Return To Learn - Alpine School District

The following information communicates with all stakeholders the approved schedules for the 2021-2022 school year.

Plan Summary

Students will attend school in person, five days a week. Classroom teachers will provide in-person learning and will no longer support both in-person and exclusively remote students.
District online teachers will provide online learning.
We intend to return with no masks and no test-to-play protocols.
Potential changes in our school schedules shown below seek to provide ample time for student learning, as well as create additional time for teacher collaboration and personal preparation. While the Utah State Board of Education has relaxed the requirement of the 990 total hours of instruction, the expectation of 180 total school days remains.

Plan Goal

Improve student learning and well-being through high-quality classroom instruction, assessment, interventions, and extensions

To accomplish this goal, the 2021-2022 Return to Learn Plan seeks to create:

Time for teacher teams to effectively support student learning
Support for social and emotional well-being
Routines and stability for students, families, and teachers in support of student learning. We anticipate that extracurricular activities will resume without test-to-play requirements.
Flexible learning options, both in-person and online. Classroom teachers will provide 5 days of in-person learning (and will no longer support both in-person and exclusively remote students). District online teachers will provide online learning.
Safe learning environments. We intend to return with no masks.

Why create a schedule different from the one used prior to the pandemic?

Our teachers are very competent and have performed exceptionally through a swift and complete conversion to online instruction last spring; returned to school under significant safety protocols last fall; and have successfully managed the learning of both in person and online students all year! The proposed school schedules are designed to improve student learning and well-being through high-quality classroom instruction, assessment, intervention, and extensions. To accomplish this, teachers need time during contract hours to engage in essential professional development, team collaboration, and personal preparation.

The bulleted highlights below show how ASD students currently perform in reading and math. Greater detail regarding student performance can be found here (español). To help improve student learning in reading and math, most elementary school teachers will engage in significant professional development beginning in 2021. Each proposed elementary school schedule provides varying amounts of instructional time and teacher professional time. We trust our teachers and recognize the tremendous impact they have on all students in Alpine School District.

Reading Performance

Over the past five years, the percentage of students in grades 3-6 scoring proficient in language arts on state tests has been just above 50%, only slightly ahead of state averages.
Over the past five years, the percentage of K-3 students reading on grade level has statistically stagnated (with the exception of kindergarten).
From the beginning to the middle of the current year, at least 4 demographic groups in grades K-3 did not meet the target of 60% showing typical or better growth in reading proficiency. In response, professional development in reading instruction will take place beginning in 2021.
Starting Fall 2021, thousands of Utah’s educators will be engaging in LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) professional learning to advance their knowledge of skills in the science of reading. The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) has provided this LETRS Fact Sheet for more information.

Math Performance

Over the past five years, the percentage of students in grades 3-6 scoring proficient in math on state tests has hovered just above and below 50%, only slightly ahead of state averages.
Beginning in the 2021-22 school year, students in grades 1-3 throughout the state will receive math screening testing at the beginning, middle, and end of the year.
Math instructional materials purchased eight years ago no longer align with ASD’s Vision for Learning Mathematics and state math standards, necessitating updated math materials. Fourteen schools have infused updated math materials this year, with the remaining schools receiving professional development in math and adopting state-of-the-art materials next year or the year following (based on each school’s choice).

The Board of Education approved Option A for elementary schools during their board meeting on May 11, 2021.

The most effective influences to improve student learning are our teachers and our teacher teams. We need to invest in these teams and provide them with more time to meet the needs of our students.

Over the last year, we have seen increases in the number of students who struggle academically. We have a significant need for our teacher teams to intensely and effectively use the PLC results cycle to improve Tier 1 Instruction and to identify and address student learning loss.

Secondary schools have been revisiting their intervention/support systems and are preparing for the upcoming school year. Teachers are the most capable and best equipped to find and implement effective solutions in our schools. The following schedule options provide a structure with start and end times and encourage innovation at the school level.

The Board of Education approved Option 1 for secondary schools during their board meeting on May 11, 2021.

25 March 2021

FOCUS GROUPS

– Elementary teacher focus group (sampling of classroom teachers)
– Secondary teacher focus group (content area team leads)
– Alpine Education Association (AEA) leadership team
– Elementary & Secondary principals
– Elementary & Secondary curriculum directors

25 March 2021

22 April 2021

Survey #1

Survey sent to all stakeholders seeking input on elements for a potential school schedule.

22 April 2021

27 April 2021

SCHOOL BOARD DISCUSSION

The school board discussed the data received from the survey and potential options for school schedules.

27 April 2021

28 April – 2 MAY, 2021

POTENTIAL OPTIONS DRAFTED

District staff in consultation with various stakeholder groups and following the school board meeting discussion created potential school schedule options.

28 April – 2 MAY, 2021

4 May 2021

POTENTIAL SCHOOL SCHEDULES

Potential school schedules shared with stakeholders on the district website. Emails sent to all employees and parents.

4 May 2021

6 May 2021

SURVEY #2

Survey launched regarding the proposed school schedules.

6 May 2021

11 May 2021

SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

The school board will review survey data during the scheduled board meeting on May 11, 2021 as a “discussion/action” item on the agenda. A decision could be made at this meeting.

11 May 2021

The following dashboard contains data related to COVID-19 cases in schools throughout Alpine School District. The information will be updated regularly.

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Our Schools

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Board Resources

The following information communicates with all stakeholders the approved schedules for the 2021-2022 school year.

Plan Summary

Students will attend school in person, five days a week. Classroom teachers will provide in-person learning and will no longer support both in-person and exclusively remote students.

District online teachers will provide online learning.

We intend to return with no masks and no test-to-play protocols.

Plan Goal

Improve student learning and well-being through high-quality classroom instruction, assessment, interventions, and extensions

To accomplish this goal, the 2021-2022 Return to Learn Plan seeks to create:

Time for teacher teams to effectively support student learning

Support for social and emotional well-being

Routines and stability for students, families, and teachers in support of student learning. We anticipate that extracurricular activities will resume without test-to-play requirements.

Flexible learning options, both in-person and online. Classroom teachers will provide 5 days of in-person learning (and will no longer support both in-person and exclusively remote students). District online teachers will provide online learning.

Safe learning environments. We intend to return with no masks.

Why create a schedule different from the one used prior to the pandemic?

Reading Performance

Over the past five years, the percentage of students in grades 3-6 scoring proficient in language arts on state tests has been just above 50%, only slightly ahead of state averages.

Over the past five years, the percentage of K-3 students reading on grade level has statistically stagnated (with the exception of kindergarten).

From the beginning to the middle of the current year, at least 4 demographic groups in grades K-3 did not meet the target of 60% showing typical or better growth in reading proficiency. In response, professional development in reading instruction will take place beginning in 2021.

Math Performance

Over the past five years, the percentage of students in grades 3-6 scoring proficient in math on state tests has hovered just above and below 50%, only slightly ahead of state averages.

Beginning in the 2021-22 school year, students in grades 1-3 throughout the state will receive math screening testing at the beginning, middle, and end of the year.