Waco Reporter

Belton Independent School District issued the following announcement.

Belton ISD strives to live out our values of clarity, kindness, and unity in purpose. To demonstrate these values, we want to clarify student expectations in an effort to strengthen our partnership with families and students after the Thanksgiving break. As a family, please refresh your understanding of the attendance and engagement expectations below that align with your student's selected learning environment. You can read the district's full COVID-19 Response Plan at www.bisd.net/responseplan.

AT-SCHOOL LEARNING

Attendance Requirements

• At-School learners must be at school to be counted present.
• When At-School learners are absent, documentation such as a note from a parent or doctor is required to determine if the absence is excused.
• If a student has been excluded from attending school in person by the school nurse or other campus administrator for COVID-19-related reasons, the student will shift into remote learning and attendance will be determined based on daily engagement and/or contact with the teacher.
• If a building is temporarily closed for COVID-19 reasons, all students will shift into remote learning and attendance will be determined based on daily engagement and/or contact with the teacher.
• A COVID-19 exclusion authorized by the school nurse or other campus administrator or a temporary building closure for COVID-19 reasons are the ONLY ways an At-School student can be counted “present” as a remote learner and only if he or she meets the daily engagement and/or contact with the teacher requirements.
• Being an At-School or At-Home learner is not a daily choice. Families should coordinate with campus staff to consider changes between learning environments.

Example: At-School learners will not be counted ‘present’ if they miss school but complete remote work while on a family vacation. 

Example: At-School learners will not be counted ‘present’ if they miss school because they didn’t feel like attending, even if they complete remote work for the day.

Engagement Expectations

• At-School learners who are present at school are expected to engage in the daily learning activities. This includes following the assigned daily schedule and actively collaborating with teachers and peers.

Grading Information

• At-School and At-Home learners must earn their grades by actively participating in learning, completing assignments and demonstrating mastery of curriculum. 
• For secondary students to earn credit in a course, they must receive a grade of at least 70. 
• Students will only be promoted to the next grade by meeting attendance requirements and demonstrating proficiency in the course or current grade level.
• Belton ISD will not implement a district-wide pass/fail grading system this year. 

AT-HOME LEARNING

Attendance Requirements

• To be counted present for the day, At-Home learners must meet each teacher’s daily engagement expectations. This could include engaging in learning activities either during scheduled class time, through a learning management system or in an alternative manner approved by the teacher.
• When At-Home learners are “absent,” documentation such as a note from a parent or doctor is required to determine if the absence is excused.
• Being an At-School or At-Home learner is not a daily choice. Families should coordinate with campus staff to consider changes between learning environments.

Engagement Expectations

• At-Home learners are expected to engage daily in learning activities. This includes following the assigned daily schedule and collaborating with teachers and peers during synchronous and asynchronous assignments.
• Secondary students are expected to log in daily to Schoology/Canvas and follow the agenda of activities for classes that meet on that day. It is recommended that students log in at the start of school and follow their classes at the same time schedule as At-School learners. 

Example: When At-Home students are engaged in Zoom meetings with their class, students should have their videos on.

Grading Information

• At-School and At-Home learners must earn their grades by actively participating in learning, completing assignments and demonstrating mastery of curriculum. 
• For secondary students to earn credit in a course, they must receive a grade of at least 70. 
• Students will only be promoted to the next grade by meeting attendance requirements and demonstrating proficiency in the course or current grade level.
• Belton ISD will not implement a district-wide pass/fail grading system this year. 

Students should be consistently engaged in the learning environment that is best for their personal circumstances. It is not a daily choice to move between learning environments. Families are encouraged to be in close communication with campus staff if unique circumstances requiring a change arise during the school year to ensure they receive the best support possible. 

Original source can be found here.