To start the 2020-2021 school year, all students in the Kent School District will engage in remote learning. This learning will be required. Remote learning will also continue to be available in the event school buildings close abruptly due to a resurgence of COVID-19 after our buildings reopen.

Remote learning in 2020-21 will be of high-quality and consistently provided with explicit expectations and accountability for instruction and assignments. 

• Daily lessons posted the Friday before the following week in Canvas, for all students, all grades. Microsoft Teams used for live instruction.
• Detailed student schedules will be posted on school websites and shared with families before the start of school. All students and families in remote learning should expect:
  • Three (3) or (4) hours of instruction (both live and self-paced) where teachers are directly interacting with all students, all grades virtually, each weekday.
  • Self-paced (2 -3 hours daily) where students learn through prerecorded lessons, independent reading, journal writing, and ongoing practice of standards.
  • Attendance will be taken daily.
  • Daily planning time/daily office hours will be available for students and families to connect with teachers just-in-time support.
  • The Learning First schedule still applies.
  • Teachers establish clear learning routines and norms for classroom interactions.
  • Teachers will use curriculum and instructional materials approved by the district.
  • Weekly schedules for each student, daily engagement or assigned work for each student, and requirements for daily attendance in the remote learning, hybrid and traditional learning scenarios for the 2020-21 school year meet or exceed the required instructional hours and days subject to the State Board of Education requirements outlined in WAC 180-16-200.

Even though our school buildings will not be open, the district will provide meals to children for each school day in alignment with current state and federal regulations.

• During the school year, meal distribution in the remote learning, hybrid, and traditional learning scenarios, all student meals must be tracked and accounted for according to the National School Lunch Program regulations.
• Students are not required to be present to pick up their meals. However, each student's card must be scanned if they receive a meal.
• Student ID cards will be mailed home to verified addresses before the first day of school.
• Payments in any form (cash, check, or credit card) will not be accepted at meal distribution sites. Payments can be loaded to student accounts electronically, mailed to Nutrition Services, or paid in-person on designated days. The Hunger-Free Bill of Rights will remain in effect; students will not be denied a meal if they are unable to pay.
• Meals will be distributed weekly only in remote and hybrid learning scenarios. Meal packages will include five breakfasts and five lunches. There will not be an option to pick up less than the five breakfasts and five lunches for the week. Meals will be picked up on Wednesday afternoons from 2:00-4:00 p.m.
• Additional meal distribution information, including the free and reduced lunch application for the 2020-21 school year, will be available to all families and staff before the first day of school.

To help ensure students can fully engage in remote or online learning, the Kent School District will continue to provide laptops for all K-12 students. Free WiFi hotspots are also available for some students, so they have the tools needed to learn from a distance.

In both the hybrid and remote learning models, students and families will have access to in-person support for technology by appointment in alignment with safety and social distancing protocols.

• Kent School District will continue providing free WiFi hotspots for our students and families in need while supplies last. In August 2020, our current hotspots are getting upgraded data plans, and we are securing additional hotspots with the expanded data plans as well to support student connectivity and learning. Hotspots continue to be available for staff upon request.
• Students in kindergarten through eleventh grades and staff who will return to KSD for the 2020-2021 school year were able to keep their laptops over the summer.
• Students who are new to KSD for the 2020-2021 school year will receive a laptop when the school year begins. Laptop deployment will start in August.
• Through regular two-way communication at the classroom, school, and district level with families, KSD will continue to monitor student engagement and address gaps in connectivity and technology access, so each student has sufficient opportunity to continue their learning outside of the school building.
• In both the hybrid and remote learning scenarios, students and families will have access to in-person support for technology, by appointment in alignment with safety and social distancing protocols.

At this time, we are working with the Kent Association of Coaches and Extra-Curricular Employees to offer limited athletics and extra-curricular activities in the fall semester following the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) Updates and Guidelines.

Any student activities, practices, and schedules that are held will be modified to ensure students remain physically distanced and can maintain proper hygiene. Because each event will look a little different, and WIAA is continuing to update their guidance, coaches and advisors will be contacting you and your student(s) with more information.

It remains possible that some or all of our athletic seasons may be restricted or shortened. This will depend mainly on decisions made by the WIAA. These decisions are also subject to change during the season, depending on the status of COVID-19 in our state and region.