- The Ohio Department of Education has released guidance—well, as much as they can in the situation—to public schools across the state as to what they should be doing during the lengthy coronavirus-related shut down. The short of it: testing, report cards, and graduation are all up in the air for the foreseeable future. Schools are, for now, expected to “make a good faith effort to provide educational services within available capabilities.” (Gongwer Ohio, 3/17/20)
- Determining everyone’s “faith level” will probably be an exercise for after normality has resumed—whenever that is. But here are two quick looks at the first days of the shutdown. In Central Ohio, suburban districts are said to be planning online lessons in some capacity. In Columbus City Schools, the focus is on providing breakfast and lunch (grab-and-go only) for as many young people as they can. The Dispatch reports that district “students will not be required to complete assignments at home, though a variety of online activities has been provided for families” via the district’s website. A student at Columbus charter school United Prep Academy told the D that “she was sent home with a 100-page packet of work” (and the teacher’s phone number) to complete during the shutdown. (Columbus Dispatch, 3/16/20) No word on suburban school plans in the Cleveland area (see below for that), but at Cleveland Metropolitan School District and Breakthrough charter school buildings, meals and homework packets were being dispensed to all the families who showed up. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 3/16/20)
- As noted, some schools will be attempting to utilize online learning during this time out of classes. I would normally have a lot to say about that, as you might suspect, but maybe I’ll just let Jeremy Kelley tell you what I’m thinking. While even bougie suburbs will likely struggle with what is, to be frank, a very new way of doing business for them, Dayton Regional STEM School is here said to be “ahead of the curve” on virtual learning. This is accurate, but something of an understatement. As one of the handful of independent science and technology-focused schools patterned on my beloved Metro Early College School (don’t act surprised, you guys!), Dayton Regional STEM incorporates virtual days at least once every month as practice for everyone and is set up to do everything—even phys ed and lab classes—online whenever the situation arises. Like now. (Dayton Daily News, 3/17/20)
- There are two things—thus far—that are being said to stand in the way of successful virtual learning (and indeed in the way of successful packet-based work) in more traditional schools. First up is concern for students with special needs. Here’s a national piece on that topic from both the systemic and the parental points of view. With an important stop in Youngstown. (The 74, 3/17/20) The second is the “digital divide”, and here is where we see what’s going on in Northeast Ohio suburbs vs. cities. The situation is exactly how you think it is, and we pick back up with the Willard E Prep charter school student whose parent picked up a work packet along with a meal earlier this week: “They sent those packets home and I don’t know how they’re going to be graded,” she said. When told that schools plan to have students return them when they come back to school, she replied, “If they’re out for the rest of the year? I don’t know.” (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 3/17/20) And the indefatigable Patrick O’Donnell also shared with us some detailed data on which Ohio cities are more and less connected. It, also, is how you think it is. (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 3/17/20) Luckily, internet providers like Spectrum… (Dayton Daily News, 3/15/20) …and Comcast are already stepping up to help address those disparities during this chaotic time. (News5, Cleveland, 3/13/20)
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