2 Works For You received the following news release from the Tulsa Public Schools on Friday, April 3,2020 outlining their plan for distance learning starting Monday, April 6, 2020.
April 3, 2020
Dear parents and families,
Distance learning at Tulsa Public Schools will begin on Monday, April 6. Our school leaders and teachers have missed your children, and we are looking forward to resuming teaching and learning next week! This letter is lengthy because it includes a lot of important information for families to support our transition to distance learning. Please try to find a moment in your busy day to read through this information - I think you will find it useful.
While distance learning will look and feel different, we are continuing to focus on building strong student-teacher relationships and providing students with meaningful content that sustains learning through the end of the school year. Additionally, we will share online and offline resources for at-home learning activities that focus on reading, writing, and problem-solving.
I know that you likely have many questions about what the rest of the school year will look like, and I am including answers to some frequently asked questions below. You can find more information, resources, and updates at www.tulsaschools.org/distancelearning [tulsaschools.org]. We’ll also continue to add to our frequently asked questions based on the feedback we hear from you.
What will the first week of distance learning look like?
During the first week of distance learning, teachers will call and “meet” with students, introduce the learning platforms, set up rituals and routines for the distance learning process, and engage in learning activities with students. Teachers and school team members will also connect with families to communicate schedules for online learning as well as at-home learning activities. We expect the first week may be a little bumpy as we all learn to "do school" together differently. If you do not receive a call, please reach out to your school directly to ensure that we have an updated phone number for you.
What can I expect during distance learning through the rest of the school year?
Your child will learn through a combination of recorded videos, television programming, and real-time video calls using Zoom. Students will use the web-based program Canvas to find lessons and complete assignments. Students will also have the opportunity to complete paper-based assignments. You can find links and resources related to distance learning at www.tulsaschools.org/distancelearning [tulsaschools.org].
Will assignments during distance learning be graded?
No. Teachers will provide feedback on student work, but students will not receive official grades on assignments. Individual assignments will not be recorded in Powerschool.
Will my student receive a grade at the end of the year?
Student report cards for quarter three (the period ending March 12) will be available in late April. You will be able to access quarter three report cards through the PowerSchool app or by scheduling to pick up a printed copy from your child’s school. We will be sharing additional information about student grades in the next week.
Will high school students earn credit for their spring semester courses?
All high school students with a passing grade in a credit-bearing course at the end of the year will receive course credit. Teachers and counselors will work with students over the coming weeks to ensure that students who were in danger of failing on March 12 have the opportunity to improve their current course grade through assignments.
What will the learning day look like?
Classes provided through video, television, and video calls will take approximately 30-45 minutes each. Students will have additional assignments to work on during the day. Students are not expected to be sitting in front of a computer or television for a specific amount of time - distance learning is designed to be flexible. Students will also have regular check-ins with their teachers: daily for elementary grades and weekly for secondary grades. Your child’s teacher will contact you to share more information about learning schedules.
How can I prepare for distance learning?
There are some steps you can take to make sure that your child is ready to resume learning next week:
- Pick-up a laptop from your child’s school. School leaders are scheduling opportunities for families to borrow one device for each child enrolled at Tulsa Public Schools. If you have not heard from your child’s school, please contact your school leader directly.
- Update your contact information. Teachers will use phone, email, and postal mail to contact your students. Please make sure that we have an accurate address, phone number, and e-mail on file for you. Contact updatemyinfo@tulsaschools.org to update your information. Please include the name of your school in the subject line.
- Bookmark our website. The Tulsa Public Schools website at www.tulsaschools.org [tulsaschools.org] is being updated frequently with news, information, and resources for families.
I do not have internet services at home. How can my child participate in distance learning?
We will make printed materials available at all Tulsa Public Schools grab-and-go meal sites. You can find site locations and hours at www.tulsaschools.org/mealsites [tulsaschools.org]. Additionally, there are companies and services that provide low-cost home internet or wireless internet free of charge. You can find more information about those options and about our “mobile hotspot” buses at www.tulsaschools.org/internet [tulsaschools.org].
What websites, programs, or applications will students be using?
We will be posting information and links related to distance learning on our website at www.tulsaschools.org/distancelearning. The primary programs that students and teachers will use are:
- Canvas: www.tulsaschools.org/canvas [tulsaschools.org]
- Zoom: www.zoom.us/signin
- Google Classroom: www.classroom.google.com [classroom.google.com]
- District website: www.tulsaschools.org [tulsaschools.org]
Your child’s school will contact you to provide log-in information for these sites.
We are continuing to update our website frequently, so please bookmark www.tulsaschools.org [tulsaschools.org] and visit it regularly. Please also do not hesitate to contact your child’s school leaders with any questions or suggestions that you might have as we work together to keep Tulsa children engaged and learning through the end of the school year.
Best,
Superintendent Deborah A. Gist
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