Synchronous learning is an approach where teachers and students are online at the same time with a set schedule. Students are able to interact with their teachers while learning in classes take place during the school day.

Asynchronous learning is an approach where teachers and students are not online at the same time. Students do not directly interact with their teachers while in scheduled classes during the school day. Resources are provided for students to work on at a time that works for them and their families.

Remote learning is a full-time at-home learning option for families that may have health and/or safety concerns returning to in-person instruction, for students students that may not be able to attend school due to sickness, for students that may be sent home due to COVID-19 related conditions, or other circumstances where a student cannot attend school for longer periods of time.

Due to a lack of technology supplies on a national level, Synchronous Remote Learning will be phased in as the school year progresses. As a District, we have ordered the technology for Synchronous Remote Learning and are still waiting for delivery on many supplies. Due to this, we do not have a definitive timeline on the rollout of a fully synchronous learning model. Until the technological infrastructure for the District has been fully supplied, Synchronous Remote Learning will not be offered at all grade levels, by all teachers or in all classes. Until that time, Asynchronous Remote Learning will be used for these grades, teachers and/or classes. Asynchronous Remote Learning will consist of videos and non-class/period specific hours to work with a teacher.

There is the possibility that, at any point in the school year, a short or long-term school closure may take place. In this instance, all students will be transitioned to remote learning allowing the schools to continue as a fully remote environment. Instruction will continue in all areas aligned to the New York State Learning Standards.

For the 2020-2021 school year, Hoosick Falls CSD will use Google Classroom, with Google Suite as the basis for classwork, as the learning platform for students in both the elementary school and high school. The staff will spend the year studying other Learning Management Systems to determine which ones best serve the needs of Hoosick Falls students. The District will provide a chromebook to those students that do not have an internet accessible device with audio/visual capability. In addition, the District will also assist families with securing access to online learning either through a local internet provider or a wireless device. These options may be provided by the District depending on the availability of internet access and/or geographic location of the household. For those students that cannot achieve internet access, learning materials will be provided/delivered to the household.

The following data was obtained from the Parent Survey conducted August 10-14:

I DO NOT have adequate internet access at home for student learning 5.6% ~60 students
My child has access to a computer, tablet or Chromebook at home 36.0% ~400 students

Based on this information, the District will provide Chromebooks to the ~400 students that do not have a learning device at home and work with the families of the ~60 students to secure internet access as well as begin working with the teaching staff on providing these families with materials to be delivered home.

REMOTE LEARNING EXPECTATIONS

All students must have a Chromebook or other learning device with access to the internet.
Students are expected to maintain passing grades as if they were attending in-person classes.
Students are expected to work in their classes on the ‘normal’ school schedule as if they were attending in-person classes.
Students are expected to keep current in their assignments
Teachers and students will be using Google Suite for all work, including Docs, Sheets, Meet, Slides, Forms, Hangouts and Calendar. Work in other formats may not be accepted.
Students are expected to log into their classes where teachers are teaching the “in-school” sessions, ensuring instruction for remote learners.
Students will be expected to be present during each class, and attendance will be taken.
Students will engage in the process by answering questions, either orally or in writing, and completion of note-taking activities, extended learning and projects, as well as additional practice.
Remote students will extend learning that has occurred “in-person” via live streaming and continue with all assigned classwork, projects, viewing of videos, responding to teacher and classmate posts.
Students with Individualized Education Plans (IEP’s) will be monitored by both their special education and general education teachers through a documentation of services provided, particular accommodations and modifications will be noted and maintained on each student. Communication with parents will occur through school email, Google Classroom, and eSchool in their preferred language and/or mode of communication, while documenting all outreach efforts.
For students with an IEP: sending packets and assignments home when necessary, structured learning time, video conferencing with teachers, a regular and consistent schedule of classes, interventions and services as required by the student’s IEP offered synchronously or asynchronously, independent work time as appropriate, and opportunities for interacting with classmates.
Students with an IEP may receive synchronous remote lessons or tele-therapy sessions provided via telephone or video conferencing.
Students with an IEP receiving the majority of their daily instruction through special education, teachers may assign supplemental work that can be accomplished independently with guidance from the teacher.

GRADES K-2

Expected remote learning time: 2 – 2½ hours per day.
Students will log on to their learning device daily, each morning.
Attendance will be taken at the beginning of the regular school day.
Students will receive instruction in reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies. Synchronous instruction may be delivered at times throughout the day, not in one large instructional block.
Instruction in all other curricular areas will be asynchronous.

GRADES 3-4

Expected remote learning time: 2½ – 3 hours per day.
Students will log on to their learning device daily, each morning, and follow a normal class schedule.
Attendance will be taken at the beginning of the regular school day.
Students will receive instruction in ELA, mathematics, science, and social. studies. Synchronous instruction may be delivered at times throughout the day, not in one large instructional block.
Instruction in all other curricular areas will be asynchronous.

GRADES 5-6

Expected remote learning time: 3 – 4 hours per day.
Students will log on to their learning device daily, each morning, and follow a normal class schedule.
Attendance will be taken at the beginning of the regular school day.
Students will receive synchronous instruction in ELA, mathematics, science, and social studies when possible.
Instruction in all other curricular areas will be asynchronous.

GRADES 7-12

Expected remote learning time: 4 – 5 hours per day.
Students will log on to their learning device daily, each morning, and follow their normal in-person school schedule.
Attendance will be taken each period of school day.
Students will receive instruction in all subject areas through synchronous instruction where possible.
Instruction in Physical Education will be asynchronous.

To limit the possible transmission of COVID-19, remote learning students will not be able to participate in any in-school activities.

Bus transportation and classes have been balanced based on the Parent Survey and which students will be attending in-person instruction using the hybrid model. Due to these conditions, there is no guarantee of specific transportation or class placements for students that have enrolled in Remote Learning since the beginning of the school year. Moving from Remote Learning to in-person instruction may only take place at the end of a trimester in Grades K-6 or a quarter in Grades 7-12. If a family would like their student to return to in-person instruction after beginning the year in Remote Learning, they must contact the Building Administration at least three weeks before the end of a trimester or quarter.

Hoosick Falls Central School District

COVID-19 Info & Updates

2020-21 REOPENING

Public Forums

Contact Tracing

COVID-19 TESTING

Remote Learning

UPK-2 Return to School Info

Other Reopening Information

COVID-19 Testing At HFCS + Zone Designation Information