A. The protocols to follow if there is exposure to COVID-19 are outlined in State guidance.  Schools are required to immediately notify county health officials, staff, and families of an exposure to a positive COVID-19 case at school.

If a student or staff member tests positive, that person is to quarantine for 14 days.  Anyone who came within close contact of that individual should also quarantine for 14 days.  Within a 14-day period due to COVID-19 cases:

• If 5 percent of students or staff in a cohort test positive for COVID-19, the cohort should close.
• If 5% of staff and/or students in a school test positive for COVID019, an entire school should close.
• If 25% of a district’s schools close, then the entire school district should close.

Decisions about closures will be determined in consultation with county public health officials.  The Local Health Officer may also determine school closure is warranted for other reasons, including results from public health investigation or other local epidemiological data.  Cohorts and schools will typically be able to reopen after 14 days.  Before reopening, though, there first needs to be consultation with public health and deep cleaning/disinfecting.

Many districts are still in the process of finalizing plans for reopening in person based on state and county guidance, as well as state law.

This fall, schools have been told to “offer in-person instruction to the greatest extent possible” according to AB-77, the education trailer bill accompanying the 2020-21 budget. However, schools can only do this if they are not in counties rated purple on the four-tiered list,or if they are elementary schools that have received waivers or are following small group guidance (see above item). Schools can offer distance learning if ordered by a state or local health official, or for students who are medically at-risk or are self-quarantining because of exposure to Covid-19. Some school districts are also offering distance learning to any families that are not comfortable sending their children to campuses until a Covid-19 vaccine is widely available.

Previous guidance from the California Department of Education on June 8 recommended limiting the number of students physically on campus at the same time for in-person instruction and considering strategies such as hybrid learning models where students participate in a mix of in-person and online classes. However, as of Sept. 8, 33 counties including 681 school districts and 944 charter schools that educate a total of more than 4 million public school students were in counties rated purple, not including private schools, resulting in most schools starting the school year with distance learning.

AB-77 requires teachers to confirm that students have the necessary technology at home to participate in distance learning. Teachers participating in distance learning are expected to interact with students live daily to teach, monitor progress and maintain personal connections. The bill also instructs teachers to communicate with parents about their children’s learning progress.

Additional requirements for distance learning outlined in the trailer bill include creating procedures for re-engaging students who are absent for more than 60% of instruction per week and providing academic supports for English learners and students who have fallen behind academically. Progress can be assessed through a variety of ways including evidence of online activities, assignment completion and contact between school staff and students or their parents.

According to Department of Public Health guidance, students should expect to wash their hands and have their temperature taken often. Staff and students in grades 3-12 must wear masks and younger students are encouraged to do so. Students must remain  in small groups of classmates known as “cohorts” at all times. Signs and taped marks on the floor can be used to inform them which direction to walk in and where to stand in hallways and in the cafeteria.

A: California schools are required to provide 180 days of instruction per year (175 days for charter schools). However, the minimum number of instructional minutes have been reduced, in an effort to offer teachers more flexibility during distance learning.

Previously, the typical minimum number of instructional minutes per day was: 200 for kindergarten, 280 for grades 1 to 3; 300 for grades 4 to 8, and 360 for high school. For the 2020-21 school year, the daily requirements have dropped to 180 minutes for kindergarten, 230 for grades 1 to 3, and 240 for grades 4 to 12. However, the state is not setting requirements stating how many minutes should be “synchronous,” or live, versus “asynchronous,” or delivered via online platforms or recorded videos that are not live.

The state has created a coronavirus website at www.covid19.ca.gov with an education page that includes links to guidance for K-12 schools and colleges and universities, as well as links to other resources for families and educators. And the California Department of Education has created a Coronavirus Response and School Reopening Guidance website with numerous resources.

A: The Centers for Disease Control has a number of recommendations. These include:

• Remain calm and reassuring.
• Make yourself available to listen and to talk.
• Avoid language that might blame others and lead to stigma.
• Pay attention to what children see or hear on television, radio or online.
• Provide information that is honest and accurate.
• Teach children everyday actions to reduce the spread of germs.

The National Association of School Psychologists has also issued helpful hints for parents similar to those from the CDC. Among them: Limit television viewing or access to information on the internet and through social media. Try to avoid watching or listening to information that might be upsetting when your children are present.

State Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke-Harris has released a 1-minute video on Twitter to help parents and caregivers talk to children about the coronavirus. Burke-Harris urges adults to approach the conversation calmly, ask what children have heard and allow them to share their fears, correct any misinformation, reassure them, and remind them about the importance of proper hygiene, healthy eating and exercise.

In addition, Burke-Harris stresses the need for adults to take care of themselves. She urges the public to visit www.covid19.ca.gov for coronavirus information and resources, which are updated regularly.

National Public Radio has created a comic to help parents talk to their children about the virus. And the independent national nonprofit The Child Mind Institute, which focuses on children’s mental health, has posted an article titled: “Talking to kids about the coronavirus: Kids worry more when they’re kept in the dark.”

A: The symptoms of the coronavirus are similar in children and adults and can be mild or severe. Those symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, shortness of breath and sometimes vomiting or diarrhea.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, children do not seem to be at higher risk of getting the coronavirus although some children and infants have been sick with the disease and one has died in California. Older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like lung disease, diabetes or suppressed immune systems are at higher risk of contracting the virus and possibly dying.

The CDC recommends contacting a healthcare provider for medical advice if you think you or your children have been exposed and have any of the symptoms. The CDC has also released additional tips to help keep children healthy while schools are closed to in-person instruction that include suggested routines for continuing children’s education at home.

Information about testing sites and other resources is available on the state’s website.

A: Yes. Of the 746,191 confirmed coronavirus cases in the state as of Sept. 10, 76,136 were children ages 0-17, 447,876 were adults between the ages of 18 and 49, 141,078 were adults between 50 and 64, 80,183 were adults 65 or older, and 918 were people whose ages were not known. Of the 14,089 deaths due to the virus, three were ages 5-17, including one teenager in the Central Valley with underlying health conditions. Details about which school he may have attended were not released.

Two K-12 students and one substitute teacher were publicly identified as testing positive for the virus before schools closed throughout the state last March. The students attended an elementary school in Elk Grove Unified and a private Catholic school operated by the San Francisco Archdiocese. The substitute teacher, who died March 15, worked in the Sacramento Unified School District.

A: Limiting social interactions for children with their friends is tough, but under the statewide order to “stay home,” children can not visit in their friends homes and the order specifies that babysitters or other caregivers can visit other homes, but with precautions for social distancing and hand washing. The symptoms of the coronavirus can take days to show up, and people can be contagious even if they do not yet have symptoms. Also, each additional child has other circles of contacts — their family and the people their family is in touch with.

In lieu of in-person play dates, some families are setting up video play dates for their kids, and encouraging them to write letters or emails to other family members or friends.

However, individual counties including Alameda and Contra Costa are allowing small groups called “social bubbles” to gather. According to Alameda County guidance, a social bubble must not have more than 12 individuals and can be comprised of a combination of ideally two or three households, but those in the social bubble must not participate in more than one social bubble in a three-week period. The social bubble must gather outdoors such as in a park or a backyard. Face coverings may be removed when eating or drinking and social bubbles must stay at least six feet away from other social bubbles.

A: The U.S. Department of Education granted waivers to all 50 states in 2019-20, exempting them from the testing requirement. However, on Sept. 3, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos sent a letter to chief state school officials informing them that states should not expect waivers in 2020-21. This means that students will likely be required to take the tests this school year.  The test data are used in the state’s school accountability system, the California School Dashboard. The previously waived tests included the Smarter Balanced and science tests that assess the Next Generation Science Standards, and the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California for English learners. More information about how Covid-19 has affected the state’s accountability requirements is here.

A: California bases funding to schools on average daily attendance, but districts won’t lose money if some students don’t participate in distance learning. However, schools are still required to track and report student participation.

A. The State of California allows school districts to apply for a waiver to allow for in-person instruction for students in grades TK-6 in stable cohorts while the county is on a watch list.

Districts with more than two times the threshold for the County Watchlist may not be granted a waiver for in-person instruction. A school must not be permitted to open for in-person instruction until a waiver is granted unless the county is off the Watchlist and able to reopen for in-person instruction. 

Once a waiver application is submitted, it must be approved by both the local Public Health Officer and the State. Additionally, the local Public Health Officer may order a phased-in reopening process for some or all schools included in a district's consolidated application. Priority consideration will be given to schools serving low-income communities, schools that primarily conduct instructional activities outdoors, and schools that have been early adopters of COVID-19 health and safety protocols with a successful record. 

A. Click Marin County TK-6 Waiver Applicant List.  The list is updated daily.

A: Yes. Elementary teachers will use their office hours for virtual intake conferences. These will take place over the first few weeks of school either via Zoom or phone. 

A: Families who opt for a full year of distance learning will be able to join in-person classes after a 14 day quarantine. 

A: Elementary students will receive their child’s class placement via email sent from the school site’s Administrative Assistant through SchoolMint on Tuesday, August 18. White Hill students will receive their schedule on the first day of school. Instructions for schedule retrieval will be shared in their first day Zoom class.

A: Marin’s Public Health Waiver Process and Application was released Friday, August 14, 2020.  School districts are eligible to apply for the TK-6^th grade waiver for in-person instruction if their county remains in Tier 1 (purple).  In accordance with the State's new Blueprint for a Safer Economy, released on August 28, Marin will not be moving out of its current Tier (I/purple) any sooner than September 7.  Hopefully, our numbers will continue to go down and we will move into Tier 2 (red).  As staff explained at the August 25 Board meeting, the earliest RVSD will begin in-person instruction will be October 5 

In reviewing the application process for the TK-6, we do not yet have the required elements completed.  That isn’t to say we haven’t been working on the items that will be needed for in-person instruction.  At the same time we have been working on our Virtual Learning Academy Model, we have been busy developing our safety and cleaning protocols, delivering protective gear to sites, creating outdoor learning spaces, reimagining classroom spaces to provide safe distancing, developing schedules for handwashing/sanitizing and to minimize mixing between cohorts, etc. 

We will continue working to ensure all aspects of the Marin County Comprehensive School Resource Document (August 14, 2020) (this resource contains all documents including the revised 30 point plan, school site specific protection plan, exposure protocols, waiver application, transportation guidelines, substitute teacher guidelines, youth sports guidance and other resources) are finalized. 

To reduce the risk of disruption to the instructional program by needing to close in-person cohorts and have everyone in that cohort or school return to distance learning if COVID-19 is contracted by any of our students and staff, if/when we apply for the TK-6 waiver, we are considering first beginning in-person instruction with small groups of students.  Doing so will give us the ability to determine if our district and school protocols and procedures and Marin County’s testing/reporting and contact tracing systems are effective and to make necessary adjustments to minimize the risk of school-related contraction to our students and staff and families.  Additionally, we are considering prioritizing in-person instruction for our highest needs students and then a systematic return of our other TK-6th graders. CDPH states that students with disabilities should be prioritized for targeted support and services and that English learners, students with higher risk of learning loss, students at risk of abuse or neglect, foster youth, and students experiencing homelessness may also be prioritized.  And, then once we are in the Tier that permits schools to reopen, we will be able to have our 7^th/8^th graders begin the Hybrid Model. 

Staff provided an update on our reopening planning at the August 25^th Board meeting and will provide another update at the September 15 Board meeting.  Additionally,  staff will continue to send email updates, the 6th reopening schools update since the beginning of July was emailed on August 29. 

A. Students receiving IEP services will receive individualized Distance Learning Plans from their child’s RSP/SDC teacher which will detail how services will be provided via virtual and hybrid learning models. Services will be aligned to the student’s IEP to the maximum extent possible; due to school closure and health guidelines, some services will need to be adjusted accordingly. The District is exploring the possibility of offering on-site, 1:1 assessments and other support services to our more vulnerable student populations (Special Education, 504, EL), however all safety procedures and protocols will need to be in place to ensure the health and well-being of students and staff. Communication from our Director of Student Services and the RSP/SDC teachers will provide more detailed information.

A. Teachers and staff are receiving in-depth professional development on effective use of different technology platforms to support the diverse learning needs of our students. We are also providing ongoing support in the form of teachers serving as Virtual Learning Coaches. We are focusing our start-of-year energies on how we build community with our classes and strong relationships with our students. 

A: We have a device loaner program. We also provide internet connectivity for families. An email went out to all RVSD families on August 7.  Click here for information regarding device loans and contact our Director of Technology, Sean Maher (smaher@rossvalleyschools.org) if you have any additional questions.

A: In order to support our students as we return to school virtually, the first week or so will be focused on developing community, social emotional learning, and becoming familiar with the technology as we ease into the curriculum.  Reassure your child that all will be well.  As we all weather the uncertainty and changes brought on by the global pandemic, let's remember the kids are watching us, please let them see our grace, compassion, gratitude for the little things, growth mindset and hope for a better future. 

A: Friday, August 28, the California Department of Public Health (“CDPH”) issued a new 4-tier tracking system (identified as the “Blueprint for a Safer Economy”), which is designed to replace the County Monitoring List, effective immediately. (See here and here.) 

Under the new tracking system, counties are identified as falling into one of four tiers, with Tier 1 being the strictest. Schools in Tier 1 counties are generally barred from reopening for in-person instruction (certain exceptions, e.g. waivers, are discussed below).

Tier 1 applies if the daily new cases per 100,000 population exceeds 7, or if the testing positivity rate exceeds 8%, though other criteria may also be considered (e.g. “health equity measures”). Decisions regarding movement from one Tier to another will be made weekly, starting on September 8, 2020. Most counties are currently in Tier 1.  Schools can identify their county's current Tier at this link.

Once counties have been in a particular Tier for three weeks and fall below the levels which apply to the next Tier for 14 days, they move to the next lowest Tier. As a result, it appears counties initially assigned to Tier 1 will remain there for at least three weeks and can then move to Tier 2 only if they have met Tier 2 criteria for two consecutive weeks. There is an exception, however, for the initial weekly determination to be made on September 8, 2020. For that determination only, counties will receive retroactive credit for prior weeks. As a result, it is possible for a county in Tier 1 to move to Tier 2 on September 8, 2020.

The new guidance also states that schools may reopen for in-person instruction only if their county has been in Tier 2 status for at least two weeks. This seems to mean that schools in Tier 1 counties cannot reopen until they complete Tier 1, move to Tier 2 and remain in Tier 2 for two weeks prior to reopening.  This change seems likely to impact reopening plans for schools throughout the state. 

To be able to apply for the TK-6 waiver, a district must submit an application to the county health department.  The application must include all required components and must be submitted no sooner than 14 days in advance of the desired opening date.  See the FAQ re: will RVSD apply for the waiver.

At such time we are able to move to our hybrid model for those students who choose that model of both in-person and distance learning, we will have a phased in approach to ensure training and practice with each site’s health and safety plan.  Once completed, the plan, which will include such topics as daily screening, hand washing schedules, face covering requirements for those students who are not otherwise exempt, ingress/egress and campus flow, etc., will be shared with parents/guardians.  At this time we do not know the schedule of such a phased transition to on-site instruction.  The earliest, though, that we will begin in-person instruction in RVSD will be October 5, 2020. 

A: We plan to make this transition as soon as conditions allow us to safely open campuses to some level of in-person schooling. Once we are given the go ahead to begin in-person instruction, a transition plan will be implemented for a smooth transition.

A: We are making this shift for a number of reasons. Creating stable cohorts of students due to the pandemic means that students will be engaging with far fewer peers than under normal circumstances. We believe in equitable learning outcomes for all students and do not support “tracking” students into fixed groups based on math level. All students will have the opportunity to complete the additional coursework needed in order to take Algebra in the 8th grade and to that end we have purchased an online program called Imagine Learning in order to make this possible. We are doing this work in conjunction with many other middle schools throughout Marin County.

A: The number of hours per day spent online will vary based on the grade level of your student. Teachers will provide live instruction for approximately half of each day’s instructional minutes-some of which will be spent working with small groups or individual students. Students will also spend time off line working on projects and engaging in art, music, and PE activities. We recognize the importance of balancing a rigorous academic program with time offline.

A: Teachers will provide live instruction on a daily basis. Some of this instruction will be whole group and some will be with small groups or individual students. The number of minutes will also vary depending on the grade level of the student. 

A: "Synchronous" refers to live teaching which happens virtually, with the teacher and student interacting at the same time. "Asynchronous" may be pre-recorded or simulcast lessons, or other activities completed without live interaction.

A: Yes. In the spring of 2020, Mondays were the designated day for teacher preparation given the abrupt shift to distance learning. This year teachers will provide live instruction five days a week. Mondays will become the early release day for two reasons: there are several Monday holidays throughout the year and our middle school teachers would like to begin the week seeing all of their classes. 

A: Understanding and comprehension of material will be assessed in a variety of ways, through teacher interaction, assignment completion, demonstration of knowledge, and formative assessments.

A: Yes. Students at White Hill who have selected to take 1 or 2 electives may indeed have one of those courses scheduled during 0 period.  For students in Jazz Band, stay tuned for more details as to when that class will be scheduled.

A: Due to the changes in the parameters set by the State which basically have the same requirements for attendance, certificated staff oversight, student engagement, etc. as our Distance Learning Academy, at this time we are unable to offer independent study as we do not have the certificated staff to support Independent Study.

A: Our teachers are collaborating with one another on how to best create online classroom communities, identify and address the social and emotional needs of their students, and facilitate student-to-student connections. 

A: Yes, Counselors will be providing services to students virtually until we are able to provide in-person support. They will still be able to provide virtual support for students opting for virtual learning all year.

A: No, in order to ensure consistent cohorts, school-provided opportunities will not be available.

A: Information on academic standards can be found on our district website.

A: Yes. More information will be coming soon about the school lunch program through The LunchMaster. During Virtual Learning Academy, lunches will be available for pick up (stay tuned for details).  Once we are cleared to begin our hybrid model (a mix of in-person and distance learning), because the on-site schedule will be shorter than our schedule pre-COVID, lunches will be grab-and-go style at the end of the on-campus schedule.  For students who select to remain in Virtual Learning Academy, stay tuned for details as to lunch pick-up.

A: Where possible, instructions will be recorded and posted along with lesson assignments.

A: RVSD is not a basic aid district nor do we receive concentration funds for student groups.  All of our resources are utilized for students attending our District schools.  The only area we have been able to support children under the age of 18 has been in the area of food service as we have been providing school lunches since May 2020 regardless of the school they attend, and we have indeed provided lunches to students other than those in RVSD.  In the event the State/Federal Government allows for children 18 and below to continue to receive access to our lunch program, we will need to restrict access only to our RVSD students who qualify for the free/reduced lunch program.  A few parents have asked how they can financially support our RVSD students and families.  We first and foremost need family- and community-funded support for all of our YES programs, such as art and music, which serve all RVSD students. 

A: To be off the State’s watch list, a county must have fewer than 100 positive cases over a 14 day period and must continue to have fewer for 14 more days.  At this time, due to Marin’s positivity rate, there is no way to determine when we will be off the watch list and able to return to in-person instruction.  We will, though, have a phased in return as outlined in another question/answer.  Parents/guardians will be notified of the plan.

A: Our teachers return to work on August 13th and will receive training on various platforms during our professional development days. Once we’ve got our teachers up and running they will be assisting families in how to access learning platforms and programs. We have adopted a new portal, Clever, which will create a single sign-on to every learning application students use.