Jefferson County Schools
Continuity of Learning Plan

This Continuity of Learning Plan is designed for:

1. Individual or small groups of students who are out-of-school
2. Large groups of students disrupted by school dismissals
3. Large groups of students affected by faculty absences

These recommendations present considerations for education stakeholders to plan for and improve their ability to provide continuous learning ranging from take‐home assignments to online learning capabilities. It offers key questions for states, districts, school leaders, teachers, parents, and students, as well as provides resource opportunities and best practices.

There are a number of reasons why students may be out‐of‐school for extended periods. For example, schools may pursue selective dismissals of students at high‐risk of flu complications (to prevent the spread of flu to vulnerable communities), reactive dismissals (when a significant proportion of students in school have a documented fever), or preemptive dismissals (to proactively decrease the spread of flu). Whatever the reason and regardless of the duration of such interruptions, all education stakeholders should consider the effects of significant absences on student achievement and establish plans that not only ensure health and safety, but also maintain a continuity of learning.

OPTIONS TO GET THE MATERIAL TO STUDENTS WHO ARE AT HOME
We are mindful that available resources will play a part in determining how each school creates its continuity of learning plan. This framework offers several options, all aimed at helping districts, schools, and teachers plan and execute distance learning with whatever resources they have or are able to obtain. The strategies outlined below range from sending copies of assignments home with students to web‐based distance learning coursework. Specifically, they include:

• Hard copy packets: Photocopies of reference materials, curriculum, and assignments can be prepared in advance for distribution to affected students;
• Online materials or other aligned content: Digital copies of reference materials, assignments, and audio‐visual learning supports can be made available on the Internet using teacher-created websites and other Learning Management Systems (LMS) ( e.g., school websites, etc.);
• Online courses and virtual classrooms: Electronic, learning communities where students and teachers interact in real time using web‐based tools;

Teacher check‐ins and tutorials: A variety of technologies (telephone, email, web conferencing) can be used to facilitate one‐on‐one interaction between students and teachers, counselors and other appointed adults (e.g., tutors) during prolonged absences or dismissals.