Dear Stuyvesant Families, The recorded link for the chancellor’s family engagement session from yesterday, July 28 is here: https://learndoe.org/face/recordings/ You may also click “recordings” from this page: https://learndoe.org/face/ For those that have expressed seeing the entire FAQ in the context of an email, it is below. I encourage you to log in to Talos and click “info” then “Stuyvesant FAQs” then "Return to School 2020 FAQ” so that you may see updates and added questions as they are posted and answers are communicated from collaboration with administration, the program chair, and what is conveyed by the DOE. Best, Dina 1. Can I choose a fully remote learning environment for my child whether or not Stuyvesant would be fully remote school wide?? Yes. Every family has the option of being fully remote. You make this choice by filling out the DOE survey at this link by August 7: https://www.nycenet.edu/surveys/learningpreference or by calling 311. Those who do not fill out this survey will be placed in blended learning for Fall 2020 as this survey is only necessary if families desire fully remote learning. Please note: You must fill out this survey or call 311 to indicate you want your child to be fully remote. Final program model exceptions are due to the superintendent on August 14; decisions will come back by August 21. According to the superintendent’s office, the DOE will accept applications for “school wide fully remote” but consider these based upon data collected through the survey from families above as well as the number of approved medical accommodations granted to staff to gauge if a school should/can/may open with a blended model in the Fall. 2. Can a fully remote student return to a blended model? Yes. However, after August 7, if you filled out the DOE survey or called 311 to be a fully remote student, a student will be able to return to blended learning and attend in-person sessions at four pre-determined times during the year according to the Chancellor. We have not received information on when or how this will be carried out beyond that it would be quarterly. 3. Can a blended learning student opt out and become a fully remote student? The chancellor made comment at the 7/16 Family Engagement Session that "there will be specific periods during the school year in which remote learning families may opt back into in-person learning... a student in in-person learning and their family decides we want to go in remote learning, they can do that at any time because it doesn't impact the programming inside the school building". As students cannot be reprogrammed mid-semester; in this context, a fully remote and blended schedule would need to be interchangeable. 4. Can classes be split up so that some are fully remote and some are reserved for blended learning? As there will be fully remote students who are able to opt back to blended learning at different periods that we are yet aware of, this would create issues with an inability to program students mid-semester. Additionally, the program office would need to know exactly which teachers would be in-school and/or remote to program for this and if circumstances change where a teacher must apply for a medical accommodation to work from home during the semester, their schedule must also that such classes can be taught either blended or remotely. 5. What is the school doing to improve the remote learning experience? Along with the announcement from the Chancellor on 7/17 that the DOE and UFT are in discussion about expectations regarding synchronous instruction, teachers and administrators are engaging in discussion about this at the school level. We have issued internal surveys to determine the expectations among parents/guardians and students versus those of teachers. Number of synchronous sessions would also be largely dependent upon whether there is a fully remote of blended model for the Fall. Teachers have had time to plan, gain experience, train with professional development offered and collaborate. This wasn’t the case in the Spring. We hope to have a better picture of this as the Fall approaches both with parameters hopefully coming directly from the DOE and UFT, but also as departments come to agreement. While we cannot give specifics at this time, know that it is a conversation on the table and known to be a primary concern of families. 6. Why can’t Stuyvesant be fully remote with only the one day in their 4-cohort plan be for social emotional counseling, clubs, activities, and other services? Other schools (i.e. Nest+M) have been noted as submitting this plan. Plans from schools asking to solely be fully remote without submitting a cohort plan were rejected. Schools requesting an exception have been directed by the DOE to submit a plan that outlines our blended learning model (4-cohorts) and that they will consider fully remote requests based on data collected from the survey of number of families wanting fully remote and the number of available teachers that are approved for medical accommodations. This survey is the DOE survey referenced in question 1; not internal ones. The activities arranged on the alternating days that students will be in the building has not been finalized and can’t be until we have more data but all these suggestions would be considered. Unless the DOE outlines specific activities to take place, the administration will determine this with consultation from all constituencies. 7. Can cohorts be separated by grade level? Not at this time. According to our Program Chair, unfortunately, separating cohorts by grade level creates a problem with social distancing. For example, a teacher who only teaches one grade level could be forced to have full classes when that cohort comes for in-person learning when programmed this way. 8. Could a majority of families and teachers wanting fully remote force the DOE to consider it as an option? Families have the option of choosing fully remote by August 7 here: https://www.nycenet.edu/surveys/learningpreference or by calling 311. The DOE will use that data in considering the number of families that want remote learning. If an overwhelming majority of families opt for fully learning for their child and there are not enough teachers to sustain blended learning at the school building, the superintendent's office indicated that the DOE will consider fully remote for a schoolwide program. This has not been stated by the Chancellor or put in writing. The Chancellor indicated at the July 28 family engagement session that the DOE plans to support schools with more teachers for blended learning should it be necessary. While families have the option of choosing fully remote, teachers and staff members must apply for a medical exception. It is not an “opt in” choice. Staff must be approved to work from home for Fall 2020 at this point in time. 9. When is the first day of school in the Fall and where is the 2020-2021 calendar? The Chancellor has indicated that they are ‘aiming for’ the September 10th start day to the Fall 2020 year. We have no calendar and thus cannot upload it at this time. 10.Can students attend another school for now and return to Stuyvesant later on? If a family leaves Stuyvesant and remains in the five boroughs of New York City, but then would like to return to Stuyvesant within one year, historically there has been a ‘right of return’ that the office of enrollment of the DOE has honored. We cannot guarantee that policies will continue, nor has any information on this been issued from the DOE. We can only state what has taken place in the past – some students discharged from Stuyvesant who wished to return within the year were able to return in the past. 11.If Stuyvesant implements a blended model and a family decides to go 100% remote, will the fully remote students still be taught by Stuyvesant teachers? We have received confirmation at this time from the superintendent’s office that those programmed for fully remote will be programmed at the school level – You opt into fully remote here: https://www.nycenet.edu/surveys/learningpreference or by calling 311. The Chancellor stated on July 28 at the family engagement session that fully remote students will still be part of your learning community and the majority of classes taught by their school's teachers; there may be some exceptions. 100% remote students will have live instruction and every class will have live instruction each day. This has not come to us in writing yet, however, it was stated on July 28. It was also stated that "you are always be a part of your school"; schedules and learning experiences will be managed by the home school of a student. Again, "the majority of students will have their schools' teachers but there may be some exceptions". 12.Is Stuyvesant programming for blended and fully remote students to be assigned the same class and teachers and fill it to 34 and they just alternate what day they are in the room? Mr. Cheng, the program chair, is programming students into one of 8-9 spots that corresponds to the day. The 8-9 seats times 4 should add up to 34 students for the one class a teacher will have that alternates days in the building while learning remotely on the other days. 13.Can siblings within Stuyvesant be programmed for the same cohort? Can siblings in other schools be considered when programming cohorts? Once the blended model is finalized, it may be put to consideration how to possibly program siblings within Stuyvesant in the same cohort, however, this we cannot guarantee this. Considering siblings in other schools may not be possible due to individualized programming done at Stuyvesant. 14.Why do parents/guardians need to make a decision on whether to be fully remote or blended by August 7? The DOE needs to provide information to principals so that they have the information they need to program the school. 15.What will a typical blended learning week look like for a student? As was stated on the Chancellor's livestream family engagement session on July 28 by one of the executive superintendent, "this is dependent upon many factors including space, number of staff available and students that are fully remote. Principals will choose a model" (or file an exception model). Considering this, we cannot say what it would look like past the 4-cohort model with certainty until we have numbers for our program office to use. 16.Will masks be required at school for blended learning? The chancellor has indicated that every individual will be wearing PPE; and it will be required in ALL indoor spaces. He also indicated that these supplies have been purchased by the DOE and will be supplied to schools. 17.Will it be mandated that principals share the details of a blended program model with families prior to the August 7 deadline for families to opt into fully remote learning? Principals are asked to take factors like physical capacity and number of students who want fully remote learning into consideration; once they have this information, they can make the best choice. It is not possible that these details be in place before the August 7 deadline for families. 18. Is the decision for NYC public schools to have in-person learning final? Not at this time. This is a planning stage. The chancellor stated, "If the science indicates that the numbers are going in the wrong direction, we will not go into in-person learning." 18.What is the difference between synchronous and asynchronous learning? Synchronous learning is online or distance learning happening in real time, live. Students are encouraged to use cameras so teachers can see their faces. Asynchronous learning occurs through online channels without real time interaction. Teachers can post assignments or students may work in small groups or on individual projects so that children work at their own pace. 20. What will cleaning look like in schools? Based on successful cleaning protocols in recreational centers, they will be continued in schools. Electrostatic disinfectors for schools ordered, additional PPE, additional sanitation supplies for classrooms were also ordered. like disinfectant wipes, sprays, towels, pumps. 21. How will students eat lunch? The Chancellor indicated that Grab and go lunch will be provided; students may also bring lunch. Social distancing will be enforced and principals are encouraged to use classrooms to minimize exposure. Classrooms are encouraged as it helps with test and tracing if someone becomes sick and identify who has been exposed in a cohort. This will limit freedom within a school as stated by the Chancellor. Stuyvesant has yet made final determinations on these details. 22. How will there be enough teachers for both remote and in-person learning? The DOE expects schools will have enough support but they will support with additional staff. substitutes, and teachers and speaking with their union partners, the UFT and CSA for support. The chancellor stated that they are looking at everyone with a teaching credential including himself, they are looking to see whether those should be in a classroom supporting in-person learning and reaching out to all substitutes available. This is why the DOE needs to know who will be fully remote so they can provide principals information for programming and understand whether they have enough teachers and the DOE to provide more teachers. The DOE is asking for everyone to be HONEST about what they want, in-person or fully remote and to answer the survey by August 7 or calling 311. link: <https://www.nycenet.edu/surveys/learningpreference> https://www.nycenet.edu/surveys/learningpreference 23. Can the DOE use alternative space for accommodating in-person learning? Alternative space option recommendations have been welcomed by the DOE. They will continue to evaluate and assess with available resources as they get a better understanding how many are coming in for in-person learning so the answers to the family survey are needed. The SCA (School Construction Authority) is looking for spaces that would serve in this function. If concerns about space, ventilation, supplies and cleaning are important for schools; this extends to other spaces. Going into a space must consider all health and safety measures and a full evaluation. You can rent spaces, but it must be made a classroom, everything from light to technology to safety measures need to be considered. The Public Libraries have been involved in creating alternate learning areas that are in discussion, however, the answers are being worked through now and thus no definitive answers are available now. 24. What happens when a student or staff member presents with symptoms? New York City will be more conservative than the State regulations has been the statement of the Chancellor. More details will be released in the coming days about what will happen if there is a positive case. The DOE is working with local and national experts to make sure they will keep everyone safe. 25. Would it be possible to split schedules with all students in school five days a week? There would not be sufficient time to disinfect and sterilize school buildings between a morning and afternoon session. Ms. Dina Ingram Director of Family Engagement Stuyvesant High School 347-224-6673 cell ringram3@schools.nyc.gov<mailto:ringram3@schools.nyc.gov> www.stuy.edu<http://www.stuy.edu> Read my Blog<https://talos.stuy.edu/hera/blog/feed> on talos.stuy.edu<http://talos.stuy.edu> Follow Stuyvesant on Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/StuyNYC/> @StuyNYC or Twitter<https://twitter.com/StuyNY> @StuyNY “This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential or privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not an intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message."