Dear AUSD Community,
Last night, the Board of Education voted to increase in-person instructional hours in the instructional program for elementary grades and voted on changes to the hybrid programs for Albany Middle School and Albany High School.
TK/K—More Hours Soon
Our youngest learners, Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten hybrid students will begin an extended program on March 29, very similar to the pre-COVID AM/PM schedule.
TK/K Extended Daily Schedule
AM cohort: 8:30 am–11:30 am
PM cohort: 12:30 pm–3:30 pm
1st-5th Grade Plan Greatly Expanded
1st-5th graders returning to campus for in-person instruction will now be offered a modified full-day, five-days-a-week schedule. This plan more than doubles the amount of in-person instructional minutes over the previously approved hybrid schedule. This new schedule, described below, will be the same for students choosing to remain in remote learning.
Staggered Start and End Times for Grades 1-5
Grade 1: 9:15 am - 1:30 pm
Grade 2: 9:00 am - 1:15 pm
Grade 3: 8:45 am - 1:00 pm
Grade 4: 8:30 am - 12:45 pm
Grade 5: 8:30 am - 12:45 pm
The schedule for launching the elementary return to campus is as follows:
March 18-19: All 1st-3rd grade students will have their regular synchronous remote instruction. These days were previously listed as Transition Days (asynchronous instruction). The current schedule with full remote learning will be maintained for 1st-5th grade through March 24.
March 25-26: Transition Days, asynchronous instruction for all TK/K-5th grade students.
March 29: Start date for TK/K-5th grade Modified Full Day Instruction.
New Intent to Return Option Coming Soon
By the end of this week, parents/guardians of elementary students will be given an opportunity to change their hybrid/remote program choice through a new Intent to Return form. We are confident that most elementary teacher assignments will remain the same, but we are also aware that some reassignments will undoubtedly be necessary, depending on the number of students who remain in remote learning or choose to return in person.
AMS Hybrid Reopening Plan Is Being Redeveloped
The Board approved a new plan to be developed that ensures all AMS students selecting the hybrid option will have in-person instruction four days a week. The launch date for the new plan for 6th–8th graders is April 5, and Transition Days (with asynchronous instruction only) are March 18, 19, and 26. More details will be communicated soon.
New Start Date for AHS/MacGregor Hybrid Program
The Board supported maintaining the current hybrid plan for Albany and MacGregor High Schools, given the numerous difficulties of maintaining limited stable groups while trying to increase in-person instruction. A large student survey conducted by the student board members demonstrated strong student support for the previously approved hybrid plan, called the Academy Program, which would provide more synchronous instructional minutes than a revised hybrid plan; and would also maintain the current teachers for every class, an issue of great concern. The in-person afternoon Academy Program start date was changed to April 19, which corresponds to the beginning of the final fourth quarter of this school year. This changes high school Transition Days, which were March 31 through April 2. Regular instruction will now take place on those days. The Transition Days are now April 7, 8, and 9. Students have asynchronous instruction only on Transition Days.
Full Reopening for the Upcoming School Year
As I have stated previously, Albany Unified School District is looking forward to opening the 2021-2022 school year with full in-person instruction. The District’s plans for actualizing this commitment is the topic of an upcoming presentation at an April Board of Education meeting.
I understand that many questions remain. This update has focused on the many changes to the in-person instructional option, which I believe needed to be communicated immediately. Please understand that you are receiving information as soon as it becomes available.
Stay hopeful and encouraged,
Dr. Frank Wells
Superintendent of Schools
Albany Unified School District