Learning Models

Learning anytime, anywhere

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we do school. Students aren’t all in the classroom at the same time, instead, they’re learning from a variety of different locations. So we’ve had to change the way we deliver instruction based on what is safest for our staff and students.

This year our students may meet in person full-time or in a hybrid model or we may need to move ALL students to distance learning - depending on the prevalence of COVID-19 in our community. Whether learning in person or from home – all instruction this year will be developed in an online format so we are able to respond to changing circumstances and move quickly between models.

Looking for consistency? We’re also offering a 100% Online Learning option for any family who wishes to choose a full-time at home learning model. Families can request to move to 100% Online Learning at any time by contacting their principal.

Current On the Dial Learning Model

In Person:
grades preK-5, site-based programs and grades 6-12 intervention

Distance Learning:
*Grades 6-12

*See Return To School Timeline

Return To School Timeline

K-2 Jan 27, 3-5 Feb. 10, 6-12 priority students Feb. 16, Grade 6 and GATE March 1, 7-8 March 15 and 9-12 April 5

Elementary Return To School Plan

Students in grades K-2, as well as students in many of our specialized programs, will be returning to school for in-person learning on January 27. Students in grades 3-5 will be joining us on February 10. As part of our slow roll-in plan, students will return to school four days per week and continue to learn from home on “C” days throughout the month of February. A full five day per week schedule will begin in March.

Return to school timeline:

Jan. 25 & 26: Transition Days - No school for K-5 “On the Dial” students.
NOTE: These remain regular school days for all 100% online learners and all middle and high school students.
Jan. 27: Return to school for grade K-2 students, site-based programs and ALC
Feb. 10: Return to school for grade 3-5 students
March 1: On The Dial students in grades K-5 will return to school five days per week.

What a return to school will look like

We’ll be following the state’s latest guidelines and mitigation strategies to welcome back students and staff as safely as possible. As with our hybrid learning model, students will remain with their classroom cohort throughout the day to limit exposure to other students and staff. Many other protocols in place during hybrid learning will also remain - like regular cleaning and disinfecting of high touch areas and use of face coverings for all students and staff. In addition to masks, you’ll notice staff wearing face shields more often, and as an extra level of safety, we’ll be offering regular COVID-19 testing to our staff.

Here’s a few things that will look different for in-person learning:

School buses will be running at or near capacity, which means some students may be paired up 2 or 3 to a seat. Windows on buses will be cracked to help with air flow, so students should bundle up on cold days.
Both A and B cohorts will be coming to school together, so classrooms will be more full. Whenever possible, 3 feet of physical distancing will be maintained between students.
Teachers and staff will maintain 6 feet of physical distancing with one another and with students, when possible.

Secondary Return to School Plan

Following the state’s updated Safe Learning Plan, middle and high school "On The Dial" students will return to our buildings for in-person learning. Students will come back to school Monday through Thursday and continue to learn from home on Fridays for the remainder of the school year.

Return to School Timeline (revised 2/25/21):

Feb. 16: Grade 6-12 students previously identified for intervention return for in-person support.
- Students who have been formally identified due to lack of academic progress will be invited to return to school. Impacted families will be contacted with more information.
March 1: All 6-8 graders return to school for in-person learning
March 8: All 9-12 graders will return to school for in-person learning

What A Return To School Will Look Like

We’ll be following the state’s latest guidelines and mitigation strategies to welcome back students and staff as safely as possible. Many of the protocols in place during hybrid learning will remain - like regular cleaning and disinfecting of high touch areas and use of face coverings for all students and staff. We’ll be offering regular COVID-19 testing to our staff and based on the Minnesota Department of Health’s recommendation, we’ll be encouraging students and families to be tested every two weeks as well. Learn more about testing options for families.

Here’s a few things that will look different for in-person learning:

All of our On The Dial students will be coming to school together, so classrooms and cafeterias will be more full than they were this fall. Whenever possible, 6 feet of physical distancing will be maintained between students. When 6 feet cannot be met, students will be separated by a minimum of 3 feet.
Teachers and staff will maintain 6 feet of physical distancing with one another and with students when possible, or use a plexiglass barrier.
School buses will be running at or near capacity. Windows on buses will be cracked to help with air flow.
Students will have assigned seats on the bus and in the cafeteria.

Learning on the Dial

learning dial from in-person least restrictive hybrid medium and distance learning most restrictive

In-Person Learning

In-Person Learning

Full time, in-person

Students attend school full time for in-person learning with their classmates and teachers.
Schools will follow all safety protocols and guidelines for face coverings and cleaning and sanitizing.
No large events or assemblies will be held and modifications may be made to the school day to limit the number of students in one area at a time, such as lunch, recess, dismissal times, etc.

Hybrid Learning

Hybrid Learning

Alternating A/B/A/B/C schedule

Allows us to have students in school with teachers and classmates in the safest way possible by limiting the number of people in the building at one time.
Students attend school 2 days of the week and learn from home on the other three days following an alternating A/B/A/B/C schedule.
Students in “Group A” will attend school Monday and Wednesday while “Group B” is learning from home, and then they’ll switch on Tuesday and Thursday. “C” days will be a distance learning day for
all students so buildings can be cleaned, and teachers can make personal connections with students and collaborate with colleagus.
● Schools will follow all safety protocols and guidelines for face coverings, physical distancing, and cleaning and sanitizing, and will operate at about 50% of capacity both in schools and on buses
● Priority will be to schedule families together on same days

Distance Learning

Distance Learning

Full time, learning from home

When it’s no longer safe to have students attending school in person, we will move the dial to Distance Learning. In distance learning, students will learn virtually from home with a combination of live interactions and independent assignments.
You may hear teachers talking about asynchronous or synchronous learning. We provide a mixture of both during distance learning. Here’s what that really means:
- Asynchronous (not specified times): Students are independently learning the same material at different times and locations
- Synchronous (specified times): Students learn at the same time by connecting virtually with their teacher and peers

Additional Choice: Enroll in 100% Online Learning

100% Online Learning

100% Online Learning

Families who are not comfortable sending their children to school may choose to enroll in 100% Online Learning. Families can switch to online learning at any point during the school year by contacting their child’s school.

Contact your child's school to request 100% Online Learning.

In 100% online learning, students learn virtually from home with a combination of live interactions and independent assignments.

A consistent schedule of at-home learning
Teacher interaction with students one-on-one and in small groups
Mix of scheduled learning times as a class along (synchronous learning) with independent online learning (asynchronous learning)
Peer-to-peer activities to provide more social/emotional support
Streamlined communication and more consistent use of apps and platforms

Learning Model Change

Process

Indicators Reflect Model Change

Indicators Include:

COVID rates
Staff Coverage
Student Attendance
Devices/technology and curriculum
Health and safety operations
School services
MDE and MDH and county guidance

Leadership Team Impact Analysis

Leadership Team:

Reviews Indicators
Evaluates current model operations and feedback
Identifies needs and develops plan
Makes model change and recommendation

School Board Decision

School board:

Considers recommendation from Leadership Team
Adopts a new learning model

Transitional Planning Time

Leadership Team:

Implements new learning model
Continues to monitor indicators.

Leadership Team:

Schedules transitional days
Communicates with families
Reroute school buses
Make appropriate staffing changes
Adjust Schedules, as necessary

Implementation

Leadership Team:

Implements new learning model
Continues to monitor indicators.

Indicators

Decisions made in consultation with Minnesota Department of Education, Minnesota Department of Health and Washington County.

County COVID-19 Case Numbers

Less Restrictive: Rates must be consistently in the low end of the state-identified range and/or trending downward

More Restrictive: Rates increasing significantly and/or an outbreak in community

Staff Coverage

Indicator: Ability to properly staff our classrooms, grades, and schools.

Student Attendance

Indicator: Ability of our classes, grades, and schools to operate based on student COVID-19 cases

Device / Technology & Curriculum

Indicator: District-wide access by teachers and students to devices, technology, curriculum and support

Health & Safety Operations

Indicator: Ability to safely operate within health and safety protocols and practices, including cleaning, physical distancing and providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

School Services

Indicator: Ability to provide school services in the areas of childcare, nutrition, and transportation.

Less Restrictive Models

Moving to
In-person Learning:

Confirmed cases among students and staff is relatively small.
Each confirmed case can be traced to a likely source of exposure and all or most close contacts can be identified and excluded.
Staffing is assumed to be sufficient to continue in-person instruction.
Contact tracing can be completed quickly and all or most close contacts can be notified and excluded within 24 hours of being notified of the confirmed case.
Extracurricular activities held, provided they follow current public health guidance.

Moving to Hybrid or
In-Person after Distance Learning

Wait a minimum of two to three weeks from start of distance learning before bringing any students back for in-person or hybrid learning.
Consult with local public health officials, MDH and MDE to determine whether the situation has improved to the point that hybrid or in-person learning may be appropriate.
The hybrid model could be used as a bridge to safely move back toward the model of in-person learning for all students. For example, a school could operate using a hybrid learning model for two incubation periods (28 days) and carefully monitor for any additional clusters of confirmed cases of COVID-19 before transitioning back to a full in-person learning model.

More Restrictive Models

Moving from In-Person to Hybrid

The number of students and school staff who are absent or who are sent home with influenza- or COVID-19-like illness reaches approximately 5% of the total number of students and staff in a school within a single week.
A significant community outbreak is occurring or has recently occurred (e.g., large community event or large local employer) that has the potential to impact staff, students and families served by the school community.

Moving from Hybrid to Distance

A distance learning model could be considered for a day or two if confirmed cases are identified but contact tracing and notification of close contacts in the school setting cannot be completed within 24 to 36 hours.

Multiple cases are identified within a short time period that occur across multiple classrooms or activities, and a clear connection between cases cannot be easily identified.
A significant community outbreak is occurring or has recently occurred and is impacting multiple individuals served by the school community.
Substantial, uncontrolled community transmission is occurring, and there are multiple confirmed cases among students and/or staff.