May 14, 2020

Dear Superintendents and School Leaders,

Rhode Island LEAs have been incredibly creative in providing distance learning through the COVID19
crisis. Students, parents, school leaders, teachers and related service providers have made all
reasonable attempts to meet the needs of all students to sustain learning. This will continue into the
Extended School Year (ESY) program for student who receive special education services. As LEAs
consider ESY services and the resumption of activity guided by the Governor’s the Reopening Rhode
Island: Charting the Course state plan; we will again tap the innovation of our educators to provide
hybrid approaches through distance learning and in person supports while following all health and
safety protocols to continue instruction for our students.

RIDE is requesting that each LEA complete the enclosed ESY Planning form and return it to RIDE by May
28, 2020 at 4:00PM for RIDE feedback. Clearly the public health situation is changing daily and
anticipating the level of direct in person services for students may be difficult to project, but having
articulated plans available to RIDE and families in each community will assist all in understanding and
plan should conditions continue to improve.

As the state approaches Phase II of the Governor’s Reopening Rhode Island plan, some ideas for LEAs
to consider in ESY may include combinations of distance learning and in person scheduled
appointments exercising appropriate social distancing, cleaning and safety protocols such as:

 Individualized instruction in carefully controlled school facilities.

 Provision of one on one instruction or therapies in carefully controlled school facilities such as
speech therapy, occupational therapy and the like.
 Community based instructional activities in the areas of pre-employment skills, career
exploration, job shadowing and other career development activities.
 Practice of functional life skills in community based settings.
 Community based exploratory learning activities.
As LEAs work on their ESY plans, the sharing of innovative approaches across districts is encouraged.
Collective problem solving has historically been a hallmark of Rhode Island educators. Sharing of
innovative approaches will enhance the learning experience for all students. We encourage you to
engage the teachers who know the students traditionally served in the LEAs ESY program; they may

Telephone (401)222-4600 Fax (401)222-6178 TTY (800)745-5555 Voice (800)745-6575 Website: www.ride.ri.gov
The R.I. Board of Education does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, race, color, religion, national
origin, or disability.
have great ideas for how to provide well structured, in-person, safe learning experiences for the
students in the ESY program.

Please complete and return the enclosed plan to info@ride.ri.gov by May 28, 2020 at 4:00PM. If your
plan is ready sooner, please feel free to submit early.

Thank you for your continued efforts to support our students.

Ana Riley
Deputy Commissioner, Instructional Programs

Telephone (401)222-4600 Fax (401)222-6178 TTY (800)745-5555 Voice (800)745-6575 Website: www.ride.ri.gov
The R.I. Board of Education does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, race, color, religion, national
origin, or disability.