- Forney ISD
- K-12th Virtual Learning
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Forney ISD continues to monitor the spread of COVID-19. The District receives regular updates and guidance from Texas Governor Greg Abbot, Texas Education Agency (TEA) Commissioner Mike Morath and other local, state and federal agencies regarding response, prevention and mitigation efforts. The guidance has continually evolved and will continue to change based on conditions across the state and our local community. Below is our current plan for the start of the 2020-2021 school year, and the plan is subject to change based on additional information and guidance from any of the above mentioned agencies.
Learning Settings
- PK-12 On-Site Instruction
- K-12 Virtual Academy*
*Students will be allowed to take identified TEA and/or UIL recommended courses onsite during school hours that cannot be taught in a virtual setting, such as Welding, Culinary, Electrical Technology, Band, Athletics, etc. Transportation will not be provided. Click here for a list of Forney ISD Flex Courses.
**All K-12 students will be encouraged to stay connected and allowed to participate in before and after school clubs, organizations, extracurricular activities, and tutorials/interventions. These may include but are not limited to Student Council, NHS, chess club, fishing club, etc. If on-site, transportation will not be provided.
***Parents will be asked to confirm the learning setting to begin the school year. A commitment form will be sent out and finalized by August 3rd. The faster a commitment form is completed, then we can quickly inform teachers if they will be teaching face-to-face or virtually. Parents will be able to request a change in learning environments up to two weeks prior to the end of each 9 week grading period.
What is virtual learning?
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A virtual learning environment allows students to learn from home with a flexible schedule that meets all district and state requirements. These classes will provide the same opportunities as face to face and will require the same commitment as a face to face learner. Daily interactions are expected between student and teacher to ensure student engagement and progress.
Expectations
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Student Expectations
- All students are required to log into their canvas course(s) on a daily basis and actively participate in order to maintain enrollment and be considered in attendance. Virtual Academy students need to make a major commitment and must interact with the content, discussion boards, and other course materials daily. If a student is unable to login to the system within each 24-hour school day, for any reason, they need to make direct contact with their instructor for direction. Without that contact, the student will be considered absent. Absences in the Virtual Academy follow the same policies and procedures as onsite learning, including truancy requirements. Students must keep current and/or make up all coursework.
- All students must keep the computer camera on during online lessons, check-ins, and assessments.
- Adhere to the code of conduct of your school and behave with integrity and honesty while participating in an online class.
- Read and acknowledge the district Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) regarding technology and the internet.
- Students may be required to login for classes at assigned times.
- Students may be required to come on campus for testing.
- Complete coursework on time.
- Communicate with your online instructor and mentor in a professional and respectful manner.
- Ensure that you have the means to access the online courses on your own at all times.
- Acknowledge that the school district has full and complete access to the work submitted or the
comments posted within the online course. - Seek help from the online instructor or course provider as needed.
- All UIL “no pass no play” guidelines will be adhered to for virtual learners.
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Parent Expectations
- Ensure that your student has the necessary equipment and internet access to participate in the online course. All students grades 4-12 are issued a student Chromebook, all students grade K-3 can be provided a device if needed.
- Provide your student with a safe and appropriate place to work with appropriate supervision free of distractions with an appropriate background.
- Ensure that your student has sufficient time in his/her schedule to work each school day in the course.
- Become familiar with the means by which you can receive progress reports and never be afraid to ask your student to show you his/her course work and progress.
- Encourage your student to seek help when struggling or frustrated.
- Ensure that all tests and work is done by your student without the aid of others.
- Be aware of all course deadlines and pacing guides.
- Communicate academic concerns with online instructors as needed.
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District Expectations
- The expectations for learning will be consistent in both settings. All onsite and virtual learning will be housed consistently in Canvas.
- Grading procedures will be consistent between both settings and will align to the FISD grading guidelines and expectations.
- All TEKS and state expectations for learning will be consistent and follow all expectations from TEA including common assessments, exams, universal screeners, and benchmarks.
- Attendance will be taken in both settings daily. Online attendance will be measured through engagement as defined by TEA. Online attendance will follow all state and local policies and procedures including credit, promotion and truancy laws.
- Accountability and state assessments are still expected from TEA.
- If a student has an active 504 Plan or IEP, the 504 committee or ARD committee will make a determination about the appropriateness of individual accommodations or modifications.
- Students may request and/or be required to attend interventions or additional learning opportunities.
- Teachers will provide virtual office hours similar to conference periods for conferencing/contacts.
- The district will provide technology support for district programs and devices.
- The district will provide support services including counseling/guidance, nutrition services, SPED/504, and other resources. These services may require onsite visits.
- Students will be allowed to take identified TEA and/or UIL recommended courses onsite during school hours that cannot be taught in a virtual setting, such as Welding, Culinary, Electrical Technology, Band, Athletics, etc. Transportation will not be provided.
- All K-12 students will be encouraged to stay connected and allowed to participate in before and after school clubs, organizations, extracurricular activities, and tutorials/interventions. These may include but are not limited to Student Council, NHS, chess club, fishing club, etc. If on-site, transportation will not be provided.
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Attendance
- All students are required to log into their canvas course(s) on a daily basis and actively participate in order to maintain enrollment and be considered in attendance. Virtual Academy students need to make a major commitment and must interact with the content, discussion boards, and other course materials daily. If a student is unable to login to the system within each 24-hour school day, for any reason, they need to make direct contact with their instructor for direction. Without that contact, the student will be considered absent. Absences in the Virtual Academy follow the same policies and procedures as onsite learning, including truancy requirements. Students must keep current and/or make up all coursework.
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Learning Expectations and Grading Practices
- Grading procedures will be consistent between onsite and virtual learning settings and will revert back to grading procedures Pre-COVID.
- All TEKS and state expectations for learning will be consistent and follow all expectations from TEA including common assessments, exams, universal screeners, and benchmarks.
- Accountability and state assessments are still expected from TEA.
Special Services in Virtual Learning
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ARD Committee Meeting
If you choose to enroll your child in the Virtual Academy for online learning, an ARD committee meeting will be held to consider appropriate revisions to the IEP for this learning environment. This may include revisions to the goals/objectives, instructional supports, as well as duration and frequency of instructional services and related services to account for the online learning environment. A contingency schedule of services will be developed that will outline your child’s services in the event he/she returns to on campus learning.
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Special Education Instructional Services in the Virtual Academy
In order for students to receive credit for attendance in the Forney ISD Virtual Academy, they must actively participate in the amount of time listed here:
- ECSE - 4th (90 minutes/daily minimum for half day; 180 minutes/daily minimum for full day)
- 5th - 12th (240 minutes/daily minimum)
Students participating in the Virtual Academy will have work to complete independently, as well as well as activities done with their teacher.
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ABLE/Life Skills Classes/Next Steps/PASS
The ARD committee will determine appropriate services, service times, and accommodations for each individual child. Virtual instruction will include Zoom, Canvas, email, and/or telephone. If the student needs paper materials and/or tactile materials, those will be provided to the parents for the work at home. Material pick-up or drop off will be arranged with parent/guardian.
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Resource/Inclusion
The ARD committee will determine appropriate services, service time, and accommodations for each individual child. Virtual instruction will include Zoom, Canvas, email, and/or telephone. If the student needs paper materials and/or tactile materials, those will be provided to the parents for the work at home. Material pick-up or drop off will be arranged with parent/guardian. Resource/Inclusion teachers will meet with the student in addition to their general education teacher to provide additional support as written in their IEP.
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Dyslexia
For students receiving MTA services, virtual instruction will take place via Zoom or Canvas. Due to the nature of MTA, this course will need to be conducted in a live session. A Dyslexia teacher will contact parents with information regarding scheduling service times with your child.
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Speech Therapy for Students in the Virtual Academy
Speech therapy services will be provided by the speech language pathologist (SLP) and/or speech language pathologist assistant (SLP-A) assigned to the student’s home campus. This means if your child was scheduled to attend Johnson Elementary for face-to-face instruction, the SLP/SLP-A assigned to Johnson Elementary will provide teletherapy utilizing Canvas. Service times for teletherapy may vary from what was initially prescribed for the on campus learning environment. The service times will be determined by the ARD committee and in consideration of each child’s individual needs. Consult services will continue to be provided as written in the IEP unless the ARD committee decides otherwise. These services can be provided via telephone, email or virtual conference with the teacher(s) and/or parent(s).
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Vision Services in the Virtual Academy
Services will be provided by the VI teacher virtually through Zoom, Canvas, telephone or email with the student and/or parents. Students with consult minutes will receive the same number of minutes as listed in their IEP via telephone, email or virtual conference. Direct service times and goals will be determined by the ARD committee based on each child’s individual needs in the virtual learning setting. For students who receive Braille materials, these materials will be dropped off on the student’s porch.
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Related Services in the Virtual Academy
Occupational Therapy: Services will be provided through teletherapy (Zoom or Canvas). OTs will also provide videos of lessons and activities that can be done at home. Materials that the student needs will be mailed or porch drop off. Consult minutes will be provided as stated in the IEP via telephone, email or virtual conference with the student and/or parents. Direct service times and goals will be determined by the ARD committee based on the child’s individual needs in the virtual learning setting. The OT that would serve them on their campus will serve them virtually as well.
Physical Therapy: Services will be provided through teletherapy (Zoom or Canvas). PT will also provide videos of lessons and activities that can be done at home. Materials that the student needs will be mailed or porch drop off. Consult minutes will be provided as stated in the IEP via telephone, email or virtual conference with the student and/or parents. Direct service times and goals will be determined by the ARD committee based on the child’s individual needs in the virtual learning setting.
Counseling: Counseling services will be provided through teletherapy using Zoom or telephone. Services will be determined by the ARD committee based on each child’s individual needs in the virtual learning setting.
Adaptive Physical Education: APE service time will be determined by ARD meeting. APE services will be provided through Zoom or Canvas meetings, videos, email or telephone. Goals and/or service times will be determined by the ARD committee based on the child’s individual need. -
Evaluations
Special Education evaluations (initials and reevaluations) for students enrolled in the Virtual Academy will be completed by the evaluation staff assigned to the student’s home campus. Portions of the evaluation that require in person assessments will be scheduled at a mutually agreeable time determined by evaluation staff and the parent. These assessments will be completed at the student’s home campus in a designated location or a central location, such as the Special Populations office. The district health and safety protocols will be followed and social distancing for that setting will be implemented to the extent possible.
Dual Language (K-6th)
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Instruction
- Dual Language students will receive instruction in English and Spanish.
- Parents will be provided with a daily schedule to follow the Dual Language instructional model and learn new content and skills in both languages.
- Students will attend various online sessions every day and will also have time to work independently and complete the assignments.
- A teacher will be available online throughout the day to help with questions and provide support as needed.
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Attendance
- Students are required to adhere to overall attendance requirements for daily engagement.
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Language Proficiency Assessment Committee (LPAC)
- The LPAC committee will adhere to LPAC requirements for beginning, middle and end of year.
- Second language acquisition progress will continue to be monitored for English Learners.