Gates Chili Central School District

The Commissioner's regulations define remote instruction as “instruction provided by an appropriately certified teacher, or in the case of a charter school an otherwise qualified teacher pursuant to Education Law §2854(3)(a-1), who is not in the same in-person physical location as the student(s) receiving the instruction, where there is regular and substantive daily interaction between the student and teacher.”  For the purpose of this plan, remote instruction means the instruction occurring when the student and the instructor are in different locations due to the closure of one or more of the district's school buildings due to emergency conditions as determined by the Superintendent of Schools. Emergency conditions include, but are not limited to, extraordinary adverse weather conditions, impairment of heating facilities, insufficient water supply, prolonged disruption of electrical power, shortage of fuel, destruction of a school building, shortage of transportation vehicles, or a communicable disease outbreak, and the school district would otherwise close due to such an emergency.  

Instructional hours that a school district scheduled but did not execute, either because of a delay to the start of a school day or an early release, due to emergency conditions, may still be considered as instructional hours for State Aid purposes for up to two instructional hours per session day, provided the School Superintendent certifies such to NYSED, on the prescribed NYSED form, that an extraordinary condition existed on a previously scheduled session day and that school was in session on that day (NYSED Part 175.5). 

The Emergency Remote Instruction Plan shall identify various ways in which instruction may be delivered, including synchronous and asynchronous instruction. In all situations, remote instruction requires regular and substantive teacher-student interaction with an appropriately certified teacher.  

Synchronous instruction engages students in learning in the direct presence (remote or in-person) of a teacher in real time. During remote instruction, students and teachers attend together from different locations using technology. Asynchronous instruction is self-directed learning that students engage in learning without the direct presence (remote or in-person) of a teacher. Students access class materials during different hours and from different locations. During an emergency closing, synchronous instruction is the preferred method of instruction, whereas asynchronous instruction is considered supplementary instruction.  

The Gates Chili Central School District shall survey families to find out who has a reliable high-speed internet connection. A survey conducted in 2020 identified families who live in the district that do not have access, therefore remote learning is a challenge, if not impossible, for these students. Since 2020, every student who enrolls in the district provides information on internet access and computer accessibility. When students do not have internet access, the district works with the families to develop a plan to provide instructional materials for them as well as a process for recording attendance and grading.  The district works with the community to provide locations where internet access could be used if they are able to use these locations.  

Commissioner’s regulation 115.17(f) outlines the annual data collection that districts must submit to SED every year by June 30.  It requires the school district to survey families regarding internet and device access at the student’s place(s) of residence. The chief executive officer (School Superintendent) shall survey students and parents and persons in parental relation to such students to obtain information on student access to computing devices and access to internet connectivity.  

District policy and procedures are followed to ensure computing devices are made available to students or other means by which students will participate in synchronous instruction. 

The plan adheres to guidance set forth in the following Board of Education policies: 3510 Emergency School Closings; 7110 Student Attendance; 9120 Acceptable User Policy; 7312 Student Dress Code; GCCSD Code of Conduct and Support. 

The school district provides all students in grades K-12 access to a personal computing device.  In the event of an emergency, closing provisions will be made to the greatest extent possible to ensure that all students have their device at home for instruction. 

The school district participates fully in the SED Digital Access Survey along with locally developed surveys to assess how many students have internet access at home.  The district provides hotspots to any families that indicate a need for reliable internet to facilitate access to learning at home. 

All faculty should have an alternative general activity for students in the instance that widespread power outages or other disruptions to connectivity occur preventing synchronous connection. If students lose connectivity, then the expectation is they will complete the alternate assignment provided.  

All teachers in grades K-12 will use Microsoft Teams as their primary instructional platform.   

Several district-provided instructional technology software programs are available to support instruction along with a wide array of other resources curated by faculty.  Teachers will utilize these programs to differentiate instruction, accessing a variety of delivery methods that best suit their course, grade level, and teaching style.  The instructional approach may include a combination of: 

Synchronous “Live” Instruction - Using Microsoft Teams along with other digital platforms, teachers will deliver real time instruction to a full group or subset of students. Teachers may incorporate asynchronous or project-based opportunities within this model. 

Teachers will make personal connections with all students during scheduled class times via Microsoft Teams.  These connections will allow teachers to take attendance, introduce new content or skills and will allow students to connect with their teachers and peers in order to be guided through lessons, ask questions, and maintain personal relationships. The duration of these synchronous connections depends on the grade level and daily instructional plan but should be the primary mode of instruction and substantial enough to guide learning. 

Asynchronous “Flipped” Instruction - Using a variety of digital platforms, teachers will deliver captured or recorded lessons with associated expectations for students participation and assignment completion in Schoology.  These activities may include teacher/student synchronous interactions for a portion of the lesson. 

Authentic Independent Instruction - Using a variety of methods, teachers will engage students in high quality learning activities.  These activities must engage students in the learning process.  Teachers will provide assistance to students in this mode of instruction through asynchronous and synchronous methods outlined above.

All students will receive information on how to access course material and instruction from their teachers.  Students are expected to follow all directions and requests to participate in instruction to the fullest extent possible.  During synchronous instruction students are expected to be school ready.  This includes being  on  time  for  class,  engaging  fully  through  video  and  audio as  directed  by  their    teacher,   and    presenting    themselves    in   a manner that is in accordance with school expectations.  

All students are expected to practice appropriate digital etiquette and responsible behavior during assigned Microsoft Teams meetings: 

• Mute yourself as directed by your teacher 

• Cameras are to be kept on during classroom meets unless directed specifically by your teacher to do otherwise.  

Students are expected to work in an appropriate setting when participating remotely / online. Workplaces include a desk, table, kitchen counter, etc... Other locations may not be conducive to learning. 

Student dress must be appropriate on all platforms - the Student Dress Code section of the Student Handbook / Code of Conduct applies to students on all platforms. 

If there are any circumstances preventing full and appropriate participation the student should let the teacher know.  As this is a required attendance day, students must fulfill expectations for satisfactory participation as determined by their teacher.

The virtual day will follow the same schedule framework as the HS, MS and Elementary School to which the student is assigned.   As with all school schedules, appropriate breaks will be included in the daily schedule for students and faculty, including time for lunch.  Students will attend all assigned classes at their scheduled time.  The method of instructional delivery will vary to facilitate appropriate screen time per age level within these parameters.

Teachers will follow the same communication protocols that are established in school for addressing areas of academic or behavioral need.  This includes a combination of email and/or phone calls with families/guardians, or academic/behavioral referrals to the administration.  All effective strategies should be utilized to maintain effective communication. 

School districts are required to implement supports, services and accommodations, as indicated in students’ IEPs or 504 Accommodation Plans, to the best of their ability.  NYSED recognizes that there may be limitations to implementing certain services or accommodations through remote instruction and as a result, encourages districts to apply a “lens of reasonableness” to their approach.

This section applies to Transportation, School Nutrition, Maintenance, Custodial, Clerical/Administrative Support

When a school district is in remote session, non-instructional services may still be required to report to work to perform critical services related to their area of expertise. In the event that the change to remote instruction is due to a snow or other weather emergency, such change will likely impact transportation and other critical services.  Decisions whether or not non-instructional employees should report to work will be made and communicated in real time by the appropriate supervisor or administrator based on whether services can be provided in a safe and efficient manner.