OSPI Mandates Continuing Education During School Closure

The Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction has released new guidelines for school districts mandating that they continue learning and instruction during the school closure.

The Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction has released new guidelines regarding school districts getting back into instruction and learning.

State Superintendent Chris Reykdal says they've been working through this unprecedented situation, starting with health and food, and now moving to family engagement with a plan for continuous learning.

"There needs to be some engagement on Monday [March 30th] and it can be as little as engaging families on the plan if district haven't quite built one, but the expectation is that Monday they are beginning to ramp up learning. It will not look like a switch from our regular day to online in most places. It can be packets still. We have districts delivering homework packets and receiving them back through their bus routes as they deliver food supplies."

Reykdal says they will also not be changing the state requirements for high school graduation, but that some districts have additional requirements that could be flexible.

Each district, Reykdal says, will get to determine their approach.

"A lot can be done, it just won't be what we're used to and it won't be 5 1/2 hours online in most places. We don't have the technology for that necessarily. And 5 1/2 hours a day in front of a computer for a kindergartner or first grader is really not appropriate, so each district will design what those essential learning standards will look like for their community."

That could include topics such as physical fitness, but will focus on the academic topics like Math, Science, Social Studies and English.

Reykdal also noted that they are planning ahead in case the remainder of the school year has to be do through some version of online version that are consistent across the state.

You can find the full list of expectations at OSPI's website, k12.wa.us.