described in more detail on page 29 of the Hybrid Model in Stages implementation plan.

LCPS staff recommended that the School Board consider motions at its November 10 meeting that would provide guidance in implementing instruction in the second semester.


Parent/Guardian Survey for Second Semester Choices

LCPS will ask the parents/guardians of all students to complete a survey between November 11 and November 20 to register their choices for type of instruction for their students in the second semester, which begins January 21. The survey will be conducted through ParentVue. School principals are planning town hall meetings during the survey period to help families understand the choices available to them. More information about the survey will be provided in the next week.


Students in Grades 3 - 5

LCPS staff recommended that the School Board approve at its November 10 meeting a motion to authorize the start of hybrid in-person instruction on December 1 for students in Grades 3 to 5 whose parents/guardians selected the hybrid model for the first semester, conditions permitting. Those students would join other students participating in the hybrid model, including nearly 7,000 students in Kindergarten through grade 2 who began hybrid in-person learning on Tuesday, October 27.


AET and AOS Students

LCPS staff also recommended that the School Board approve at its November 10 meeting a motion that would allow the start of hybrid in-person learning on December 1 for Grade 12 Academy of Engineering and Technology (AET) and Academy of Science (AOS) students whose parents/guardians selected the hybrid model for the first semester, conditions permitting. They would join the MATA students at the Academies of Loudoun currently participating in the hybrid model.


Updated Comprehensive Plan

These plans are described in more detail in the October 30 Update on Implementation of Hybrid Model available online.

In addition to information about the instruction plans described above, the plan includes information on LCPS Health Mitigation Plan, which was submitted to the Commonwealth in July; enhanced cleaning practices for schools; plans for responding when individuals test positive for the virus; contact tracing; and other important topics related to the safe return of students and staff members to LCPS facilities. Much of this information was published previously in other locations and has been consolidated in this document for easy reference.

LCPS administrators and teachers remain committed to returning students who choose hybrid learning to classrooms as soon as we can safely do so, and to supporting students who prefer to continue with the 100% distance learning option. With the start of additional students in the hybrid learning model this week we have taken another step toward our ultimate goal of seeing all students safely back in school, and we are looking forward to making additional progress with the guidance and support of the community and the School Board.

Sincerely,


Eric Williams, Ed.D.
Superintendent

This isn’t news. We spent all last weekend debating this. Note the bolder paragraph is exactly what teachers said would be the case as well. Kids on concurrent virtual instruction. It isn’t live-streaming. It’s concurrent virtual class. Breakout rooms will be a mix of in person/at home kids. Things like that.

That’s cute. How does one manage two groups of students?

Interested teacher.

[Anonymous]

I don’t get what the debate is. Concurrent is the only way it will work. The other way (separate hybrid and DL) cannot work logistically. Teachers are just against concurrent because without it the default is DL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get what the debate is. Concurrent is the only way it will work. The other way (separate hybrid and DL) cannot work logistically. Teachers are just against concurrent because without it the default is DL.

We aren’t against it necessarily. We just think it’s going to be hard AF and academically not really much better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get what the debate is. Concurrent is the only way it will work. The other way (separate hybrid and DL) cannot work logistically. Teachers are just against concurrent because without it the default is DL.

We aren’t against it necessarily. We just think it’s going to be hard AF and academically not really much better.

Some students are doing fine in DL. But many aren't, many who were good students last year. They need a teacher's physical presence, the presence of classmates, to keep them engaged, accountable. Concurrent will provide that. DL won't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get what the debate is. Concurrent is the only way it will work. The other way (separate hybrid and DL) cannot work logistically. Teachers are just against concurrent because without it the default is DL.

We aren’t against it necessarily. We just think it’s going to be hard AF and academically not really much better.

Some students are doing fine in DL. But many aren't, many who were good students last year. They need a teacher's physical presence, the presence of classmates, to keep them engaged, accountable. Concurrent will provide that. DL won't.

Catering to snowflakes? Ah, I see. I’m shocked you didn’t throw that phony term equity in there. Newsflash: all lives matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get what the debate is. Concurrent is the only way it will work. The other way (separate hybrid and DL) cannot work logistically. Teachers are just against concurrent because without it the default is DL.

Had I my druthers, I'd split it into three jobs: a teacher for DL-only, a teacher for in-person, and a teacher for a group of students on their non-in-person day who coordinates with a couple of in-person teachers. Coordination struggles would be minimized by going week on/week off.

This would presumably require regrouping students and teachers across school boundaries, though. Is shuffling teachers around like that contractually forbidden?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get what the debate is. Concurrent is the only way it will work. The other way (separate hybrid and DL) cannot work logistically. Teachers are just against concurrent because without it the default is DL.

Had I my druthers, I'd split it into three jobs: a teacher for DL-only, a teacher for in-person, and a teacher for a group of students on their non-in-person day who coordinates with a couple of in-person teachers. Coordination struggles would be minimized by going week on/week off.

This would presumably require regrouping students and teachers across school boundaries, though. Is shuffling teachers around like that contractually forbidden?

No, but there’s not enough. This was the original hybrid plan. They don’t have the staff for it. In secondary your license also has an endorsement in the content area you’re qualified to teach. An English teacher can’t just be moved to teach science. They don’t have the ability to run 3 separate, unbalanced and disproportionate groups of students with 1 teaching staff. That’s why new hybrid is all teachers in the building minus those with the most strict of ADA accommodations teaching all 3 groups at once.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get what the debate is. Concurrent is the only way it will work. The other way (separate hybrid and DL) cannot work logistically. Teachers are just against concurrent because without it the default is DL.

Had I my druthers, I'd split it into three jobs: a teacher for DL-only, a teacher for in-person, and a teacher for a group of students on their non-in-person day who coordinates with a couple of in-person teachers. Coordination struggles would be minimized by going week on/week off.

This would presumably require regrouping students and teachers across school boundaries, though. Is shuffling teachers around like that contractually forbidden?

No, but there’s not enough. This was the original hybrid plan. They don’t have the staff for it. In secondary your license also has an endorsement in the content area you’re qualified to teach. An English teacher can’t just be moved to teach science. They don’t have the ability to run 3 separate, unbalanced and disproportionate groups of students with 1 teaching staff. That’s why new hybrid is all teachers in the building minus those with the most strict of ADA accommodations teaching all 3 groups at once.

Lest not forget there’s a 16$ Million budget shortage too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get what the debate is. Concurrent is the only way it will work. The other way (separate hybrid and DL) cannot work logistically. Teachers are just against concurrent because without it the default is DL.

We aren’t against it necessarily. We just think it’s going to be hard AF and academically not really much better.

Some students are doing fine in DL. But many aren't, many who were good students last year. They need a teacher's physical presence, the presence of classmates, to keep them engaged, accountable. Concurrent will provide that. DL won't.

This - DL was a fail for my high schooler. Absolutely needs accountability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get what the debate is. Concurrent is the only way it will work. The other way (separate hybrid and DL) cannot work logistically. Teachers are just against concurrent because without it the default is DL.

We aren’t against it necessarily. We just think it’s going to be hard AF and academically not really much better.

Some students are doing fine in DL. But many aren't, many who were good students last year. They need a teacher's physical presence, the presence of classmates, to keep them engaged, accountable. Concurrent will provide that. DL won't.

This - DL was a fail for my high schooler. Absolutely needs accountability.

Yes we will magically be able to provide more accountability when we see your kid in person... 1 block 1 time a week. I’m going in when they tell me but parents like you expecting miracles of a very, VERY barebones plan that is an appeasement to families but will not provide any academic improvement over DL are going to be so disappointed if you don’t accept what is actually possible in this model.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get what the debate is. Concurrent is the only way it will work. The other way (separate hybrid and DL) cannot work logistically. Teachers are just against concurrent because without it the default is DL.

We aren’t against it necessarily. We just think it’s going to be hard AF and academically not really much better.

Some students are doing fine in DL. But many aren't, many who were good students last year. They need a teacher's physical presence, the presence of classmates, to keep them engaged, accountable. Concurrent will provide that. DL won't.

This - DL was a fail for my high schooler. Absolutely needs accountability.

Yes we will magically be able to provide more accountability when we see your kid in person... 1 block 1 time a week. I’m going in when they tell me but parents like you expecting miracles of a very, VERY barebones plan that is an appeasement to families but will not provide any academic improvement over DL are going to be so disappointed if you don’t accept what is actually possible in this model.

TeCher here. I’m not going close to your child. In fact I’m not leaving my desk and the plexiglass In front of it. They’ll hear as best as they can so if they’re on the far corner of class with my muzzled voice they’ll just have to get feedback online thru screen. No manipulatives. But at least I get to see them NOT cheating as they’ve been doin thus far. LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get what the debate is. Concurrent is the only way it will work. The other way (separate hybrid and DL) cannot work logistically. Teachers are just against concurrent because without it the default is DL.

We aren’t against it necessarily. We just think it’s going to be hard AF and academically not really much better.

Some students are doing fine in DL. But many aren't, many who were good students last year. They need a teacher's physical presence, the presence of classmates, to keep them engaged, accountable. Concurrent will provide that. DL won't.

This - DL was a fail for my high schooler. Absolutely needs accountability.

Yes we will magically be able to provide more accountability when we see your kid in person... 1 block 1 time a week. I’m going in when they tell me but parents like you expecting miracles of a very, VERY barebones plan that is an appeasement to families but will not provide any academic improvement over DL are going to be so disappointed if you don’t accept what is actually possible in this model.

TeCher here. I’m not going close to your child. In fact I’m not leaving my desk and the plexiglass In front of it. They’ll hear as best as they can so if they’re on the far corner of class with my muzzled voice they’ll just have to get feedback online thru screen. No manipulatives. But at least I get to see them NOT cheating as they’ve been doin thus far. LOL

Okay.