SALT LAKE CITY — There will be no standardized testing the rest of the school year and the state rule that says Utah public schools must provide a minimum of 180 days and 990 hours of instruction was waived Thursday by the State School Board.
In all, the board waived 10 rules to help lighten the load of districts and public charter schools as they observe soft closures of schools that public health officials say will help reduce the spread of COVID-19 or novel coronavirus.
It also voted to continue to distribute state funding to districts and schools and other entities that receive funding directly from the Utah State Board of Education through June 30.
Most of the waivers addressed deadlines — between April and May — for schools to report to state education officials on issues such as the requirement that school and charter boards adopt school fee schedules and fee policies by April 1, or the deadline for submitting plans how they will spend school trust lands funds.
However, the waivers come with three conditions: that schools follow the orders of state and local health officials; that each school implement a “school closure continuity of education plan,” and that districts and charter schools promptly communicate with students and parents regarding the suspension and reconvening of school services, including meal services. Those messages should be in languages spoken by families in the school community.
Only one of the waivers stirred debate, setting aside a requirement that schools record and submit all student busing costs, including miles and minutes, for reimbursements.
If actual miles and time driven aren’t used to reimburse costs, some board members questioned how the board would base its disbursements to schools.
“I’d be more comfortable reimbursing actuals,” said board member Scott Hansen.
Board Chairman Mark Huntsman said the rationale behind the waiver is to ensure schools know revenue will continue to flow and they can take care of business. While schools aren’t transporting students, some are driving buses wired with hot spots to central locations to provide internet access to students who otherwise do not have it.
“Without the waiver of these rules, it puts them into (a position) without the flexibility of trying to manage the LEA (local education agency) that is in crisis mode,” Huntsman said.
The board met via video conference Thursday to comply with the latest social distancing recommendation that no group larger than 10 congregate. The state board has 15 members. Huntsman said the board will likely meet every two weeks to address pressing needs resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and impacts on schools.
In a press release, Huntsman said the waivers attempt to strike a balance between the board’s oversight responsibilities and “common sense flexibility” that schools need to support educators and families.
“This is likely just the beginning. We’ll continue actively monitoring and responding to this situation as it evolves,” he said.
In addition to suspending the requirement for RISE testing in grades 3-8 and Utah Aspire Plus for students in grades 9-10, the board directed Superintendent of Public Instruction Sydnee Dickson to pursue all necessary waivers from applicable federal and state laws on accountability.
“The prospect of schools being held accountable to administer required assessments and impacted by the resulting accountability determinations is an unnecessary distraction to the challenges of maintaining a continuity of instructional service, minimizing trauma and stress, and striving to meet the needs of each student,” said Assistant Superintendent of Student Learning Darin Nielsen in a news release.
Utah has joined more than 35 other states in seeking flexibility from federal laws requiring administration of statewide assessments.
In her report to the board, Dickson said Wednesday’s 5.7 magnitude earthquake, in the midst of school closures necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, “put safety in a whole new light.”
However, schools worked swiftly to assess damage and report their findings to state officials, she said.
“They all reported in through a text thread with me, we were able to assess where food service stopped, what had been handed out, so we had a lot of information coming in very quickly,” Dickson said.
Regarding academic instruction, Dickson said she is “so incredibly proud of our educators.”
The “e-learning is really going well. The LEAs (local education agencies) have been checking on Wi-Fi. They dropped off computers ... if families can’t get to the school to pick up devices. The tech community is going to try to provide free Wi-Fi, suspending fees, all sorts of things to make sure that people in remote and rural places can get access,” she said.
Some schools that were well prepared to meet students’ needs online and do not provide meal service have closed their doors, Dickson said
“You might recall that early on, we instructed schools to keep some teachers in the building and try to try to support students who may come in to need services,” she said. After the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation discouraging gathering of 10 people or more, “we’ve pared that way down and some schools have just closed their doors if they’re able to go fully online,” and students can also keep in contact by phone, she said.
“So we’re really trying to encourage our schools to just remain empty of adults as much as possible,” she said. However, schools continue to work hard to provide meals to students during the dismissal.
Dickson said she has received reports that teachers have four weeks of lesson plans in place, “and they’ll just keep moving forward.”
Otherwise, Utah schools are going the extra mile to support families, she said.
One Title I school brought in its teachers, para-educators and others over the weekend to call all 700 of its families “to talk to the parents, including in Spanish, to let them know the way forward,” Dickson said.
She also shared a message between a third-grade teacher and her students:
“I know that something like this and all the news around it can be scary but you’re safe. All of the things that are happening are simply precautions to keep us healthy and safe. I’m sad that we won’t be meeting together for a while but I want you to know that I’m here for you every step of the way. I love each of you kids so much and I believe in you. If you have any questions about anything, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can call me. You can text me. You can email and I will help you. This is a great opportunity for us to learn and grow together. I miss you already. Be brave, work hard, stay positive and we’ll be back before you know it.”