MASSP is dedicated to keeping our members informed as the situation with COVID-19 develops. Each weekday during the school shut down you can count on an email from us. We will compile and summarize the latest updates and provide the latest resources to help you navigate the challenges that may arise in the coming weeks. If you have resources or information you think should be included in an upcoming update or on the MASSP COVID-19 resource center, please send them to Alicia Pilmore for consideration. Should My District Implement Home Learning During COVID-19? The attorneys at Lusk Albertson discuss the legal issues at play when deciding if a district should provide online learning to their students, particularly for special education students. Kevin Sutton provides an overview of what is currently expected of schools, and how providing mandatory or optional online learning opportunities affect students with disabilities. U.S. Department of Education to Waive Standardized Testing, Accountability During a press conference earlier today, President Trump announced that the U.S. Department of Education will not be enforcing standardized testing requirements this year. During a conference call with the U.S. Department of Education shortly after that announcement, the Department said they will grant broad waivers for assessment and accountability and if the waiver is done through their new easy form online they will respond within one business day. Based on the template assessment waiver put together by USDoED – which will have to be filled out by MDE – the waiver process includes all required assessments, accountability, and report card provisions related to assessments and accountability. MDE- Spotlight on Assessment NewsletterMarch 19, 2020While the most recent edition of the Department's Spotlight on Assessment and Accountability came out prior to today announcement regarding federal waivers, one portion of the update focused on the SAT and WorkKeys remains relevant. "At this time, Michigan’s school-day administrations of the SAT and WorkKeys assessments, which are part of the Michigan Merit Examination (MME), are not included in the announcements from College Board and ACT about their rescheduled Saturday administrations. We are working with the College Board, ACT, and other vendors on a best course of action for the components of the MME. This includes planning for Michigan’s school-day administrations of the SAT and PSAT in grades 8, 9 and 10." Additionally, you may have received automated emails from the College Board letting you know that testing materials have shipped. MDE notes in Spotlight that these emails were sent in error and no materials have been shipped. Stay tuned for further updates. You can read the full Spotlight publication by clicking the link below. MDE: No Instructional Time During Mandated ClosureEarlier today, the Michigan Department of Education released MEMO #COVID-19-016: Instructional Time During School Closure which stated that "there is no mechanism to earn instructional time during a period of mandated school closure." Just this evening, the MDE issued a press release clarifying their position, citing existing state law and the need to ensure equitable access for all students as the reasons for this step. To view all MDE communications, click here. College Board Announces Take-At-Home AP Exams The College Board announced earlier today that for the 2019–20 exam administration only, students can take a 45-minute online AP exam at home rather than testing in person. Details are still in development and educator-led development committees are currently selecting the exam questions that will be administered. But we know that the exam will only include topics and skills most AP teachers and students have already covered in class by early March. The announcement says that colleges support this solution and are committed to ensuring that AP students receive the credit they have worked this year to earn, noting that, for decades, colleges have accepted a shortened AP Exam for college credit when groups of students have experienced emergencies. Students will be able to take these streamlined exams on any device they have access to—computer, tablet, or smartphone. Taking a photo of handwritten work will also be an option. The announcement also addresses concerns about what impact this will have on low-income and rural students participating as well as concerns around test security. The College Board has also announced that those who choose not to test will receive a full refund for the registration fee. Leader2Leader Topics Survey Now Open Feeling like you have more questions than answers these days? Would you like to communicate with colleagues from around the state to get their take on things? MASSP has the ability to convene up to 500 of our members on an association-wide Leader2Leader webinar and we hope to fill all available slots, whether you feel you know a little or a lot, we want your voice in the room. To help frame our next discussion, please take our Leader2Leader Survey to provide direction for Round 2 on Thursday, March 30 at 1 pm. Senate Passes, Trump Signs Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201) Most pertinent to the school community, this Act gives USDA additional authority to issue waivers to support access to the child nutrition programs, including issuing nationwide waivers which would reduce paperwork for states and help more schools adapt and provide meals, waivers that can increase programmatic costs, and waivers to adapt meal pattern requirements in response to disruptions to the food supply. Other Resources |