Calcasieu Parish School Board COVID-19 Return to School Plan for 2020 – 2021 School Year

Published July 8, 2020
Updated July 20, 2020

Information about the plan for public schools in Calcasieu Parish returning for the 2020 – 2021 school year during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Note: In a July 20, 2020 update from the Calcasieu Parish School board, the following sections of the Return to Shcool Plan for the 2020 – 2021 School Year were changed:

• The start date of school.
• Details about the primary (in-person schooling) option and online option.
• Phases 2 and 3.

Details about the changes can be found in the sections below.

The Calcasieu Parish School Board has released a COVID-19 return to school plan for the 2020 – 2021 school year. In the plan, they outline an in-school option and a virtual option that will be available to all students.

The 2020 – 20201 school year in Calcasieu Parish will now begin on August 24 rather than the previously scheduled August 14.

The two options are:

• Primary Option: Students in Pre-Kindergarten through the 6th-grade return to school
  according to a revised calendar with established face-to-face guidelines on
  masks, social distancing, sanitation, and transportation, which are outlined.
  Students in 7th-12th grade will be placed on an alternating day (blue/gold)
  schedule and only report in a face-to-face setting two days a week. There are
  no more additional registration documents required for this option other than
  those required by policy in a regular school year.
• Secondary Option: 100% Virtual (online) Program with a device provided by
  CPSB, specific teacher assigned, and grades/attendance monitored. A
  separate registration is required for this option and a link is in the document
  for Calcasieu Parish School Board Connected Classrooms.
• Registration for CPSB Connected Classrooms on July 24.
• Follow this link to view more information about the Calcasieu Parish School Board Connected Classrooms online option (Opens in new tab).

There will be a two-week grace period ending September 4, 2020. Following the two-week grace period, students must be
committed to the selected option for a full semester.

Operations were also outlined based on which COVID-19 reopening phase the state is in.

Phase Operations:

Phase 1
• School operations are limited to virtual learning only.
• Facilities are closed to the public.
• All Calcasieu Parish School Board employees are classified as essential
and may be required to report to their assigned locations.

If the governor’s office declares that we must enter Phase 1, the school system will provide virtual learning opportunities for all students. This will be done using Blackboard, Oddyseyware, and/or virtual learning environments. Students would continue to have access to high-quality instruction and would be required to log in regularly, submit graded assignments, and complete tests. For qualifying students, devices will be available. Outdoor WiFi access is available at these CPSB locations, with all remaining campuses to be added by August 14. Students without internet access at home should contact their school to find out what other WiFi options are available. Internet may also be available via CPSB Smart Buses at announced locations, pending availability.

Phase 2
• Schools will open for all Pre-K-6 students Monday through Friday, and 7-12
students on a staggered schedule implementing recommendations
and using data from LDOE, CDC, the Governor’s office, and
applicable local and state agencies to the maximum extent possible.
• School operations will resume with restrictions and/or guidelines.
• A virtual option will be available to families who do not wish for their
student(s) to attend school face-to-face.

Using the Phase 2 LDOE guidelines, schools will reopen for all students in Pre-K through 6th grade Monday – Friday. In this phase, class sizes will be limited to static groups. Students in 7th-12th grade will be placed on an alternating day (blue/gold) schedule and only report face-to-face setting two days a week. Students will receive school work to complete, most likely virtually, on days they do not report to campus.

• Students with last names beginning with letters A-K will attend Mondays and
Wednesdays (Blue Days).
• Students with last names beginning with letters L-Z will attend on Tuesdays and
Thursdays (Gold Days).

Arrangements will be made to ensure students in the same household are placed on the same schedule, even if those students have different last names. Depending on IEP accommodations, some of our Special Education students will report to campus for face-to-face instruction Monday through Friday. Each school will be modifying their practices to include daily temperature checks, masks for all students in grades 3 and above, amended cafeteria operations, and additional enhanced safety protocol. A virtual option will be available to families who do not wish for their student(s) to attend school face-to-face. For qualifying students, devices will be available. Outdoor WiFi access is available at these CPSB locations, with all remaining campuses to be added by August 14. Students without internet access at home should contact their school to find out what other WiFi options are available. Internet may also be available via CPSB Smart Buses at announced locations, pending availability.

Phase 3
• Schools will open for all Pre-K-6 students Monday through Friday, and 7-12
students on a staggered schedule implementing recommendations
and using data from LDOE, CDC, the Governor’s office, and
applicable local and state agencies to the maximum extent possible.
• School operations will resume with restrictions and/or guidelines.
• A virtual option will be available to families who do not wish for their
student(s) to attend school face-to-face.

Phase 3 will be handled in the same manner as Phase 2.

Follow this link to view the full Calcasieu Parish School Board COVID-19 return to school plan for the 2020 – 2021 school year. (Opens in new tab.)

Follow this link to view the 2020 – 2021 Calcasieu Parish School Year Calendar, Important Dates, and School Supplies Lists

Information in the article was provided by CPSB.