20 in 2020: What CCPS Parents Need to Know Answers to the top 20 questions parents have for this unprecedented new school year

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20 in 2020 What CCPS Parents Need to Know for Back to School

Here are the top 20 FAQs about Collier County Public Schools’ reopening plan during the COVID-19 pandemic. This information was accurate at presstime. For any updates and changes, check www.collierschools.com/ reopening/faq.

1. Start date. School will start on Aug. 19, a week later than under the original schedule. No other calendar dates will change.

2. Options. By now, parents will have chosen one of four options for their children’s schooling for this year: 1) Attend school in person; 2) Classroom Connect virtual learning; 3) eCollier Academy; or 4) Home schooling.

3. Switching options. Students may start options 1 or 2 and change to a different option at the end of the first or second quarter. Students choosing option 3 are committing to the program for at least one semester.

4. Technology. All students will receive a district-issued iPad (pre-kindergarten and kindergarten) or laptop (grades 1-12). The devices will be used both by students on campus and those learning remotely, so that if another shutdown occurs, transitioning to virtual learning will be simplified.

5. Out-of-Zone/Parental Choice. Students who attend an out-of-zone school will not lose their spot by enrolling in eCollier. According to an email from CCPS, “Looking ahead, if your child remains in eCollier Academy for the entire School Year 2020-21, but you wish to return to your parental choice/outof-zone school for School Year 2021-22, a seat will automatically be reserved, unless the parent notifies the district otherwise.” Parents with more questions on this topic can contact CCPS at zoninginfo@collierschools.com or 239-377-0540.

6. McKay Scholarship. CCPS said it “will work with students who are on a McKay Scholarship individually as they move between the flexible options within the next school year.”

7. Protections. Masks are required for all students on the bus and on campus at district schools, except when eating lunch and breakfast. CCPS is giving every student two face coverings (mask or buff) and a pair of safety goggles. Originally, goggles were required but CCPS responded to concerns voiced by parents and have made the safety goggles optional, although highly recommended. Children may wear their own masks, as long as they adhere to the district dress code policy. Once the positivity rate in Collier County drops below 10%, and continues to decline for two weeks, CCPS will start to remove some of the protections. Parents of children with special needs are urged to contact the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team and principal at their school to work out an individual plan for their child regarding masks. Parents of children with medical issues should talk to their medical provider to determine the best options for their child. Hand sanitizer will be provided for teachers and students to use as they enter classrooms. All high-touch surfaces in schools will be cleaned with an anti-viral product. School buses also will have hand sanitizer available and seats will be disinfected daily.

8. Exceptional Student Education (ESE) services. Students who with an existing IEP who enroll in eCollier will continue to receive the services in their IEP. An ESE program specialist will be calling parents during the first two weeks of school to schedule a meeting to review each child’s IEP and make any necessary adjustments.

9. Symptoms and positive cases. Students showing symptoms of COVID-19 at school will be isolated and their parents notified immediately. Those students will transition to virtual learning. If there is a positive COVID case among students and employees, the school will notify only individuals who were within 6 feet of the infected person for at least 15 minutes without a face covering. Anyone who has been potentially exposed will be sent home and COVID-19 testing is recommended.

10. Courses. eCollier Academy (K-12) classes will be taught by certified CCPS teachers and will include classes normally available at school, including related arts, Cambridge, honors, and Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Currently, eCollier is offered as a full-time option only. The district hopes to later offer individual classes.

11. Music. Students in eCollier Academy can participate in band, orchestra, and chorus at their zoned school. They also must provide their own transportation to school for the class period. Chorus members will wearing masks while singing. Musical instruments will not be shared.

12. Lorenzo Walker Technical High School students can choose the virtual schooling option, but CCPS did note that many of the courses at Lorenzo Walker are hands-on.

13. Before- and after-care. After-school programs will operate in the schools as in previous years, with precautions in place.

15. Breakfast and lunch. Students will eat breakfast and lunch in their classrooms. Parents will not be permitted to use .

16. Activities. Students in both Classroom Connect and eCollier may participate in sports at their zoned schools. A start date for fall sports has not been set, and CCPS is following the recommendations of the Florida High School Athletic Association for practices and games. Whether any clubs will proceed is under review. Clubs will be offered through eCollier.

17. Pre-kindergarten. All VPK and pre-kindergarten classes will be offered on campus, as well as virtually.

18. Testing. For eCollier students, Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) and End-of-Course (EOC) exams will be administered at a designated school site by the student’s eCollier teacher.

19. New students. The registration system for students new to CCPS is now online. For more information, visit www. collierschools.com/registration, email registration@collierschools. com, or call 239-377-0540.

20. Etc. Lockers will not be used. Students will not change clothes for physical education. Middle and high school students will rotate classrooms as normal. All extraneous furniture has been removed from classrooms so that desks may be spread out as much as possible.

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