RATIONALE FOR HIGH SCHOOL TIMELINE In the guitdance on inpresen learning mepuirements released by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secundary Educatian (DESE) on Match 5, required dates for a full in: peeson retuen were llentified For students in Grades K-5 (April 5, 2022) and Grades 6-8 [Apeil 28, 2021}. Althaugh no dates were identified for tha state's high senoo! phase far Grades 9-12, itis worrkome that a date may he announced by DESE with as litte os twee weeks of lead time between announcement anel required implementation High shoot phase (Grades 9-12}: Wo wai! anacunce the dosails and timing af the high schoot phase nf the plan in April, Districts will be pravided with at Jeast two weeks advance notice of the specific date requirement for high schoo! studerts tad shaukd stare making such plans ow: fp 5) Given the complesities associated with a reture te full in-person learning. at the hgh schol, it is ey recommendation that the Committee identifies a date new inorder to provide more time ta prepare this transitian for staff, students, and tteir families, Furthermore, itis my recommendation that this date be set as Manday, April 26, 2021. The tatiana tar this date tas follows: + Itprovides & four meek window between the identibeation of a ate for retun at BMHS andl its an middle stow transitions 4) Thisallows fer a phosed-inapprooch to implementation of the full in-person model at the different rade levels, with 10 days between elementary school and middle school implementation, and 11 days between midille school and high scheal implementation ‘+ Students and staff will start the neve model immediately following the April vacation week, so the vacation can be used as a natural break te create a clean start” +The Lest ediinistretion svindaw for Advanced Placement [AP) exarins starts May 3, and it would have w impact on students to transition during the time that AP exams are bei given The district does nnt need to file.» waiver for Grade 8, as students will return to fulln person schoo! before the DESE-required date of April #8, 2021 to full in-person sehaot ith the time frame applied to the elementary Getrimental STUDENTS MOVING FROM LL REMOTE IN-PERSON OF FROM HYBRID TO FULL REMOTE Ac wrote in my mema to the Committee for the March 18 meeting: Far high school, the camploviries of scheduling — particularly for eloctive ar singleton efasses — make the transition for studeens changing their learning madels significantly snore diffiealt. fm particular, there may be certain classes that may be offered iaperson that are not offered in full remote, and students ‘and their famifies should be aware of those tradeoffs when contemplating any decisions to chamge learning models. Ta support students and Lamilies that are considering a switel in learning models, the Sehaal Counseling, Department at BMHS is generating a list that campares available courses in each madel and will be distributing that to families. in addition to the availability of courses, students and families contemplating switching, models should also cansider the potential imgact on grades, course credits, transcrints, and grariuation requirernents Because there are sa many wardables that fanailies must take isto account when considering a moxie! switch, and because these variables will impact different etudents’ academic goal differently, we will be requiring any student/family that ic considering a madel switch ta have a conversation with their schol caunselar about the impact of that decision. This way, students and families can have their questions answered clearly and irectly, speaking about the impactof any changes for the student-on their individual bevel