The state of Illinois issued guidelines for remote learning for grades kindergarten through grade 12.
The state of Illinois issued guidelines for remote learning for grades kindergarten through grade 12.
With schools closed until the end of April, Illinois Superintendent of Education Carmen Ayala was tasked with defining how remote instruction of students would work and issuing those guidelines.
Developed by the Illinois State Board of Education, the guidance applies to all public schools statewide, but private schools are also encouraged to consider the guidance as they create their own plans to educate students throughout the school closure, reported the News-Gazette.
There were 63 individuals involved in developing specific recommendations for several groups, including birth through grade 2; grades 3-5; grades 6-8; grades 9-12; special education and also multilingual education.
The recommendations cover several areas including that time allotted to tasks should be age appropriate; that districts must work with local unions to determine how remote learning will occur; and students will not be expected to master new content and not be penalized.
Schools also get five planning days for remote learning in order to plan with their collective bargaining units.
Remote learning days will count as student attendance days toward the required minimum attendance for a school year and will not be required to be made up.
The state board of education is also working on a plan that would allow 11th grade students to take their SAT in the fall, as the free SAT offered by the state is sometimes the only opportunity a student has to take a college entrance exam, reports the News-Gazette.
Guidance is also offered regarding dual credit courses and Advanced Placement courses.
“Dual credit instruction should continue, if at all possible, during the suspension of in-person instruction, or resume as soon as possible, to ensure students are able to meet the objectives of the dual credit course. However, that instruction must not negatively impact a student’s academic standing,” said the ISBE, the Illinois Board of Higher Education, and the Illinois Community College Board, according to the News-Gazette.
Students can take the AP exam for 2019-2020 online on any device they have access to.
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