Dear Pembroke CCSD #259 Families & Staff:
As required by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), notice of public hearing and our District’s E-Learning Plan are being shared and posted below. The District may utilize E-Learning to allow for remote teaching and learning on days when in-person school has been canceled due to inclement weather and we need to use emergency days. Additional information will be provided to students, parents, teachers and staff in the event we anticipate using an E-Learning day.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING: E-LEARNING PROGRAM: The Pembroke CCSD #259 Board of Education will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, August 13, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. in the Boardroom at Pembroke CCSD #259 Lorenzo R. Smith School, 4120 S. Wheeler Rd, Pembroke Township, IL 60958. The purpose of said hearing will be to receive public comment on the proposed E-Learning Program which, if approved, will permit students’ instruction to be received electronically while students are not physically present in lieu of the district’s scheduled emergency days. This program is allowed under Public Act 101-0012. If approved, the E-Learning Program will be implemented for a three-year term (SY2024-2025 thru SY2026-2027).
Pembroke CCSD #259 E-Learning Plan:
Ensure and verify at least 5 clock hours of instruction or school work, as required under Section 10‐19.05, for each student participating in an e‐learning day.
Teachers will provide daily instruction/work of at least 5-clock hours. Instruction and student work may vary per grade-level and/or subject. Depending on access to the internet, work/instruction is available via online, through Google Classroom or hard copy paper packets. Teachers and administrators will be available from 8:00am – 1:00pm. During E-learning days to post work, provide instruction, and answer questions, students can contact teachers through email or Google classroom.
Student attendance will be verified via Google Classroom check-in. Teachers will monitor student participation through classroom discussion, interacting with teachers, project completion, and/or hard copy paper packet submission.
Ensure access from home or other appropriate remote facility for all students participating, including computers, the Internet, and other forms of electronic communication that must be utilized in the proposed program
We will continue our efforts to connect families that are not connected or have limited access to the internet. Students who do not have access electronically, will have access to instructional materials through hard copy paper packets/resources that will be made available.
Ensure that non‐electronic materials are made available for students participating in the program who do not have access to the required technology or to participating teachers or students who are prevented from accessing the required technology.
Students who do not have access electronically will have access to instructional materials through hard copy paper packets/resources that will be made available. The district can provide teachers with an electronic device, if needed. If teachers need access to the internet, it is available at each school building. Teachers can also utilize hard copy paper packets/resources.
Ensure appropriate learning opportunities for students with special needs
Students with special needs will be participating in e-Learning based on IEP goals as determined and designed by the IEP team. Make-up days for compensatory related services will be established for addressing the lost minutes included on the IEPs, if necessary, Case Managers will continue to monitor and address individual learning goals and keep families informed with regard to related services. Ancillary support staff will be scheduled accordingly to ensure IEP goals are met.
Monitor and verify each student's electronic participation
Student attendance will be verified via Google Classroom check-in. Teachers will monitor student participation through Google Classroom, classroom discussion, student/teacher interaction, project completion, and/or hard copy paper packet submission.
Address the extent to which student participation is within the student's control as to the time, pace, and means of learning.
Instructional materials and lessons will be coordinated across grade-levels and subjects to ensure that workload is reasonable. Duration of independent student on task engagement will vary based on grade level as per ISBE Remote Learning Recommendations as noted below:
Kindergarten students - 45 minutes (5 minutes at a time)
Grades 1-2 - 60 minutes (10 minutes at a time)
Grades 3-4 - 90 minutes (15 minutes at a time)
Grades 5-8 - 120 minutes (up to 30 minutes at a time)
Provide effective notice to students and their parents or guardians of the use of particular days for remote instruction.
Families will be informed of the use of e-learning days via robocall, text, email, media outlets, and through the District website.
Provide staff and students with adequate training for e-learning participation
Staff and students will be provided information on participation, procedures, and expectations related to e-learning participation. Teachers will be surveyed annually to determine interests and need for training. Training and opportunity for application will be provided during school improvement days. Students will be provided with direction, training, and expectations at the classroom level.
Ensure that all teachers and staff who may be involved in the provisions of remote instruction have access to any and all hardware and software that may be required for the program.
The district will work with teachers and staff in need of technology (hardware and software) to provide remote instruction. Also, paper packets may be used as a part of the program.
Ensure an opportunity for any collective bargaining negotiations with representatives of the school district's employees that would be legally required, and including all classifications of school district employees who are represented by collective bargaining agreements and who would be affected in the event of an e-learning day.
The e-learning plan will be provided to the IFT-AFT Representatives for review, feedback, and consultation.
Review and revise the program as implemented to address difficulties confronted
We will review the e-learning plan on a regular basis (at least annually) to address challenges and revise, with the goal of continually improving the plan.
Ensure that the protocol regarding general expectations and responsibilities of the program is communicated to teachers, staff, and students at least 30 days prior to utilizing an e-learning day:
Building-level/grade-level program expectations and responsibilities will be communicated to teachers, staff, and students, at least 30-days prior to utilizing an E-learning day.