IMPORTANT: Academic model selection is required for each IUSD student by July 22nd at 5:00 pm.
Information on how to complete this process is below.
Update #3: Friday, July 17th
State Sets Conditions for In-Person Learning to Start for 2020-21 School Year
Trojan Families -
I don’t think I’m alone in feeling a bit overwhelmed with the rapidly changing landscape regarding Covid-19 and its impact on school operations in the fall. My family and I are currently finishing our summer vacation and still trying to stay connected to everything that is happening.
I’m navigating what all this means for my Uni students, as well as, my own four who are a part of a different Orange County district. Thank you all for your patience as we make our way through this together. Our goal is unwavering — ensure the emotional and physical health of our students, staff, and community while providing a rigorous academic program that will prepare students for a meaningful and successful life after high school.
Many of you saw the Governor’s message this afternoon which explained that schools cannot physically open until the county in which they reside meets certain health criteria. As of now, Orange County does not meet the criteria, but that could change before we begin school on August 20. We understand that this can cause additional uncertainty and confusion. There is still one main thing families need to do right now - choose a school program for the fall. The program you select will allow us to build capacity with staffing to ensure that we can meet student needs.
We have extended the deadline until next Wednesday, July 22nd at 5:00 p.m. for families to choose either the Irvine Virtual Academy (IVA) or the campus hybrid model which will combine on-campus and at-home learning. You must select your academic program / model through the Parent Portal and Parent Portal and follow the prompts. For step-by-step directions click here. If you wish to change the model you have selected, you can do that through Wednesday. At that time, your student will be committed to that program through the end of the first semester. Those families choosing the IVA will be in distance learning the entire time. Those choosing the Hybrid model will be able to return to campus for some portion of the learning program as soon as Orange County is cleared to do so.
Many are concerned about specific courses. Please, for now choose the model of instruction that best meets your family’s needs at this time – the Irvine Virtual Academy or the University High School Hybrid Model. We’ll have a system to address specific course issues such as, “I want the Virtual option but don’t understand how my student will continue in Orchestra.”
The school site staff will start reaching out to families next week and beyond as we have more of our team members returning to the office. In the meantime, please submit any questions on this form. If you have already emailed someone at Uni and have not received a response, please resubmit on this form. We will review and respond to questions as quickly as possible beginning next week. Again, any questions regarding the IVA can be sent to virtualacademy@iusd.org.
Below I have attached the message that IUSD sent out to the community earlier today.
Sincerely,
Kevin Astor, Ed.D.
Principal
University High School
Dear IUSD Staff and Community,
As we learned earlier today, Governor Newsom announced that all public and private schools located in California counties on the state’s monitoring list for rising coronavirus infections will be required to close for in-person instruction until the counties are off the monitoring list for 14 consecutive days. Because Orange County is currently on this list, all school districts in the county, including IUSD, will be required to start the 2020-21 school year in a distance learning format until conditions improve.
Implications for In-Person Academic Models
For IUSD, this decision does not affect the Virtual Academy but will temporarily affect the following approved 2020-21 in-person academic models:
· Elementary - Traditional, Hybrid, and TK/K
· Middle and Schools - Hybrid and Blended
· Special Education - Hybrid and Traditional
While the current number of COVID-19 infections preclude in-person instruction at this time, we remain hopeful that the day will come when conditions in Orange County improve enough to be removed from the monitoring list. In anticipation of this day, IUSD will proceed with planning for all approved academic models with the caveat that all in-person models (hybrid, traditional, and blended) may be modified to start the school year in a temporary distance learning mode. Once we are permitted to open for in-person instruction, these affected models will revert to the originally planned design.
Academic Model Selection Process
Please keep this temporary distance learning requirement in mind as you select your preferred academic model. A parent must select one of the in-person options if they want their child to participate in on-campus instruction once conditions permit. Students will begin the year in distance learning with the same assigned teachers they will have once in-person instruction is allowed to start.
We understand that the Governor’s announcement may generate additional questions and concerns; therefore, we are extending the deadline for families to select their academic model to Wednesday, July 22 at 5 p.m. Families must select their models by this date to allow our schools sufficient time to align necessary staffing and to build schedules so that we can honor our families preferences and implement the Board approved academic models for the 2020-21 school year.
Rigorous Distance Learning
As you consider your choices for this fall, please understand that, even if we begin the school year in a distance learning format or spend some portion of the year in distance learning, students' experiences will be very different than in the spring of last year. Just as our Virtual Academy will provide rigorous, high quality differentiated instruction, distance learning will also provide tightly structured and standards aligned lessons, with frequent synchronous learning, individualized support, peer to peer collaboration, and an infusion of new learning resources. Our students, regardless of the format, will receive the rich instruction, support, and connection they need.
While we realize that the COVID-19 pandemic has generated uncertainty and fear, and our families and staff have had to adjust and make so many sacrifices, know that we remain committed to providing educational equity and excellence. Our schools will work closely with our families to ensure that our students receive the support that they need, and we will do everything in our power to deliver on our promise to create the highest quality educational experience we can envision.
IUSD will send a follow up communication early next week, including additional resources to support our staff and families.
Sincerely,
IUSD Communications
Update #2: Thursday, July 16th
Dear Trojan Families,
We have received quite a few questions about the differences in the Blended and Hybrid Models as presented in earlier communication and the details of fully transferring to the IUSD Virtual Academy (IVA) at San Joaquin High School. Here are some additional details that might help aid your decision-making process. Please note that students do not need to reselect courses, just a model for instruction.
If you have not already done so, please review the 2020-2021 Opening and Planning FAQ for more detailed information.
Hybrid Model:
The Hybrid model is entirely at University High School (UHS), with the UHS staff, and the UHS course offerings. Students will be divided into two cohorts, attending in-person, live sessions with their teachers at school two days a week and learning through distance learning the other three. Since classes will be divided into two cohorts, they will be about half the size when your student attends, with a class average of approximately 15 students. This will be the default model and classes that were selected last Spring will be used to build their schedule. More information regarding the bell schedule and cohorts will be sent out as we have more information. Students, parents, and the community can be assured that all proper safety protocols as outlined by the County Health Department will be in place and the specifics of this plan will be provided in a future email. This includes all students and staff wearing masks or face coverings.
IUSD Virtual Academy at San Joaquin High School (IVA):
This model is entirely online with no personal contact between students and staff. All classes will be taught by IUSD teachers, but not necessarily UHS teachers.
There is a complete video explanation of the IVA on the district website found here.
The course requests your students made this past Spring will be transferred to the IVA, and your student will be enrolled in the courses that most closely align with their originally scheduled course offerings. There are some courses that are unique to UHS and will not be provided through this option. Based on staffing constraints, course offerings will be limited.
Please click here for the 2020-2021 High School Course Offerings.
Additional questions regarding the IVA can be sent to virtualacademy@iusd.org.
Blended Model:
Students will ultimately be placed into one of two primary options, the Hybrid Model or the IVA. The Blended Model is a mixture of Hybrid and IVA course offerings. During the Spring registration, prior to the school closure, many students registered for Blended course offerings in addition to their UHS courses. These courses were typically courses not available at UHS. For example, many students signed up for a Blended version of Korean because UHS does not offer this course. These courses will still be available to students, whether they select Hybrid or the IVA. If your student was enrolled in one of these courses, or intends to enroll in one of these courses, you should select the Blended Model. Additionally, a student may enroll in the IVA and want a unique offering only available within the Hybrid Model. If the student is willing to fully participate in this course, and scheduling accommodations can be appropriately met, they too would select the Blended Model. There will no longer be an in-person component. For this year, they will be run through the IVA and will be completely online.
Athletics:
Even though athletics is not offered at the IVA, athletes who enroll in the IVA do not need to select the Blended Model. It will be assumed that students will continue with their sport pending the status of athletics. Both Hybrid and IVA students will have equal access to athletics.
Transcripts, GPA, and Diplomas:
If your student chooses to enroll in the IVA, their transcript will read “San Joaquin High School” for the term. Since San Joaquin High School is a WASC Accredited school with A-G and NCAA approved course lists, your courses will count in your cumulative GPA. However, should circumstances prevent your child from returning to UHS before graduation, their diploma will still reflect that they graduated from UHS.
Changing Models:
Families will be able to change their selection through Sunday, July 19th. However, as staffing is determined based on student choices, your academic model selection will be for a minimum of an entire grading term, most likely the semester.
As you can imagine, creating these new models and a district-wide schedule is a complex and monumental task. We are doing our very best to accommodate everyone’s needs. I again want to thank you for your patience, flexibility, and support during these complex and challenging times.
If you have further questions, please feel free to reach out. Information will continue to be pushed out as more specific information is determined.
Sincerely,
Kevin Astor, Ed.D.
Principal
University High School
Update #1: Wednesday, July 15th
Dear Trojan Families,
Thank you for your continual engagement and partnership. We understand that this email is being sent to both our current students and their families as well as those we have yet to meet and are looking forward to know when given the opportunity.
communicated by the District earlier today, IUSD remains committed to the safety, health, and well-being of our students, staff, and families and to providing educational equity and excellence for our more than 36,000 students. The challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic remind us, each day, of the importance of this collective commitment. To that end, last night, the Board of Education made the critically important decision to approve the academic models listed below for the 2020-21 school year.
The Board also voted to require face coverings/masks at all times on IUSD campuses and in classrooms for all staff, students, and visitors. Face coverings/masks may only be removed when maintaining physical distancing of six feet or more and at the direction of a teacher or other staff, or when drinking, eating, or participating in recess/physical activity. Persons with a medical or mental health condition, or disability that prevents wearing a face covering may be exempt per state guidelines. Click here to read more.
The academic models outlined below are aligned with state and local guidelines for schools and are designed to meet the interests of our students, staff, and families.
High Schools:
· IUSD Virtual Academy, hybrid, and blended program (grades 9-12 only) models.
Special Education:
· IUSD Virtual Academy, hybrid, and blended learning (9-12). Traditional model is only available for Moderate/Severe programming and Autism Specific Programming.
Click here for more details about IUSD’s academic models for the 2020-21 school year.
Academic Model Selection Process
To make the academic model selection for your student, login to the Parent Portal and follow the prompts, for step-by-step directions click here. You will have today, July 15th, through Sunday, July 19th, to make your selection.
If a selection is not made, students will automatically be placed in the hybrid model.
Click here to access the Planning FAQ and the 2020-21 Opening and Safety Planning resource page for a wide range of information that can support your decision-making process. After reviewing this information, if you have further questions related to UHS and the selection process, please contact us directly.
As soon as we have more details, we will communicate to our families through email.
Thank you for your understanding as we navigate this challenging situation.
Sincerely,
Kevin Astor, Ed.D.