Florida Department of Education Announces Additional Guidance for the 2019-20 School Year

~ All public and private K-12 schools are closed through April 15, 2020 ~

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., March 17, 2020 – Today, the Department of Education and Commissioner Richard Corcoran are using executive authority to support the Florida Division of Emergency Management to ensure Florida citizens are kept safe.

“The containment of COVID-19 is essential, and this is not a decision we made lightly. Districts have taken action and have instituted distance learning as a necessary precaution to protect students, educators, families, and Florida’s overall public health,” said Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran. “We are working with our local school districts to provide guidance and help children who need access food during this time. Our number one priority is keeping our families safe and healthy and stopping the spread of this virus. These actions will help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in Florida. I will continue to work with the Governor, Superintendents, Florida College System and the State University System to do whatever we can to protect our children, our families, and our communities.”

Commissioner Corcoran is taking the following actions, effective immediately:

School Districts

• All public and private K-12 and career and technical center campuses are closed through April 15, 2020.   

• Schools are encouraged to operate virtually or through other non-classroom-based means to the greatest extent possible to implement distance learning. 
• School districts should be prepared to extend their educational calendars through June 30, 2020, to the extent feasible and necessary. 
• For Collier, Duval, Sumter and Union county school districts, which are all completing their extended spring break on March 20, 2020, school campuses will remain closed through April 15, 2020, although they will begin instruction virtually on March 23.
• To support students with identified IEP-related services who may have a disruption in services, school districts are given flexibility for the remainder of the school year to provide alternative services or delay services until later in the summer months, in coordination with a student’s parents and IEP team. 

Assessments, Accountability and Promotion 

• All remaining assessments for school readiness, voluntary prekindergarten and K-12 assessments are cancelled for the 2019-2020 school year. 
• Requirements for graduation and promotion, and final course grades will be evaluated as though those assessments which were cancelled did not exist. 
• K-12 school grades will not be calculated for 2019-2020 and schools in turnaround may continue their current status for 2020-2021 to avoid disruption to school leadership and operations. 
• Eligibility for Florida Bright Futures scholarships shall be based on available data and results. Tests that were not available to be taken shall not be counted. 

Instructional Hours 

• The Commissioner may reduce required instructional hours as necessary to accommodate for closures. 

Funding 

• The Florida Department of Education and K-12 school districts are instructed to redirect unspent 2019-2020 funds from Reading Scholarship Accounts, the Reading Instruction Allocation, the Digital Classroom Allocation and the Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Program to help low-income students purchase digital devices and establish Internet services. 
• In order to facilitate the remote connection between teachers and students, K-12 school districts are further permitted to redirect unspent Title 2 funds to help low-income students purchase digital devices and establish Internet services. 
• K-12 school districts are permitted to redirect unspent 2019-2020 funds from the Safe Schools and Mental Health allocations to virtual and telephonic mental health counseling services for students who need emotional support due to COVID-19. 
• All school readiness, voluntary prekindergarten, K-12, career and technical centers and state college programs will receive their full allocation of funding, and therefore staff and contractors can be paid fully, through June 30, 2020, as though there was no disruption in education.   

Teachers

• For the next 120 days, exam fees for teacher certification-related examinations will be waived, and test takers who were unable to take an exam due to test site locations closing will be granted an extension to meet these requirements. 

District School Board and State College Board of Trustees Meetings 

• All district school board and state college board of trustees meetings through June 30, 2020, are postponed and may only be scheduled for emergency purposes only by the respective school district superintendent or college president.   

• These meetings must be convened virtually or telephonically. 
• If there is a vacancy or inability to serve on the part of the superintendent or college president, then the respective board chair may convene an emergency meeting.   
• School districts and state colleges must ensure that meetings held by virtual means are accessible by interested members of the public.

Mass Gatherings and Community Events 

• Commissioner Corcoran urges adherence to the CDC’s guidance for higher-risk populations by cancelling any mass gatherings, community events and extracurricular activities, including sports of more than 10 people in a single occupied space at any educational program, school readiness, voluntary prekindergarten, public and private K-12, career and technical centers, and public and private colleges and universities. 

School Readiness and Voluntary Prekindergarten Programs

• Commissioner Corcoran strongly recommend school readiness and voluntary prekindergarten programs adhere to the CDC’s guidance for higher-risk populations by limiting students and employees to no more than 10 people convening in a single occupied space, therefore breaking students into groups as necessary, maintaining social distancing best practices and proper hygiene. 

Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind Services Offices 

• All services provided by the divisions of Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind Services to clients shall be provided solely though virtual and telephonic methods to the extent possible. 

• The Department will work with appropriate federal authorities to seek waivers for any federal requirements that may be impacted. 

Postsecondary Institutions 

• All public state college and university, and private college and university campuses and buildings are closed for the remainder of the spring semester. 

• Colleges and universities are encouraged to operate virtually or through other non-classroom-based means to the greatest extent possible. 
• Colleges and universities should be prepared to extend their educational calendars through June 30, 2020, to the extent feasible and necessary. 

More Information

Families and Parents:                                                                                                                                                                 March 17, 2020

• Spring Break for students is extended through march 27.  School resumes March 30, 2020;
• Activities:  The Board has mandated that ALL extra-curricular activities and trips (students and staff) be cancelled until further notice;
• School Lunch:  Beginning Monday, march 23, a “grab & go” school lunch will be available for ALL students.  These lunches may be picked up at the designated locations between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.  Students may receive the meal at the nearest location.  They do not have to go to their attendance school; however, the student must be present to receive a meal.  (Lunches will not be consumed on the premises.);
• Self-isolation:

1. Individuals returning from international travel must self-isolate 14 days from the time they return to the United States.
2. Individuals returning from cruises must self-isolate 14 days from the time they return from the cruise.

• We encourage all parents to stay abreast of current information regarding COVID-19.  Visit the Florida Department of Health website at http://www.floridahealth.gov/COVID-19 or call the COVID-19 hotline at 1-866-779-6121 with any questions you have about the corona virus.

Employees:

Students who are NOT your dependents are NOT allowed on campus.

Please find below the work schedule for the week of March 23-27, 2020.  This limited reporting will allow us to maintain the sanitation of our sites while preparing for the return of employees and students on March 30.

12-month Employees – Normal work schedules.  Return to work:  March 23.  This includes:

• Administrators (District and School-Based);
• 12-month Instructional Staff (Specialists – administrative and instructional, etc.);
• 12-month Support Staff (Clerical, Security, Maintenance, IT, Custodial, etc.).
• 10-month Instructional Staff (Teachers, Speech/Language Pathologists) – March 23-27 limited days.  Return to work:  March 23 (8:00-3:00).  Principal will give further directions on Monday.

• 10 and 11-month Support Staff (Paraprofessionals, Interpreters, Job Coaches, Truancy Officers) – March 23-27 limited days.  Return to work:  March 23 (8:00-3:00).  Principal will give further directions on Monday.

• 11-month Support Staff (Clerical) – March 23-27 limited days.  Return to work:  March 23 (8:00-3:00).  Principal will give further directions on Monday.

• School Resource Officer – Hours vary; specific instructions to be provided by your supervisor.

Additionally, we have identified certain areas as mission critical to ensure we are able to provide meals to students at each school, continue the sanitation of our facilities, and support delivery of additional instructional materials to schools.  Currently those areas include:

• Food Service
• Transportation
• Maintenance

Impacted employees in these groups will receive additional instructions from their supervisor.

Please monitor site for updates.

March 1, 2020 kicks off the official start of Women’s History Month! For decades now, March has been the designated time frame used to draw special attention to the remarkable ladies in our country who have made incredible contributions to our society.

Between remembering and appreciating Eleanor Roosevelt’s inspiring career, Maya Angelou’s vision and voice for justice, groundbreaking female pilots like Amelia Earhart, the fearless leaders of the women’s suffrage movement, and thousands of other exceptional examples, we all have much to gain from observing Women’s History Month.

Even today, history continues to be made through the efforts of influential females like Carmen Perez, co-founder of the Women’s March, Brené Brown, research professor, speaker and best-selling author Ava DuVernay, and so many more.

Besides independent reading and researching on your own throughout this period, many museums and community programs will be offering Women’s History Month events and exhibits, so be sure to check out what’s happening.

For more information, please visit https://womenshistorymonth.gov/

First Lady Casey DeSantis Announces 2020 Black History Month Theme and Student Contests

Student essay contest winners will receive a 4-Year Florida College Plan scholarship provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, First Lady Casey DeSantis announced that the theme for Black History Month in February will be “Celebrating Untold Stories and Contributions of African Americans in Florida” and released information regarding the student art and essay contests and Excellence in Education awards.

“Florida has been enriched by the many contributions made by our African American community and we cherish the opportunity to highlight their achievements,” said First Lady Casey DeSantis. “This year, we take special pride in heralding those who have given us much to celebrate in our local communities and should be acknowledged as we honor the legacy of the many through Black History Month.”

First Lady DeSantis is inviting students to participate in academic and creative contests based on theme “Celebrating Untold Stories and Contributions of African Americans in Florida.” Students in grades K-3 can participate in an art contest while students in grades 4-12 can participate in an essay contest. Additionally, students, parents, teachers and principals are invited to nominate full-time educators of all student grades for the Black History Month Excellence in Education Award.

About the Student Art Contest 
First Lady Casey DeSantis’ Black History Month Art Contest is open to all K-3 students in Florida. Each student will submit original, two-dimensional artwork based on this year’s theme. Two winners will be selected.

About the Student Essay Contest
First Lady Casey DeSantis’ Black History Month Essay Contest is open to all 4-12 students in Florida. Each student will submit one essay no longer than 500 words based on this year’s theme. Three winners will be selected: one elementary school student (grades 4-5), one middle school student (grades 6-8) and one high school student (grades 9-12). Each winner will receive a 4-Year Florida College Plan scholarship provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation.

About the Excellence in Education Award 
First Lady Casey DeSantis’ Black History Month Excellence in Education Award Contest is open to all full-time educators in an elementary, middle, or high school in Florida. Three winners will be selected: one elementary school teacher (grades K-5), one middle school teacher (grades 6-8) and one high school teacher (grades 9-12). Nominations may be submitted by a principal, teacher, parent/guardian or student.

Contest Entries and Nominating Forms and Guidelines 
Student contest forms and educator nomination forms must be mailed to Volunteer Florida or submitted online at www.FloridaBlackHistory.com.

Volunteer Florida 
Black History Month Committee 
1545 Raymond Diehl Road, Suite 250 
Tallahassee, Florida 32308

All entries must be received by 5:00 p.m. (ET) on Tuesday, January 21, 2020.

For more information about the contests please visit www.FloridaBlackHistory.com.