(text version)
What Stays the Same
- Continues full parental choice. While in-person education is steadily increasing, some families will still need flexibility for the spring semester due to medical vulnerabilities.
- Continues financial flexibility and stability for school districts and charter schools.
- Continues flexibilities for state scholarship students at private schools.
- Continues guarantee of full panoply of services for at-risk students.
- Continues requirement to progress monitor students.
Spring 2021 Improvements
- Requires educational interventions for students who may be falling behind, especially Florida’s most vulnerable students.
- Rewards school district and public charter schools that have exceeded their projected enrollment.
Follows recommendations from the Florida Association of District School Superintendents (FADSS) and school district’s finance officers.
SRCDS PRESS RELEASE
December 2, 2020
On Monday, November 30, Governor DeSantis and Commissioner of Education, Richard Corcoran, held a press conference to unveil Emergency Order No. 2020-EO-07 which addresses the requirements for second semester of the 20-21 school year. This Emergency Order requires school districts to take all appropriate action to promote the health, safety, welfare and education of students in Florida. It reaffirms the State’s commitment to a full panoply of educational options, including brick and mortar instruction, remote instruction, and full-time virtual instruction.
Preparation for second semester will require action for parents who are changing their child’s option for second semester. Parents and Guardians who are changing a student’s learning option from a remote or virtual option back to brick and mortar instruction, or from brick and mortar instruction to another option, must call their child’s school between December 1-16 to request a learning option change for second semester. Second semester begins January 19, 2021.
Parents who have chosen to home school or to use an outside virtual program are welcome to reenroll students in the Santa Rosa County School District. Santa Rosa County School District has been designated a High-Performing School District by the State of Florida. To enroll or reenroll a student for second semester, please call your child’s zoned school between December 1-16.
Additionally, Emergency Order No. 2020-EO-07 requires school districts to submit a Spring 2021 Education Plan by December 15, 2020 that addresses four areas: Spring Intervention Plan, Innovative Learning Modality, Enhanced Outreach, and Professional Development. District staff are currently developing this plan to submit for School Board approval at the December 10, 2020 School Board meeting.
Spring Intervention Plan: School districts must focus on closing achievement gaps, particularly those exacerbated during the pandemic. Using progress monitoring tools, teachers will target students who need additional support and provide before/after school tutoring and summer school, or additional intervention and instruction during the school day. Mental health counselors will also address the social/emotional needs of students.
Innovative Learning Modality: School districts must offer innovative learning modalities to students making adequate progress with remote and virtual learning. Written notice must be provided to the parents of students not making adequate progress with a description of the risks and the option to return to brick and mortar instruction for second semester. Districts must obtain written acknowledgement from parents documenting that parents/guardians have been informed.
Enhanced Outreach- Truancy/Attendance of Students: School districts must address the needs of current students who have truancy/attendance issues, as well as identify students who have limited or no contact with the district and transition them to the appropriate learning modality provided by the school district.
Professional Development: The district must provide additional professional learning opportunities to educators to enhance and build skills for virtual and innovative learning modalities and to address intervention and support for students in innovative learning options.
For more information regarding second semester opportunities in Santa Rosa County School District, please visit https://www.santarosa.k12.fl.us/