"Our focus is directed toward protecting the health, safety and well-being of students and staff while giving students the best possible learning experience that is as close to normal as health and safety allow."

-- Kelly Coxe, Superintendent

In York School District One, our work to reopen schools safely for students and staff for the 2020-2021 has not been without challenges.

As we consider various potential scenarios for school in the coming year, our priorities are clear:

• Ensuring the safety and well-being of students and staff;
• Providing an effective and high-quality instructional program;
• Creating flexible choices for families and students; and
• Preparing and supporting teachers and staff to provide safe and effective services for all students.

Brand new for the 2020-2021 school year, York School District One has created a full-time online learning program to accommodate students who may not be ready to return to face-to-face instruction due to COVID-19 or other concerns. This program will serve students in grades Kindergarten through 12 who feel online learning to be a good fit. The virtual academy will continue to operate using online learning and teaching, regardless of the level of spread of COVID-19.

York School District One Virtual Academy’s curriculum aligns to South Carolina College & Career Ready Standards. Unlike remote learning, which was implemented last spring in an emergency situation, students in the virtual academy will follow a schedule just like they would in a traditional brick and mortar school. They will be able to see and hear teachers as appropriate, ask questions and gain real-time support and instruction, as well as complete independent and group assignments.

For more information on the YSD1 Virtual Academy, refer to pages 24 - 27 of the Reopening Plan document as well as www.york.k12.sc.us/virtualacademy.

Families will enroll their students(s) in the face-to-face setting as determined by the district; Traditional, Hybrid, or Remote. Depending upon the level of virus spread, the district and/or school will communicate directly to parents when changes in the student learning model must be initiated.

Traditional - Low Spread

• Students attend school daily for face-to-face instruction five days per week with teachers with enhanced safety and health protocols.
• Cohort/Family model used to build community, limit mass movement, and accommodate social distancing.
• Instruction, meals, and support services take place in the classroom.
• Non-traditional spaces are used for instruction to maximize safety.
• Teachers begin to use a flipped classroom model to prepare in case of any potential building closure.

Hybrid - Medium Spread

• Schools use the family model to achieve a small family unit within one classroom with instruction, meals, and support services taking place in the classroom.
• Students are divided into two groups and attend school on an A/B schedule. Group A students attend campus on Monday and Tuesday, and engage in remote learning Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Group B students attend campus on Thursday and Friday, and engage in remote learning on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
• Wednesdays will be designated as S.E.E. (Small Groups, Electives, Extra Help) Days. Additional tutoring, CTE, and performance-based courses may be scheduled on campus on these days.
• Teachers will be responsible for providing learning plans and activities for remote learning days to support student learning at home.

Note: Students will be assigned a Cohort by their school. This information will be communicated with families closer to the start of school.

Remote - High Spread

• This model will be used when the district determines that the risk rating¹ is too high, a classroom or facility must be closed temporarily for deep cleaning due to an outbreak, or an extended closure declaration is issued by the Governor and South Carolina Department of Education.
• All students will participate in teacher-designed learning activities at home.
• Teachers will support student learning using a variety of communication methods (Remind, telephone, and web conferencing) to support student learning.

For additional details on the Face-to-Face Instruction option (Option 2), please refer to pages 26 - 27 of the Reopening Plan.

¹Risk rating based on DHEC recent disease activity report which is updated weekly.