OSPI filed emergency rulemaking on February 23 further delaying the implementation of WAC 392-550-040, truancy in ALE, until the beginning of the 2021-22 school year. This is an extension of the emergency rule filed on December 8, 2020. OSPI has initiated formal rulemaking to adopt a permanent rule reflecting these emergency extensions.
The Alternative Learning Experience website will be updated soon with a link to the emergency rule language.
The 2021 legislative session is in process! The Alternative Learning Department is closely monitoring a variety of bills. You can find more information on these bills via the links below.
- Concerning the emergency waiver of graduation requirements.
- Concerning high school graduation credit and pathway options.
- Concerning school attendance.
- Exploring alternative school calendars.
- Concerning professional learning, equity, cultural competency, and dismantling institutional racism in the public school system.
- Teaching Washington's tribal history, culture, and government.
- Establishing a building point of contact in all K-12 public schools for students in foster care.
More information about the 2021 legislative session including committee schedules and hearing agendas can be found on the Washington State Legislature website.
Does your district want to continue offering online learning beyond this school year?
OSPI provided guidance on flexibility to online program approval for the 2020-2021 school year. Please:
- Continue to revisit and reassess your long term plans, and
- Connect with Nicole González, nicole.gonzalez@k12.wa.us, if you will be seeking Online School Program approval for the 2021-2022 school year.
Intervention Plan Signature Guidance
Q: How should we document that an intervention plan was completed by, or when developed by a School Based Support Staff approved by, a certificated teacher?
A: The clearest evidence that the plan was developed by a certificated teacher, or approved by the certificated teacher when developed by a School Based Support Staff for students with all online classes, is a signature. A signature may be captured in a physical or digital format on a paper-based document, in a learning management system, or other electronic system. The signature can be located on the actual intervention plan or in a documentation platform.
If your systems do not allow in any format for an actual signature, a teacher may document their completion of an intervention plan in a paper-based or digital documentation system along with their name, date, and any other relevant details.
Q: How should we document participation of the student, and parent for students in grades K-8, in the development of an intervention plan required per WAC 392-550-025 (4)(b), “An intervention plan must be developed, documented, and implemented by a certificated teacher in conjunction with the student and, for students in grades K-8, the student's parent(s).”
A: The intent of this rule is to get student and/or family input on appropriate interventions and the policy is the same regardless of course type or communication method. The clearest way to document participation is a signature, however there are a variety of ways to accomplish this goal and both the actual practice and the documentation system vary by program model and age level of the student.
Examples
Examples are included below based on common practices and student age. These are examples and this list is not exhaustive. If you are using another method and have questions about the practice, contact the Alternative Learning Department at ALDInfo@k12.wa.us.
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K-8 Students
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9-12 Students
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In-Person
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Physical or digital signature of parent, and student if developmentally appropriate
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Physical or digital signature of student
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Phone
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Make a note in a paper-based or electronic tracking system of the phone call with the parent
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Make a note in a paper-based or electronic tracking system of the phone call with the student
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Email
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Retain an email record with the parent, and student if developmentally appropriate
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Retain an email record with the student
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Learning Management System (LMS)
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Retain the actual conversation from an LMS communication system, or document via some other method the details of the exchange with the parent, and student if developmentally appropriate
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Retain the actual conversation from an LMS communication system, or document via some other method the details of the exchange with the student
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Synchronous Meeting
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Retain the participation record from the synchronous meeting in the electronic system or note in some other way the participation by the parent, and student if developmentally appropriate, at the virtual meeting.
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Retain the participation record from the synchronous meeting in the electronic system or note in some other way the participation by the student.
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The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), Washington State Department of Health (DOH), Health Care Authority (HCA) and a team at the University of Washington (UW) are excited to announce the “COVID-19 Student Survey” available for schools to administer this spring!
In an effort to support schools and communities, state agencies partnered to support this effort to collect information about young people’s experiences over this past year during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Schools can participate in the survey for free (details on how to register are below). It is anonymous, voluntary, and for students in grades 6 through 12.
Topics on the survey include, but are not limited to: social support, remote learning experiences, mental health, physical health, COVID-19 precautions, and substance use.
This survey does not replace the Healthy Youth Survey (HYS); instead, it uniquely collects information from students about the COVID-19 pandemic.
Similar to the HYS, results from this survey may be of interest to community partners who work to support students, schools and school districts when ongoing or emerging needs are identified. Local School and District reports will only be shared with permission from School District Superintendent.
Important details about the survey:
- Schools opt-in for the survey by registering at csswashington.org/register
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Registration opens on Thursday, February 25, 2021 – we are sending this announcement now so that you can begin planning/discussing this opportunity.
- The survey will be administered on the day(s) of your choice between March 8 - 26, 2021.
- The survey will be administered completely online and can be done in a school building or from wherever students are as they participate in remote learning. It is expected that the survey will be administered during a class period and will take up to 25 minutes.
- Schools will receive survey results before the end of the ‘20-‘21 school year.
- Parent and student notification is at the discretion of each school, but it is recommended that they are notified about the survey prior to administration using the material provided once you register.
Thank you for considering participating in the COVID-19 Student Survey. You are invited to register your school or district if you serve students in grades 6 through 12 at: csswashington.org/register
If you have any questions about the survey, please contact:
contact@csswashington.org or Emily.Maughan@k12.wa.us; 360-725-6030
For offering Bridge to College English or Math, this OSPI bulletin #003-21 explains about the training process for offering these courses as a third year of math for seniors in your high school diploma program. Registration deadline: June 1, 2021.
For more information about Bridge to College English & Math, visit the OSPI Bridge to College Courses website.
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National Digital Learning annual conference (DLAC), June 14-16, 2021, Houston Texas + Virtual Access. For information: www.deelac.com
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WALA CONFERENCE 2021 has been cancelled. Please watch for upcoming workshops and supports on the WALA website.
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GATE Equity Webinar Series Regular monthly webinars. Information and registration available through the GATE website.
Contact Us!
For more information about Alternative Learning, please contact us at ALDInfo@k12.wa.us, or visit our OSPI Learning Alternatives website.
For specific questions, contact us by email:
ALE Programs: Anissa Sharratt ALE/Reengagement Compliance: Liz Quayle Online Learning: Nicole González
Previous newsletters are available on the ALE website.
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