[gsis_admins] Re: FW: Important Updates

From: "Willis, Priscilla" <WillisP@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "gsis_admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <gsis_admins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2020 00:37:27 +0000

Thank you!! Sure am glad our conference isn’t anytime soon!!

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 20, 2020, at 2:46 PM, Flora Contreras <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

CAUTION: This email originated from outside Pike County Schools. Do not click
links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content
is safe.

FYI

From: Matt Jones <mattjones@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:mattjones@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
Sent: Friday, March 20, 2020 1:05 PM

Superintendents –

My deepest appreciation for your leadership and the efforts of your staff
during this challenging time. In this dark moment, public education is shining.
Georgians are realizing how critical public education is, the dedication of
educators, schools provide more than an education to our students, and the
heart of an educator is always stepping up to meet a need – thank you!

As we continue our efforts to work through the COVID-19 situation, I wanted to
share some updates that impact your work:

  *   SAT/ACT testing waived for USG admission. SAT/ACT testing has been
suspended for the remainder of the school year. USG will be waiving SAT/ACT
entrance requirements for admissions. Garry McGiboney sent out detailed
guidance to you from USG this morning.
  *   College Board offering AP exams virtually. This year’s AP Exams will not
include questions from the final units of the course – units typically covered
in March and April. In addition, the streamlined Exams will take no longer than
an hour and will be doable on a mobile phone. By April 3, College Board will
publish the full exam schedule including the specific free-response question
types that will comprise each AP Exam. Keep in mind, the Exams will be “open
book.” Any student already registered for an Exam can choose to cancel at no
charge. For detailed guidance from College Board click
here<https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/about-ap/news-changes/coronavirus-update>
(click here<https://www.youtube.com/user/advancedplacement> for AP review
materials that are free for all students).
What GaDOE is Working On – Graduation/Course Credit Guidance – At the March
26th meeting, Superintendent Woods will recommend that the SBOE waive the 20%
EOC rule. Staff is also working to develop detailed graduation and course
credit guidance for districts that will be shared after the SBOE meeting. We
are collaborating with USG, TCSG, GSFC, and others to ensure no punitive
effects for seniors.
What GaDOE is Working On – Dual Enrollment Supports – Students in
dual-enrollment should continue classes unless (a) the post-secondary
institution closes; (b) the LEA closes and determines that dual-enrollment
students will not continue. If the LEA closes but the dual-enrollment
institution stays open, then LEAs can allow students to continue
dual-enrollment courses. We are working with USG and TCSG on a detailed FAQ
document for districts; it will be shared once finalized.

  *   Distance learning course made available for free for all Georgia
educators. Just in Time for Teachers: Digital Learning Days Course (click
here<http://gavirtuallearning.org/>) introduces digital learning basics and
will assist in planning for digital learning days. This course provides
critical best practices, tools and knowledge to assist educators who are
planning for and transitioning to a remote learning online format to support
digital learning days.
What GaDOE is Working On – Teaching Special Education Students Virtually Online
Course – On March 25th, GaDOE’s Georgia Virtual School is launching a free
online learning course for Georgia educators with tools, tips, and guidance to
meet the needs of special education students virtually.

  *   School meals. Working with your nutrition directors, GaDOE’s school
nutrition team has approved 181 applications. Special thanks to school
officials, nutrition staff, bus drivers, and volunteers that are preparing,
packing, and delivering meals to students.
What GaDOE is Working On – Additional USDA waivers, support for your staff –
GaDOE is seeking and USDA is granting additional flexibility for school meal
services, including portion sizes and meal components. These waivers along with
training opportunities are being regularly communicated with your school
nutrition director.

  *   Collaboration with Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB). Working with GBP,
we recently launched Georgia’s Home Classroom (click
here<https://www.gpb.org/education/learn>) -- Pre-K through 5th grade resources
are now available and we will be adding 6-12 resources in the coming days.
Students in Pre-K through 12th grade can now access free, educational PBS
daytime programming designated for each grade level weekdays on GPB-TV.
What GaDOE is Working On – Devices/Hotspots – GaDOE and GOSA’s foundations are
teaming up with other non-profits to provide devices/hotspots for schools in
need. We are working with providers to finalize details and will be sharing
opportunities for districts shortly.

  *   Additional flexibility. GaDOE is reviewing guidance and establishing
protocols to allow 1003 and other federal allocations set to expire prior or up
to December 31, 2020 to receive a non-cost extension through December 2021.
GaDOE is also working on a process for districts to be granted flexibility to
carry over the currently approved FY20 CLIP and S-CLIP, including required
attachments, to FY21 without a new submission, thereby allowing current plans
to be continued when districts are able to return to regular operating
conditions. GaPSC has released guidance regarding teacher preparation and
certification (click
here<https://www.gapsc.com/Certification/Downloads/COVID-19_Certification_Guidance.pdf>
for letter; click
here<https://www.gapsc.com/Certification/Downloads/Certification_Flexibility_due_to_COVID-19_Table.pdf>
for the list of flexibility).
What GaDOE is Working On – Waivers & extending/eliminating reporting
requirements – Superintendent Woods will recommend a package of waivers for
SBOE approval at the March 26th meeting. Though most districts have performance
contracts, there remain gaps in the waivers currently granted. This
recommendation will fill those gaps and provide waivers to all districts. We
are also working with the Governor’s Office to waive requirements in state law
through executive action. Across the agency, we are identifying data,
reporting, and other required submissions – either extending deadlines, pushing
them into the next school year, or eliminating them altogether, wherever
possible. We know IDEA requirements continue to be a challenge but waivers must
be granted by Congress directly – it’s definitely a topic of discussion in DC
(click
here<https://www.huffpost.com/entry/coronavirus-students-with-disabilities_n_5e73fde9c5b6eab779452c40>).
We will keep you posted.

Please know we are dedicated to supporting you and your districts during these
challenging times. Reach out if we can be of service.

Take care,

Matt Jones
Chief of Staff
Georgia Department of Education

Educating Georgia's Future

[cid:170f9436f5fce9503ea1]

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References:
- [gsis_admins] FW: Important Updates
  - From: Flora Contreras

[gsis_admins] Re: FW: Important Updates

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