Our Mission Working together as a community, we will inspire creativity and prepare each student to
achieve academically, grow personally, and contribute positively to a global society.
REMOTE LEARNING Guidance for Families
REMOTE LEARNING GUIDANCE FOR FAMILIES 1
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
A Message from the Interim Superintendents _______________________________________________________ 2
What comes next? _____________________________________________________________________________________ 2
Remote Learning Overview ___________________________________________________________________________ 2
Remote Learning Guiding Principles _____________________________________________________________ 3
Remote Learning Expectations _________________________________________________________________ 3
Students ________________________________________________________________________________ 4
Parents/Caregivers ________________________________________________________________________ 4
Educators _______________________________________________________________________________ 4
Student Engagement __________________________________________________________________________________ 5
Attendance ____________________________________________________________________________________________ 5
PreK - 5th Grade __________________________________________________________________________ 5
6th-8th Grade ____________________________________________________________________________ 5
Feedback _______________________________________________________________________________ 6
Grading _________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6
Curriculum _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 7
Special Education ______________________________________________________________________________________ 7
Contacting your Child’s Teacher on a Remote Learning Day _______________________________________ 7
Office Hours ________________________________________________________________________________ 8
Google Meet Phone Calling ____________________________________________________________________ 8
Remote Learning Platforms ___________________________________________________________________________ 8
Google Meet _____________________________________________________________________________ 8
SeeSaw _________________________________________________________________________________ 9
Google Classroom ________________________________________________________________________ 9
Technology _____________________________________________________________________________________________ 9
Supplemental Learning ______________________________________________________________________________ 10
Frequently Asked Questions________________________________________________________________________ 10
REMOTE LEARNING GUIDANCE FOR FAMILIES 2
A MESSAGE FROM THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENTS
As educators, having our students present and being able to experience the joy of learning
together and in person is truly special. It deeply saddens us that our schools remain closed, yet
decisions continue to be made with the safety of our community, especially our most vulnerable
residents, in mind. Our educators and staff will continue to connect with students virtually and to
provide meaningful remote learning opportunities for all children. We could not be more
appreciative of their flexibility and that of our families in finding creative ways to engage our
students in continued educational and social emotional growth.
Our Remote Learning Plan is largely based on guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education
with input from District 65 educators, school leaders, special service staff, and the curriculum and
instruction team. We are thankful for the collaboration with the District 65 Educators’ Council
(DEC) and for their feedback to ensure meaningful learning experiences for students.
We know this entire situation has been scary and unsettling but this community has come
together in the most remarkable ways. We are all in this together and we will absolutely get
through it together. Please continue to allow yourselves grace and do not hesitate to reach out to
your principal or a member of our district leadership team to let us know how we might be able to
better support you during this difficult time. Thank you for all that you continue to do for our
children and the members of this community.
-- Dr. Heidi Wennstrom & Dr. Phil Ehrhardt
WHAT COMES NEXT?
Week of April 13 - We will transition to our Remote Learning Plan which will center engagement,
health, and learning. Learning will follow the same structure as previous weeks. PreK-5th grade
students will use Choice Boards and middle school students will continue to use Google
Classroom.
Week of April 20 - We will move into full implementation of our remote learning plan which shifts
away from the choice boards and asks educators to focus on the instructional content and time
allotments for engagement. Students/families should remain connected with their teacher(s) on a
daily basis and engage in provided learning opportunities.
REMOTE LEARNING OVERVIEW
In District 65, our mission is to empower and support every child to productively continue their
grade-level learning while schools are closed due to COVID-19. Our remote learning plan
prioritizes the unique needs of students, families, and educators during this difficult and
unprecedented time. Our focus remains on the health and well-being of our community as well as
our commitment to remain connected to and guide learning for students.
REMOTE LEARNING GUIDANCE FOR FAMILIES 3
How does this differ from teaching and learning over the past few weeks?
D65 SELECTED OPTION
Act of God Days
(as defined by ISBE) Remote Learning Days
(as defined by ISBE) E-Learning Days
(as defined by ISBE)
Mode of Learning Digital and non-digital Digital and non-digital Digital
Engagement/ Attendance
Enrichment materials offered; No expectations for engagement
Expectation of student engagement and teacher availability; No daily attendance
Defined schedule; Virtual attendance taken
Hours on Digital Platform
No hours logged Minimum thresholds for student activity provided; No logging of hours
Five hours per day of instruction or schoolwork
Grades Grades provided only if they improve academic standing
Grading protections in place to ensure students with limited access to technology and supports are not penalized
Assumes regular grading practices
REMOTE LEARNING GUIDING PRINCIPLES
o Consistency and quality of learning
o Less is more - focus on quality over quantity
o Build daily or weekly routines and structures for educators and students
o Draw on existing high-quality standards-aligned resources for learning (familiar is easier
for all in this time)
o Allow students and families flexibility for accessing learning and submitting learning (with
teacher feedback) with additional opportunities to extend learning
o Provide clear, concise communication across the system
o Find ways to connect, celebrate, move, and be joyful
o Give yourself, students, and families some grace
REMOTE LEARNING EXPECTATIONS
We are committed to engaging all students in remote learning opportunities that are relevant,
engaging, and aligned to State Standards. Students and educators should collaborate to construct
and navigate what learning at home looks like.
Our families are being asked to do so much - please do not put pressure on yourselves to take on
the role of teacher. Our educators are conscious of designing learning that balances independent
work with opportunities to engage with an adult to support learning. Students should be
celebrated for engaging in their learning and for their growth.
REMOTE LEARNING GUIDANCE FOR FAMILIES 4
STUDENTS
o Know your teachers and parents want you to be physically and emotionally safe and to
engage in meaningful learning
o This may be a different way to learn - make it an adventure!
o Listen and follow teacher and parent/caregiver instructions.
o Do your best. If something is hard, don’t worry.
o Be an active participant in the learning process
o Ask clarifying questions when you need help or don’t understand. If you have to wait for
help, write down your question.
o Let your teachers and parents/caregivers how they can best support you
o Review assigned work and do your best to complete assigned work by the due date
o Be respectful to yourselves, teachers, parent/caregivers, and peers
PARENTS/CAREGIVERS
o Prioritize taking care of your child(ren) and yourselves
o Review work assigned to your child(ren)
o Reserve a quiet space for remote learning work
o Help your child(ren) establish and follow regular daily routines
o Encourage age-appropriate independence and self-reliance for completing learning work
o Encourage enough sleep
o Allow opportunities for frequent breaks and physical activities (inside and outside)
o Set sensible time limits for technology use (outside of learning assignments)
o Talk to your child(ren) about their work every day and the challenges and successes they
experience
EDUCATORS
o Remote learning activities will be made available to students and families in a timely
manner (posted weekly by Monday at 9am) families.
o Provide a range of meaningful learning opportunities that meet the needs of all learners
o Consider developmental abilities of the children and availability of learning resources for
students when designing tasks
o Focus on strengthening previously introduced skills with a limited amount of new learning
o Length of lessons will be developmentally appropriate based on students' ages
o All lessons will be recorded (even live lessons) so they are accessible to students and
families when it works best of them
o Collaboration with special educators and emergent bilingual educators to make any
necessary modifications
o Majority of tasks should be able to be completed independently
o Flexibility of pacing and student assignments
o When new content is introduced, it is minimal, high priority learning and mastery will not
be required
REMOTE LEARNING GUIDANCE FOR FAMILIES 5
o Availability to answer student/caregiver questions
o Provide regular feedback to students on progress related to learning activities and student
work
STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
Students/families should remain connected with their teacher(s) on a daily basis and engage in
educator-provided learning opportunities. Educators will post weekly learning expectations in
SeeSaw (grades PreK-2) or Google Classroom (grades 3-8) by 9am on Mondays. Student
engagement includes time that students are spending actively engaged in educator assigned
learning. Based on guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education, District 65 is designing
learning to engage students for the following time allocations daily:
o Early Childhood: 60 minutes
o Grades K-2: 90 minutes
o Grades 3-5: 120 minutes
o Grades 6-8: 180 minutes
ATTENDANCE
(Updated: May 7, 2020) Remote Learning is marked as ‘present’ unless a parent or caregiver
reports to the attendance clerk or educator that a child is absent and will not be participating in
any remote learning daily activities. Excused absences can be found on the ‘Attendance Reporting’
page at district65.net. To report an absence, parents/caregivers should still call the main number
of the school and follow the automated instructions.
Our goal remains to have students consistently engaging in learning throughout the week, not to
control how and when this learning occurs. We recognize that students may have
parents/caregivers who are busy working in/outside of the home with limited ability to help during
the day, students who are caring for siblings, or who may simply need a remote learning schedule
that is flexible.
If educators are unable to connect with a student or there is little to no engagement in daily
learning activities, they will reach out to parents/caregivers to discuss.
PREK - 5TH GRADE
Students attendance is considered as participation in remote learning activities and may include
attending a video conference, commenting in SeeSaw, responding to a Google Form question, or a
guardian emailing about a student's work.
6TH-8TH GRADE
While we encourage students to participate in live lessons and other opportunities to collaborate
and engage with their teacher and peers, students also have the option to participate in lessons
REMOTE LEARNING GUIDANCE FOR FAMILIES 6
and activities for each class period throughout the day and not necessarily at the regularly
scheduled time. Attendance should be assessed based on engagement at any point of the day not
just during the class period.
FEEDBACK
Educators will practice flexibility and responsiveness when assessing learning and assigning
grades. Educators will look for opportunities to focus on strengths and provide information from
which a student can learn and improve. All students will have the opportunity to re-do, make-up,
or try work again.
GRADING
(Updated: May 7, 2020) District 65 grading practices are largely informed by remote learning
guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education. We are prioritizing connectedness and care
for our students as we work towards maintaining a continuity of learning. Student's overall grades
will not be negatively impacted during remote learning.
As an organization, we have made the decision to move to ‘pass or incomplete’ for end of term
grades for PreK-8th grade students.
What does this mean?
Pass: Indicates that a student has demonstrated proficiency of report card descriptors and/or
revised course expectations for trimester 3 - OR - is actively working towards proficiency of
report card descriptors and/or revised course expectations for trimester.
Incomplete: There is insufficient evidence that the student is working towards grade level
proficiency of grade level standards. If a student receives an ‘incomplete’, it means that these
students will need additional attention in the fall, including student-specific interventions and
additional academic supports. We realize that all students are experiencing learning differently
given their unique circumstances, and students will not be penalized.
The emphasis and focus for schoolwork assigned, reviewed, and completed is on student progress
and learning, not assignment completion or due dates. We recognize that there are a number of
factors that may impact student learning and the level of engagement during this very difficult
time. All students will have the opportunity to redo, make up, or try again to complete, show
progress, or attempt to complete work assigned prior to remote learning.
By Grade Level/School
PK-5th Grade & Rice: Students will receive a Pass (P) or Incomplete (I) in Language Arts and Math.
6th - 8th Grade & Rice: Students will receive the standard report card with grades in all subjects.
The grade will be either a Pass (P) or Incomplete (I).
Park School: Park students will receive either a Pass (P) or Incomplete (I) in all content areas. As
with the typical school procedures, 30% or more absence indicates an Incomplete.
REMOTE LEARNING GUIDANCE FOR FAMILIES 7
CURRICULUM
Engaged learning time will focus on the areas that are most critical for transition into the next
grade. Most engagement time will focus on math and literacy (with integration of science and
social studies content) and physical health. Community building and connections will be a priority
during educator office hours (see page 8).
We encourage families to take advantage of provided enrichment opportunities (drama, music,
visual arts, and library), physical education, social emotional learning, and STEM extensions
including computer science. Enrichment opportunities will not negatively impact a student’s
grade. These will be posted under the ‘Remote Learning’ section of our website at
district65.net/covid-19.
SPECIAL EDUCATION
The mandatory school closures, stay at home orders and exceptional circumstances in light of
COVID-19 have caused school districts, including District 65, to change how educational services
and supports are provided for students. During this period of Remote Learning Days, your child
will receive services and supports tailored to their individualized educational needs. The school
team is collaborating and making good faith efforts to continue to provide children with a free
appropriate public education (FAPE). Students with disabilities will continue to have access to
grade-level remote learning activities provided to all students in District 65, with appropriate
accommodations, modifications and support as necessary. Students’ special education providers,
in collaboration with general education teachers and other relevant school staff, are developing
Individualized Remote Learning Plans, detailing the specific supports and services that will be
provided to facilitate student participation in remote learning activities.
Our special education providers have carefully considered students’ individual needs and current
circumstances, including student goals, supports and services and prioritized learning standards in
determining the appropriate support and services to be provided during Remote Learning Days.
During the school closure, IEP services may be delivered through a variety of ways including but
not limited to instructional videos, modified learning packets, virtual group sessions, and online
instructional assignments. Case managers will be the main point of contact during this time to
discuss a child’s Individualized Remote Learning Plan with families. If your family needs access to a
device or the internet, please let your child’s case manager. We will work closely with families to
try to accommodate needs.
CONTACTING YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER ON A REMOTE LEARNING DAY
Educators, principals, and other licensed professionals will be available by email or phone (via
voicemail) during regular school hours.
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o Send staff an email to their school email address. Staff contact information can be found
in the District 65 Staff Directory at district65.net/staffdirectory.
o Call your child’s teacher and leave a message on their school voicemail. All voicemails are
forwarded to staff members email. If you request a call back from your child's teacher,
please leave your phone number and a specific time for a return call.
Staff will respond to all communication requests in a timely manner (within 24 hours) during
scheduled hours via phone (Google Meet) or email.
OFFICE HOURS
While remote learning is in place, District 65 educators will have specific office hours to provide
students and families guidance and support. During office hours, educators will be available to
interact with students and families which may include class meetings, morning routines, video
conferences, phone calls, email responses, and active responses in SeeSaw and Google Classroom.
Educators will establish routines and expectations for students and families related to office
hours.
PreK Educators: 9-10:30AM and 12:30-2PM
K- 5 Grade Educators: 9-10:30AM and 1-2:30PM
6-8 Grade Educators: Office hours are set by site and will be communicated directly to families.
GOOGLE MEET PHONE CALLING
Educators will utilize Google Meet Internet Calling if there is a need to call parents on a Remote
Learning Day. As a recipient of a Google Internet Call, the incoming number will have a number
and Caller ID from out-of-state.
REMOTE LEARNING PLATFORMS
The ‘Remote Learning’ section of the District 65 website contains video tutorials, instructions, and
other helpful technology resources for using learning platforms.
GOOGLE MEET
Google Meet is a video conferencing tool that may be used to host live class sessions in grades
PreK-8. These may include class meetings, morning routines, and small group support or follow
learning. Any live lessons will be recorded and made available to provide flexible learning
options.
To avoid conflicts and to help maintain consistency, educators have been asked to host live
sessions based on the following schedules:
Grades PK-5 Video Conferencing Synchronous (Live) Sessions
Kindergarten 9 – 9:30am Grade 3 1 – 1:30pm
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Grade 1 9:30 – 10am Grade 4 1:30 – 2pm
Grade 2 10 – 10:30am Grade 5 2 – 2:30pm
Grades 6-8 Video Conferencing Synchronous (Live) Sessions SAMPLE
Period 1 (Mon/Wed) Period 2 (Tues/Thurs)
9 – 9:30am Period 7 (Mon/Wed) Period 8 (Tues/Thurs)
1:30 – 2pm
Period 3 (Mon/Wed) Period 4 (Tues/Thurs)
9:30 – 10am Period 9 (Mon/Wed) Period 10 (Tues/Thurs)
2 – 2:30pm
Period 5 (Mon/Wed) Period 6 (Tues/Thurs)
10 – 10:30am
SEESAW
During remote learning, PreK-2 educators will use the SeeSaw learning platform to engage with
students and for students to share work with educators and parents. Students can use Seesaw
learning tools to post to their journal, view and respond to activities, view announcements from
the teacher, and comment on their own work. Students cannot log in as another student, see
another student’s work, or comment on another student’s work with Home Learning codes. Please
look for an invitation for your child’s classroom teacher to join the student learning journal.
GOOGLE CLASSROOM
Grades 3-8 educators will use Google Classroom to engage with students during remote learning.
Through Google Classroom, students can receive assignments, communicate with their teacher(s),
and receive grades and feedback.
TECHNOLOGY
District 65 is committed to engaging students in learning opportunities even when they cannot
physically be in schools. Through our remote learning plan, students can engage with lessons and
activities through our digital learning platforms, Choice Boards, and supplemental resources.
We fully recognize the gaps that exist and the varying levels of experience when it comes to using
technology. Since the closing of schools in March, District 65 has loaned families over 700
Chromebooks and 200 hot spots. We are continuing to identify students and families who need
technology so we can support remote learning to the greatest extent possible. We will continue to
loan out our resources and are working to procure more technology on behalf of District 65 as
REMOTE LEARNING GUIDANCE FOR FAMILIES 10
well as generous community partners. All technology loaned from District 65 will need to be
returned upon the re-opening of schools.
If your family or you know of another District 65 family who needs access to technology, please
contact your child's principal.
District 65 has many helpful resources including video tutorials and instructions to support use of
Chromebooks, Google Classroom, SeeSaw, and more available under the ‘Remote Learning’
section of our website at district65.net/covid-19.
In addition, students and families may call our
support hotlines at:
Tech Support
(847) 859-8101 (English)
(847) 859-8102 (Spanish)
Remote Learning Hotline
(847) 859-8888
SUPPLEMENTAL LEARNING
Students and families are encouraged to support academic skills and social-emotional health
through activities that extend beyond assigned remote learning work. Educators may provide
suggestions for enrichment opportunities and independent projects for families who are
interested. These will not negatively impact a student's grade. Additional engagement can be
especially important for young children, where it is not developmentally appropriate to expect
them to engage in academic tasks for a long period of time.
Some of this work can be supported using D65 web-based platforms as one alternative for
supplemental work. Students can access many resources through their 'Clever Login'. Resources
are personalized to each student’s needs through their login. Students can access thousands of
books and articles through literacy databases including BrainPop, BrainPop Jr, BrainPop ESL,
IStation, and Newsela. In addition, students can sharpen their skills through ST Math, ConnectEd
(Every Day Math) and TypeTastic. Login to Clever to see all that's available!
Students can login with their Clever Badge or their [email protected] and password is
their 8-digit lunch pin. Please call technology support at 847.859.8101 (English) and
847.859.8102 (Spanish) if you need help logging in.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is District 65’s approach to remote learning?
Our mission is to empower and support every child to productively continue their grade-level
learning while schools are closed due to COVID-19. Our remote learning plan prioritizes the
unique needs of students, families, and educators during this difficult time. Our focus remains on
REMOTE LEARNING GUIDANCE FOR FAMILIES 11
the health and well-being of our community as well as our commitment to remain connected to
and guide learning for students.
Lessons and activities are meant to strengthen students’ previous learned skills while introducing
a limited amount of new learning. In the case that new content is introduced, the expectation will
be exposure and growth in learning. Mastery of new learning will not be expected during this
remote learning period.
Do Remote Learning Days count as instructional days and attendance days for students?
Yes, Remote Learning Days count as instructional days and do not need to be made up at the end
of the school year.
Is the District loaning technology to families to support remote learning?
Since the closing of schools, District 65 has loaned out over 700 Chromebooks and 200 hot spots.
This is in addition to the 2,300 iPads and 100 hotspots that were previously issued to our middle
school students as part of the Access to Innovate program. While resources are limited, we are
committed to continuing to provide families in need with technology access. Please contact your
child’s principal if you need a device or internet access.
Will Choice Boards continue to be issued?
Choice Boards will be issued during the week of April 13 for PreK-5th grade students. After this
week, lessons and activities will be provided by educators through the SeeSaw learning platform.
District 65 will post additional enrichment activities for families on the District website during the
month of April.
Choice Boards will continue to be issued for early childhood students and for supplemental
learning activities.
Do assignments and other student work count towards my child’s grade?
District 65 grading practices are largely informed by remote learning guidance from the Illinois
State Board of Education. We are prioritizing connectedness and care for our students as we work
towards maintaining a continuity of learning. Student's overall grades will not be negatively
impacted during remote learning.
A limited number of assignments will be given with the expectation that they will be completed.
Assignments will count towards a student’s grade.
Can students make up assignments or other school work?
Yes, the aim, emphasis, and focus for schoolwork assigned, reviewed, and completed during
remote learning is on student progress and learning. All students have the opportunity to redo,
make up, or try again to complete, show progress, or attempt to complete work assigned prior to
remote learning.
Do students need to sign on to learning platforms at specific times or what flexibility do
students/families have in completing school work?
REMOTE LEARNING GUIDANCE FOR FAMILIES 12
Students do not need to sign onto learning platforms at a specific time daily. Students have the
opportunity to engage in learning at the time that best works for them within the day and the
week.
How will educators support students’ social emotional needs?
Educators will use office hour times to connect with students and may provide opportunities for
students to connect during classroom meetings. In addition, social workers will continue to check
in with students and meet virtually as needed. Restorative Practice Coaches have shared
mindfulness activities for use at home as well. There are also resources available in the COVID-19
Supportive Resources section of our website.
How is the district supporting Emerging Bilinguals?
Emerging Bilingual students are being supported by classroom teachers, our ESL (English as a
Second Language) educators, and the District team. Choice boards were modified to support these
learners and resource teachers will join student classrooms as co-teachers to help modify work for
students on their caseloads. The District is providing web-based resources that adapt to students’
current knowledge which can also support Emerging Bilingual students including RazKids,
Newsela, Lexia and IXL. Students also have access to grade level math content in our non-linguistic
math program, STMath.
Will IEP or Eligibility meetings still be held?
While schools are closed, we will continue to hold annual review meetings as scheduled using
virtual meeting options. Your child's case manager will contact you to discuss and to provide
directions for participating in the meeting. If your student is currently being evaluated/re-
evaluated for special education eligibility, the school team will make every effort to complete this
process; however. the evaluation may have to be completed when students return to school.
Please contact your student’s case manager with any questions.
Will my child be assessed or tested during this time period?
During this time period, educators will look to student artifacts that are submitted to assess
student learning. Please note that feedback is to help identify strengths and provide opportunities
for learning and growth. Formal assessments will be limited and may look different than they
would have looked should students be present in school. In some cases, assessments may be in the
form of projects to demonstrate the application of learning.
How often can I expect to hear from my child’s teacher?
You can expect to hear from your child’s primary teacher at the beginning of the week with the
week’s assignments. You may also receive assignments, updates or communications from teachers
throughout the week in SeeSaw or Google Classroom. To further streamline communications, we
are working towards moving to a weekly communication from specials teachers, etc. Please feel
free to reach out to your child’s teacher(s) with questions. Please allow time for educators to
respond.
REMOTE LEARNING GUIDANCE FOR FAMILIES 13
Where can I get more information about the district’s remote learning plan?
We encourage you to visit our new D65 COVID-19 Response website for more detailed
information on our remote learning plan. This includes Remote Learning At-A-Glance for PreK, K-
5, and 6-8 grades and frequently asked questions. We also ask you to stay tuned for more
information from your child’s teacher(s) as we transition to our remote learning plan in the coming
weeks.
