Smart Start
Safely Coming Back to School
As always, the health and safety of our students, staff and families are our number one priority. Our decisions are guided by the Minnesota Department of Education in conjunction with the Minnesota Department of Health.
Every decision we make is guided by our values:
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Health and safety of students, staff and families
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Focus on social-emotional needs
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Equity, fairness and inclusion
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Meeting the diverse needs of students and staff
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Continuity of instruction which is based on State standards
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Unified District Vision and Equity policy as guiding documents
Because of the evolving nature of COVID-19 and the on-going efforts to create and maintain a safe learning environment for Robbinsdale Area Schools students, updates to this page will be made frequently. The District will share important information with families in the event a shift in learning models occurs. Additional communication would follow from the school regarding school-specific information. We will continue to review county data twice per month (on the 15th and 30th) to continue our review of 14-day data cycles.
Smart Start Considerations
Considerations for our Smart Start include:
- Safety
- Equity
- Achievement
- Staff, student, parent/guardian feedback
- Social/emotional
- Operations
- Instruction
- Technology
Learning Model Transition Timeline
Current Status
Distance Learning PLUS
(Personal Learning with Unified Supports)
Smart Start 2020-2021 Learning Models
These models will be implemented based on guidance from local health officials and other considering factors. As the school year progresses, and if there is a shift to a model other than Distance Learning PLUS, families will be able to opt-in to continue in a distance learning model known as 281 Distance Learning School.
HIGH COVID-19 Transmission Rate in the Community
Students will engage in classes and conduct learning remotely. Learning includes direct teacher instruction and independent student work, with a combination of virtual meetings, interactive class sessions and pre-recorded videos. The components of instruction will include the academic content and social-emotional curriculum.
HIGH ⟷ LOW
Transmission Rate in the Community
Students will rotate attendance so no more than 50% of the school population is in the building on any given school day. Depending on the daily schedule, some students will learn in-person and others will engage in Distance Learning PLUS.
LOW COVID-19 Transmission Rate in the Community
Students will learn in a traditional, at-school learning experience with additional safety measures implemented based on guidance from health officials. Per safety guidelines, students are grouped together with the same staff throughout the day; all day for elementary students and as much as possible for older students.
Family Choice Learning Options
Robbinsdale Virtual Academy (RVA) is an online school for high school students. RVA offers a fully online curriculum, with courses which were developed to be taught online. Students do not meet in a physical classroom at a specific time, and gives students the flexibility to design their own high school experience.
Online courses offer the same challenge in a different format. The amount of time and work will be equal to traditional, in-person courses. Courses include:
- Videos, readings, assignments, quizzes and tests in Schoology
- Online discussions, interactive class sessions and projects
- Weekly reflection and goal-setting
- Daily access to subject licensed teachers for support in assignments
- More than 20 courses are available for Fall 2020
- PSEO Options
Students have the option to stay enrolled at their current school as the district moves between learning models throughout the school year.
K-12 Grade Students
Schools are starting the year in the Distance Learning PLUS model, and may move fluidly between in-person classes and distance learning throughout the year (depending on COVID-19 transmission rates among other factors).
If you'd like to your student to follow the district's movement between learning models, no action is needed.
Recent Updates
Dr. Heather Mueller, MDE Deputy Commissioner, and Dan Huff, MDH Assistant Commissioner, reviewed COVID-19 health data and mitigation strategies along with Minnesota's Safe Learning Plan in order to address staff questions.
Check out our transition timeline, which includes important dates by grade level as well as non-school days.
All families are encouraged to watch this in-depth video which reviews cleaning and safety procedures, COVID-19 protocols, as well as answers frequently asked questions. Spanish and Somali versions are also posted.
Please read more for a learning model update for our secondary students.
Our elementary distribution sites, Lakeview, Meadow Lake, Neill, and Northport, will serve their last meal bundle distribution on Wednesday, January 13. Cooper High School, Plymouth Middle School, Robbinsdale Middle School, and Sandburg Middle School (beginning January 26th) will continue to distribute meal bundles.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has released updated guidance for close contact with a person positive with COVID-19.