Our district plans to use a hybrid model of instruction using online learning platforms along with hard copy instructional packets as needed. For those students who have internet access, but do not have a device, devices will be made available. Students without internet access will have access to instructional materials through a weekly instructional packet.

The District is committed to working with families without internet access on an individual basis in an effort to help obtain it. All students will need access to materials such as paper, pencils, and crayons, which will be made available to families who do not have them. All students will have access to grade-level/course textbooks as needed to complete their work.

Our district will utilize the following alternative modes of instruction in order to best meet the needs of our students during the time when in-person instruction is not an option:

● Instruction and/or materials provided by intermediate districts -- materials such as the ​Content Delivery, Making Connections and Communicating with Students Guidance

● Utilizing email​ via MISTAR-Q​ and telephone communications ​via InTouch by Edulink​ to share pertinent instructional information with students and families

● Partnering with Curriculum Associates to provide all students in grades K-8 with full access to i-Ready.

● Use of online learning

○ Utilizing virtual instruction

○ Utilizing videos for instruction

○ Utilizing podcasts for instruction

○ Utilizing slideshows for instruction

● Implementing project-based learning opportunities

● Utilizing instructional packets

Our teachers will be encouraged to utilize the modes of learning that will work best for their students with considerations given to the age of the students and their overall familiarity with the tools needed to actively engage in the learning.

Special education students will be provided instruction, feedback and support based on their IEP goals and objectives. Unique Classroom is the online platform which is utilized within many of our classrooms for students with special needs. Members of a student’s IEP team are collaborating to meet the needs of our learners and communicating with parents to partner in the support of their child.

The following steps have been taken to ensure that all students have access to the forms of electronic instruction indicated.

● Student devices were distributed based on need. An initial distribution day was scheduled for all schools upon the initial announcement of closure and individual distribution has taken place on an as-needed basis since that time. ○ Families may contact the principal of their child’s school to arrange a pick-up time to acquire a device. ○ This information has been provided through District communications, including our Frequently Asked Questions. All COVID-19 related District communications are posted on the District website on our ​COVID-19 Information Center webpage​. ○ Please note that precautions were taken to ensure that CDC guidelines regarding social distancing were followed ​during student device pick-up​.

● Internet access is available in designated school parking lots via the LPS guest network. Access to the guest network shall require acceptance of stated terms/conditions as set forth in Board of Education Administrative Procedure IFA(3).​ ​LPS Guest Network Terms & Conditions

● Information regarding opportunities to obtain free or low cost Internet access was shared with families via link on our Frequently Asked Questions sent on April 7, 2020 and posted on our website.

https://www.livoniapublicschools.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=12666

● Whenever appropriate, teachers are asked to share instructional packets with students who may not otherwise have access. This will be facilitated by the Academic Services Department.

Although our district is making every effort possible to ensure that all students have access to high quality remote instruction, students will not be penalized if they are unable to complete the course work or participate in remote learning for lack of internet access or other extenuating circumstances related to COVID-19.

Livonia Public Schools School District remains committed to keeping our students at the center of all that we do. Maintaining Relationships, Keeping Connections and Providing Support are the most important priorities in our plan.  We are intentionally focused on our students and emphasize the collaboration between schools, communities, public health, and health care sectors for the purpose of better aligning resources in support of the whole child.

Our focus from the start has been to provide support and resources for academic growth, social emotional support and food & nutrition support.  We are committed to educating the Whole Child and have referenced the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) Model, which is the CDC’s framework for addressing health in schools in preparing our plan.  

The first outreach to our students and families in LPS included each teacher working to make contact with every student.  For students who were not responsive, additional measures were taken to contact each family in order to establish communication, support and connection with all of our learners.  Administrators, support staff and other members of our school teams assisted teachers with this outreach in an effort to provide a comprehensive plan to engage our students remotely.  

Moving forward, our staff will build on the work they have done over the past three weeks to provide students the opportunities to virtually stay connected with their teachers and classmates. This will be achieved by holding virtual class meetings (minimally weekly) to maintain relationships and continually check in with students. Support staff will also collaborate with colleagues to check in with families to provide support and connection that we know is essential.  All staff members will hold office hours as another means for individual or small group support and connection.  

Now, more than ever, we are striving to be intentional in our outreach to continue building relationships and maintain connections. We are committed to do all we can to help students feel safe and valued. To that end, we commit to the following:

• Plan for Student Learning: Building on individual strengths and needs, using this knowledge to positively impact learning.
• Develop a Weekly Plan and Schedule: Offering routines and structures for consistency and for the balancing of think time, work time, and play time for health and well-being.
• Contact Families: Partnering to support student learning through ongoing communication and collaboration. This will not look the same for every student and family. Online privacy and safety remain priorities. We have considered the guidance from COSN when creating this plan. We will provide translations as necessary.

Teachers will monitor participation of students and this information will be shared with administrators weekly, so they, along with support staff, can continue to reach out to those families who are not engaging with us and determine what barriers may exist for them.  

Additionally, the district will continue its regular communication to families. Information is shared through email communications, video messages, district website and social media. All information is housed on a single website for easy access and quick reference.  

Finally, we will continue to take into consideration the following ideals:

• Learning is dependent upon resources available in the students’ environment, and we should honor contributions students can bring to the conversation.
• Teaching and learning doesn’t have to look the same for every student or classroom, it's about flexible instruction that utilizes the resources available and accessible to students, in order to promote the highest levels of engagement possible.
• Equity aims to ensure basic fairness. With equity, the presumption is that not all people begin from the same place – so each person is given what they need to be successful, based on their unique abilities and needs.

Our district is prepared to deliver content in multiple ways in order to ensure that all students are able to access the learning in meaningful ways.

For students with technology, alternative modes of instruction may include use of online learning, telephone communications, email, virtual instruction, videos, slideshows, project-based learning, use of instructional packets, or a combination to meet diverse student needs. Lessons that are delivered “live” during instruction each week will be recorded and saved on the virtual classroom for students to access at a later date if they are not able to do so during the designated time for that class.  

Teachers will have defined office hours on a weekly basis where they will be available online for questions or needed supports for students.  

For those students without technology, the main mode of delivery will be through hard copy instructional packets. This will be supplemented as needed to support instruction. The instructional packets will be available during meal distribution and at the school for pick-up.  Teachers will have defined office hours on a weekly basis where they will be available online, or via phone for students without internet access, for questions or needed support for students.

Partnering with parents through ongoing communication and collaboration is vital to keep students actively engaged in thinking and learning.  Technical support and translation services will be available to parents.

Based upon existing resources, technology, training, and curriculum, as well as the circumstances presented by any state of emergency or state of disaster, our district plans to provide equal access to alternative modes of instruction to students with disabilities from Birth through age 26 via each student’s 504 or an IFSP/IEP for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. This includes a plan for the provision of auxiliary services to Non Public Schools within the district. In addition, the district will be in compliance with guidance from the United States Department of Education, including its Office of Civil Rights and Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, and the Department concerning the delivery of alternative modes of instruction to students with disabilities in light of the impact of COVID-19. The district will make individualized determinations whether and to what extent compensatory services may be needed for pupils after the school closure period prompted by the COVID-19 state of emergency and/or state of disaster ends. 

Livonia Public Schools recognizes we are living in unprecedented times. To that end, we are committed to the connectedness and care for our students and one another. This is our first priority as we maintain a continuity of learning. 

The recommendations on monitoring and feedback below are based upon the principle of no educational harm to any child through a humane approach that is in the best interest of each student. This pandemic, and the statewide suspension of in-person instruction, has impacted our entire society. The emphasis for schoolwork is on continuous learning, supported by monitoring and feedback, not grades. 

Although children will not be penalized if they are unable to fully participate in the online learning opportunities due to access issues, Livonia Public Schools still believes that monitoring student learning through a variety of assessments is essential. We will encourage participation to the fullest extent possible in order to keep our learners engaged.  

Therefore, teachers will monitor students' engagement with their lessons each week; they will report the number of students who “attended” their class meeting, the names of students who “attend” or view the instructional videos and turn in classwork. Teachers will also monitor the students who access Office Hours. 

Additionally,  Principals, Assistant Principals and/or Coordinators will be a member of each teacher’s classroom in order to monitor the engagement of students in each grade/content area, and assist in reaching out to those students who are not engaged.

Despite the challenges of remote learning, teachers will still monitor student learning and check for understanding throughout the learning process. Additionally, teachers will ensure that meaningful feedback is provided to students in a timely manner, in order to support student growth and learning. In order to meet these expectations, teachers will engage in the following:

• Purposeful planning with department and/or grade level colleagues.
  
• Implementation of effective feedback practices and ongoing formative assessments to guide reflection on effectiveness of instruction and determine next steps for student learning.
  
  • Grade level and content area teams will participate in weekly planning and debrief sessions where successes and opportunities for growth are discussed and instructional plans are created and revised to better meet the needs of students.
    
  • Special education and/or EL teachers will work closely with teacher teams in order to modify or accommodate course work and scaffold instruction in order to better meet the needs of all students.
    
  • Special education and/or EL teachers will actively monitor and assess the learning of children on their caseload in order to provide suitable accommodations based on individual needs.
• Teachers will monitor student access and assignment completion on a regular basis within the instructional platform. Teachers will provide feedback to students on assignments through the instructional platform as they are completed. Teachers will differentiate instruction within the platform to adjust based on students’ needs.
• Utilizing a familiar platform such as MISTAR Q will assist both teachers and students with accessing assignment progress and feedback.

In Livonia Public Schools, we place a high value on our communication with our families and our staff. Throughout this closure, we have communicated regularly on a myriad of issues, and have established a dedicated portal on our district website which houses all related information.

Livonia Public Schools will ensure all stakeholders are aware of the plan elements and that the plan is executed well. To facilitate this, we have a clear, consistent, concise, and accessible communication plan. Our communication plan includes a variety of methods the district will use to notify students, staff and parents or guardians of the Continuity of Learning Plan. 

We will communicate the plan to engage students in learning, as well as social emotional and food & nutrition support, to all families in our district through our district website, direct email and social media platforms.  Additionally, school staff and administration will be making multiple attempts to engage students who have not responded or participated in learning opportunities. The plan will be posted to the district and school websites. To ensure continued engagement with the plan, we will periodically send robocalls to families reminding them of resources available to their student/s. 

We will continue to communicate and connect with stakeholders throughout the execution of the plan, knowing that communication with students, families, and staff is extremely important during this time. 

It is our goal to offer our students enhanced remote learning options as soon as possible. To that end, our district is committed to thoughtfully and systematically rolling out this comprehensive implementation beginning April 13, 2020 with staff planning and professional development (while continuing enrichment learning opportunities and feedback for students), followed by implementation of the week-by-week plan through the end of the school year, June 12, 2020.

Within our district, 33% of our students qualify for free or reduced lunch.  During the public health crisis, all students have been eligible for food distribution. As of April 13, 2020 we have served more than 47,430  meals. 

The LPS Curbside Meals Program began on March 18, 2020 with three centrally-located pick-up locations. Our current distribution program includes two (2) curbside pickup sites, on Tuesdays from 11 am-1 pm. Students are provided with five (5) days of breakfasts and five (5) days of lunches, along with milk, at each distribution site. 

Steps have been taken to ensure social distancing and proper protection for district staff and families during packing and distribution.

We will continue our food distribution at Franklin High School and Stevenson High School on Tuesdays through the end of the school year. 

Local church volunteers are currently assisting the district with delivering student meals to families who are homebound.

The program is advertised to families via district-wide email,website, social media and local media. 

LPS Meal Distribution Flyer

Livonia Public Schools recognizes the importance of mental health support during this time and the role schools play in a student’s social and emotional learning. During these unprecedented times, we understand that some of our students may be experiencing anxiety, depression and other mental health issues over the extended school closure. 

We want to ensure that students have access to mental health support, so we have set up a social emotional support hotline which began on March 16, 2020. 

The following message has been shared widely since the initial closure (district-wide emails, FAQ, website, social media):

“During these unprecedented times, we understand that some of our students may be experiencing anxiety, depression and other mental health issues over the extended school closure.  We want to support you. If your student is struggling with mental health issues, and would like a contact from a mental health provider from LPS, please use our Social Emotional Support Hotline. If your student is experiencing significant difficulties and has expressed suicidal ideation, please call 911.”

Livonia Public Schools Social Emotional Support (SES) Hotline

Parents, Guardians & Students can contact:

Call (734) 744-2737  or (734) 744-2SES
Email ses@livoniapublicschools.org

On the other end of this hotline are mental health providers from Livonia Public Schools who are ready and willing to help all students navigate through this time. We have communicated to families that this hotline is available for their students and have encouraged its use, especially if their student is struggling with mental health issues. 

Staff and parents/guardians will also be provided a variety of resources that can be used with students to help explain our current reality, while easing fear and anxiety where possible. Teachers are checking in regularly with students throughout the school closure and will be monitoring and assessing the needs of students. If a need is presented, the teacher will elevate that need to the principal, school psychologist, school social worker or behavior specialist to ensure the necessary follow-up. 

Our district has carefully considered the option of adopting balanced calendars for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year as well as the 2020-2021 school year, given that the research shows that year-round schools are beneficial to lower-achieving, lower-income, and at-risk students.

We are not in a position to implement this option at this time.  This would be a major shift for our community and we would need to survey our board, staff, students, and families and have in-depth conversations before making such a major decision.  Another consideration was our infrastructure. Most of our buildings are not air conditioned, which makes in-person instruction during the hot summer months less than ideal.   

Additionally, our current collective bargaining agreements have established the calendar for the 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022 school years.  Any deviation from the established calendar would require collaboration with our union groups. We may, upon due consideration with our stakeholder groups, consider an adjustment to the calendar that would not include creating a balanced calendar.