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Regional News

Dear KIPP Philadelphia Parents/Guardians:

We hope that you have been able to stay safe and healthy this summer, and to find some peace and healing. The ongoing effects of COVID-19 and persistent anti-Blackness in this country are dramatically impacting our world. The tragedies our community has suffered are immense; including the loss of two important Civil Rights heroes this past weekend: Reverend C.T. Vivian and Representative John Lewis. Self-care, close connection to family and friends, and time for processing and reflection are vital. As summer breaks for our school-based staff wind down and we look towards the next school year, I am writing to update you on our reopening plans. While 2019-20 did not end as we planned,we are enormously proud of the remarkable ingenuity, dedication, and resilience you have displayed to keep our KIPPsters learning and supported during this unprecedented time.

Given the ever-changing landscape caused by COVID-19, we, like all school organizations, have been carefully considering how we can safely welcome our staff and students back to campus this fall. We want to start out by thanking you in advance for your patience, flexibility, and support as we work together to provide the best and safest education possible for our students. We were heartened to see that the American Academy of Pediatric recommended that students should be “physically present in school” as much as possible to avoid the health, social, and educational risks of staying home. With that said, the health and wellness of our students and staff remain our number one guiding principle, and is at the center of our planning efforts for a safe restart.

We have appreciated the feedback many of you have shared during this process. Based on your input, family feedback, and the guidance of public health experts, we have developed an initial plan for how our KIPP Philadelphia will operate in the upcoming year.
This email offers some basic information about the model and includes other important announcements:

Parent Square Communication EVERY Monday
Please prioritize reading our parent square messages every Monday. We will communicate important information and updates pertaining to Fall 2020 school opening.

When Is the First Day of School?
In an effort to make sure every student has all of the materials needed to start school virtually, including a Chromebook for every child, we have not confirmed the first day of school.  We are working diligently to secure chromebooks for every student, workbooks and other materials. We will communicate our official start date in the upcoming weeks .

Three Week Virtual Start
KIPP Philadelphia will begin the school year 100% online. The first three weeks of school will be virtual, including a combination of live Zoom instruction and online assignments. We will evaluate and consider the health risks at that time and will make a decision to remain virtual or move to a hybrid approach with some of our students in buildings for some of the time.  To make this decision, we will use guidance from CDC, the Pennsylvania Department of Education and mandates enforced by the State of Pennsylvania.

Hybrid Learning Plan
If and when students return to in person instruction, they will do so via a hybrid schedule so that 50% of students are in the building at any given time.To make sure only half of students are in the building at any one time, students will attend school in-person two days per week and receive online learning three days per week. Your family will be notified by mid-August which specific days your student will be attending school in-person. We will also be offering a fully virtual online program for students and families who do not feel comfortable sending their students to the building for in person instruction. We will provide further information and an opportunity to sign up for that option on August 3, 2020.

Special Education
Students who receive special education supports through an IEP will continue to be supported across both hybrid and virtual learning environments.  KIPP Philadelphia is developing, in accordance with federal and state guidelines, a comprehensive Special Education Plan for the 20-21 school year.  We will communicate the details of this plan with families over the coming weeks to ensure that families continue to be valued, crucial members of the IEP team for their child.

Face Coverings
Under the current guidance from Governor Wolf, students will be expected to use face coverings in school, when social distancing cannot be maintained. Face coverings may be removed to eat and during “mask breaks” when social distancing can be maintained. State guidelines allow exceptions for health conditions that contraindicate mask-wearing. Staff will also follow state guidelines for using face coverings. In some cases, staff members may wear face shields in addition to or instead of masks. This may include staff who work with students with special needs, nurses, etc.

Parents/guardians are urged to begin to acclimate children to wearing a face covering now by modeling and practicing at home, where they feel safe. Encourage children to decorate and personalize their masks, as this may help create a sense of ownership and control of the situation.
Additional Safety Protocols

We are currently making extensive safety plans for students’ return to buildings that included increased sanitation, daily health screenings and social distancing policies. Watch for more details in an upcoming Monday Parent Square blast.

Family Town Hall Meetings
Each school will host a number of family town hall meetings next month to answer questions you may have and to talk more about our school opening plans. Look out for a zoom invite in a few weeks. If you have any questions before the town hall meetings that are urgent, please reach out to your child’s principal.

References:
American Academy of Pediatrics Guidance for School Reopening
Wolf Administration Targeted Mitigation to Increased Covid Cases in PA 
Coronavirus CDC Guidelines 
Pennsylvania Department of Education School Reopening Guidance