The District is exploring the state’s waiver process, which allows for elementary students to return to in-person instruction independent of the state’s color-coded reopening system, and as allowed by the California Department of Public Health’s guidelines. This process is under discussion in many south county school districts. IUSD will provide an update to elementary families, as more information is available. Please note that this waiver update does not change the information above and is only applicable to elementary schools.

In addition to the resources above, if you have questions related to your school or your student’s academic model, please contact your school directly.

As schools continue to prepare their campuses and classrooms to welcome students back, principals will provide details of their planning so families are aware of their school’s safety procedures and protocols and know what to expect upon their return. In the meantime, please take a moment to view the District’s Opening and Safety Planning page, the COVID-19 resource webpage and our FAQ , as they contain rich and relevant information regarding our District’s plans and the reopening of schools.

IUSD would like to extend a special thank you to the Irvine Teachers Association, the California School Employee Association, and our dedicated teachers, staff and leadership team for pivoting quickly to make this adjustment. Their ongoing planning and efforts will make a positive difference for our students as they transition back to campus.

Please note that October 12 and February 12 will be restored as instructional days. IUSD calendars online will be updated to reflect these changes.

The transition schedule for back to school in-person instruction will be as follows:

In addition to planning throughout the summer, IUSD administrators, principals, teachers and staff continue to diligently work around the clock to implement IUSD opening and safety plans and to prepare for the transition to in-person instruction. To support these efforts, the District has moved two staff development days from October 12 and February 12 to take place on September 21 and 22, which will now be non-student days for all IUSD students.

Students enrolled in the academic models listed below will begin in-person learning, at their neighborhood or assigned schools, between September 24-25. Each academic model and cohorts within the models have varying schedules. As a result, students will start on one of these dates. Your school will contact families directly with more information and your student’s return date.

As expected, earlier this week , the California Department of Public Health announced that Orange County has successfully moved from the “purple tier” to the less restrictive “red tier” of the state’s color-coded system for tracking COVID-19 progress by county. Assuming the county’s data continues trending in a positive direction for 14 consecutive days, IUSD schools will reopen for in-person instruction, for those who selected an in-person academic model, September 24-25.

Since the onset of this pandemic, we have been operating in an ever-changing landscape in which guidelines and timelines evolve. Our District will continue to work with the California Department of Public Health, the Orange County Healthcare Agency and the Orange County Department of Education as we work toward a smooth transition to in-person instruction.

In the meantime, IUSD will monitor the data, while continuing our opening and safety planning to welcome students back to campus. In addition to keeping our community informed, the District also posts updates in the Latest News section on our COVID-19 resource page . For detailed information about the District’s safety planning, visit our Opening and Safety Planning webpage .

The District will provide a detailed update, with IUSD’s start date for in-person instruction for students who selected an in-person academic model, when more information is available. As a reminder, IVA students will remain 100% online. Click here to read more about Orange County’s status and the new state framework as it relates to schools.

On August 28, Governor Newsom and the California Department of Public Health launched a new four-tiered system to track COVID-19 progress by county . IUSD leadership worked throughout the weekend with the Orange County Health Care Agency and the Orange County Department of Education to clarify the impact of this new framework on IUSD. Last night, the Orange County Health Care Agency announced that although county coronavirus rates continue to drop, the California Department of Public Health has moved the September 8 start date so that OC schools could be in a position to reopen for in-person instruction starting September 22, as long as the downward trend in coronavirus rates continues or remains stable.

Thank you and we look forward to the prospect of safely opening our schools for in-person instruction. Please visit IUSD’s COVID-19 webpage for ongoing updates, the Opening and Planning FAQ , information about Chromebooks and school meals, resources and more. Also, take a moment to review the Opening and Safety Planning Guide for families and staff. These resources, along with communications from your schools and information on their websites, will provide you with a wide range of helpful information.

IUSD will continue to monitor the data for our County, consult with health officials from the California Department of Public Health and the OC Health Care Agency, and collaborate with the Orange County Department of Education, including all Orange County school districts. Schools and staff will use this time to prepare for the transition from online to in-person instruction. The IUSD Opening and Safety Planning Guide and your schools are available to answer your questions about academic models and opening and safety planning information specific to your school site. Please also check your email regularly for updates.

Depending on space available, students and families may change academic models at the trimester for elementary and the semester for middle and high schools. If your family’s circumstances have changed, your neighborhood/assigned school will work with families to support the continued education of your student. Please contact your school directly.

Over the summer, even after IUSD learned that our District, along with all OC school districts, would be starting the year online for all students, IUSD asked families to continue the academic model selection process. By moving forward with this planning, IUSD was able to allocate resources and assign staffing for each academic model , so that when health conditions improved in Orange County, our District would be able to pivot quickly and re-open our schools to students, whose families selected in-person options. As a result, classes and teachers will transition to in-person learning together after the 14-day period.

As part of this plan, IUSD has procured the following personal protective equipment and supplies for students and staff for the start of in-person instruction:

California Senate Bill 98 (SB 98), signed into law in late June, requires school districts to offer in-person instruction to the greatest extent possible, once local conditions are deemed safe. In anticipation of being off the state’s monitoring list and meeting the requirements of SB 98, IUSD developed the Opening and Safety Planning Guide . Aligned to the California Department of Public Health and the OC Health Care Agency guidelines for schools, the plan is designed to mitigate and reduce the risk of in-person learning, so that we can safely welcome students back to our classrooms and campuses. The guide includes the following information:

While we remain optimistic that our District will be able to open for in-person instruction, IUSD will continue to closely watch the data from the California Department of Public Health and the Orange County Health Care Agency and provide updates to our staff and families, including any confirmed start date for in-person learning. In the meantime, we wanted to provide you with a detailed update of our plans, so you know what to expect. Thank you in advance for carefully reviewing this information.

Sunday, August 23, marked the first day Orange County was removed from the California Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 monitoring list , putting OC school districts, including IUSD, on a path to offer in-person instruction, for those families who selected hybrid or traditional academic models. In order for schools to begin in-person instruction, the County must meet the established threshold for Case Rates (less than 100 per 100,000 people) and Testing Positivity (less than 8%) for 14 consecutive days. If numbers continue the current downward trend or remain stable, in-person academic models will begin in IUSD schools following Labor Day weekend.

I hope you have enjoyed time with family and had a relaxing summer. We look forward to the new school year and greatly appreciate your partnership.

IUSD has developed a number of resources to help keep our community informed.

Also, families have ongoing access to Optimistic Household, the six-part series with interactive modules designed only for IUSD to foster learning and social emotional wellbeing at the highest levels for our students. Visit iusd.org/OptimisticHousehold for more information.

In addition to coping with this protracted pandemic and the impacts on our daily lives, students are starting the school year in a way they never have before, which can result in stress and anxiety. For these reasons, our teacher and staff trainings include strategies to help identify and support students who may be facing challenges or a myriad of emotions. To learn more about IUSD’s investments in mental health and wellness resources and supports for students, visit our Speak Up We Care website. If your child needs support, please do not hesitate to reach out to staff at your school.

I could not be more proud of our teachers and staff and would like to thank them for their hard work, enthusiasm and most importantly their care and commitment to our students.

This incredible team of professionals are acutely focused on providing the highest quality educational experience we can envision, while working to address each student’s social, emotional and academic needs. Now more than ever, it is essential to foster an educational environment that supports students, helping them to develop the necessary skills to become independent and successful learners and engaged citizens, who are able to meet challenges with grit and resiliency.

Although our teachers and staff are not officially back from summer break, they are working diligently to prepare for the new school year. This includes virtual professional development trainings, live webinars on a variety of teaching and learning topics, and on demand resources and supports, all of which have been developed and taught by IUSD staff.

Click here to read more about the new California Department of Public Health guidelines and click here to read the CIF 2020-21 sports calendar media statement.

Youth sports will resume once school starts on August 20 and will follow state guidelines, including physical distancing of six feet and skill, agility and conditioning activities only with no contact. Coaches and schools will provide more information after the start of school.

IUSD will continue to monitor this situation and work with the Orange County Health Care Agency and the Orange County Department of Education to clarify the requirements of the waiver application process.

The California Department of Public Health recently released new guidelines for youth sports and the criteria for school districts to apply for an elementary waiver to reopen for in-person instruction for grades TK-6 only. However, due to technical issues with the state’s data system, the Orange County Health Care Agency has informed OC school districts that it will pause consultations between the County Health Officer and California Department of Public Health until the electronic lab reporting system is resolved. Read County Superintendent Al Mijares’ statement here .

* The California Department of Public Health recently announced that the state’s data system has experienced technical issues and they are in the process of recalculating this information.

IUSD will continue to closely monitor the conditions in our county and provide updates to our community, as they are available.

As a reminder, Orange County remains on the state COVID-19 monitoring list , which means OC school districts, including IUSD, are currently not permitted to allow students on campus for in-person instruction . In order for schools to return to in-person instruction, daily case counts in Orange County must meet the following state criteria for 14 consecutive days*

Below is important information about our efforts to prepare for the new school year. I would also like to take this opportunity to share a brief video message with our students, staff and families, which can be viewed by clicking here .

On behalf of IUSD leadership, we are excited to welcome our new and returning students to the 2020-21 school year, which starts on August 20 with online learning for all IUSD students. While the start of this year is unlike any other, IUSD’s dedicated and talented teachers and staff are committed to academic excellence and supporting our students and families as we continue to navigate this ever-changing landscape together.

IUSD will continue to monitor conditions in our county and work with expert agencies and officials. As we have new or updated information, we will keep our community informed.

To view a flowchart, which visually highlights the difference between starting school in the IUSD Virtual Academy (IVA) versus in-person options, teacher assignments and information about keeping students together from the same schools and grade levels, click here . Students will retain priority at their neighborhood/assigned school, regardless of the model selected. Also, see IUSD’s FAQ our COVID-19 resource webpage and our 2020-21 Opening and Safety Planning webpage , all of which are updated regularly.

Those who wish to change their original selection should contact their school directly.

If you would like to view your family's academic model selection for your student(s), login to the Parent Portal and follow the directions provided in this guide . Schools will reach out to families, who did not complete the selection form, in the next few days to confirm your preference. As a reminder, if an academic model was not selected, students in elementary will be enrolled in the traditional model and students in middle and high school will be enrolled in the hybrid model.

The 2020-21 Academic Model Selection Form closed yesterday, July 22 at 5 p.m. Thank you for making your selection, which will enable schools to begin scheduling for the fall, including allocation of staff and resources to meet the needs of our students and families.

We understand that this is a time of great uncertainty and the stress a decision such as this may cause some families. Please know that we are here to work with you and we remain committed to providing our students with the highest quality educational experience we can envision. For questions related to your school, please contact your school directly and to submit additional questions to the District, please visit our FAQ online submission form .

Please take a moment to review these resources, which provide a vast array of information that may be helpful to your family’s selection process and in preparing for the start of the new school year.

The California Department of Public Health’s guidelines for California schools , on which the Orange County Department of Education has based its guidelines for OC schools , have been updated to reflect the Governor’s new mandates.

IUSD’s FAQ has been updated with additional questions we have received from our families. Click here to access the FAQ and please continue to visit our COVID-19 resource webpage and our 2020-21 Opening and Safety Planning webpage, which we continue to update.

To view the above flowchart online or to download it, click here .

As the academic model selection deadline approaches, we know that some of our families have questions about the difference between starting school in the IUSD Virtual Academy (IVA) versus the in-person option. We have also received questions about teacher assignments and keeping students together from the same schools and grade levels. Below is a flowchart, which includes the following:

Per the Governor’s order , issued last Friday, OC schools cannot physically re-open for in-person instruction until our county is off the state’s list for 14 consecutive days. Unless conditions change, IUSD will begin the 2020-21 school year with online instruction on August 20.

To make your selection, login into the Parent Portal and follow the instructions. Please note, if a model is not selected, students in elementary will be enrolled in the traditional model and students in middle and high school will be enrolled in the hybrid model.

This is a friendly reminder to select the preferred academic model of your choice by Wednesday, July 22 at 5 p.m. Your selection will enable IUSD to allocate resources and staffing for each academic model . Additionally, when health conditions change and Orange County is removed from California’s COVID-19 watch list , IUSD will be able to pivot quickly and re-open our classrooms and campuses to students, whose families selected in-person options. Absent this process, IUSD would have to disband existing classes and establish new classes with different teachers and students upon return to in-person learning.

IUSD will send a follow up communication early next week, including additional resources to support our staff and families. Thank you for your understanding and partnership.

While we realize that the COVID-19 pandemic has generated uncertainty and fear, and our families and staff have had to adjust and make so many sacrifices, know that we remain committed to providing educational equity and excellence. Our schools will work closely with our families to ensure that our students receive the support that they need, and we will do everything in our power to deliver on our promise to create the highest quality educational experience we can envision.

As you consider your choices for this fall, please understand that, even if we begin the school year in a distance learning format or spend some portion of the year in distance learning, students' experiences will be very different than in the spring of last year. Just as our Virtual Academy will provide rigorous, high quality differentiated instruction, distance learning will also provide tightly structured and standards aligned lessons, with frequent synchronous learning, individualized support, peer to peer collaboration, and an infusion of new learning resources. Our students, regardless of the format, will receive the rich instruction, support, and connection they need.

We understand that the Governor’s announcement may generate additional questions and concerns; therefore, we are extending the deadline for families to select their academic model to Wednesday, July 22 at 5 p.m. Families must select their models by this date to allow our schools sufficient time to align necessary staffing and to build schedules so that we can honor our families’ preferences and implement the Board approved academic models for the 2020-21 school year.

Please keep this temporary distance learning requirement in mind as you select your preferred academic model. A parent must select one of the in-person options if they want their child to participate in on-campus instruction once conditions permit. Students will begin the year in distance learning with the same assigned teachers they will have once in-person instruction is allowed to start.

While the current number of COVID-19 infections preclude in-person instruction at this time, we remain hopeful that the day will come when conditions in Orange County improve enough to be removed from the monitoring list. In anticipation of this day, IUSD will proceed with planning for all approved academic models with the caveat that all in-person models (hybrid, traditional, and blended) may be modified to start the school year in a temporary distance learning mode. Once we are permitted to open for in-person instruction, these affected models will revert to the originally planned design.

For IUSD, this decision does not affect the Virtual Academy but will temporarily affect the following approved 2020-21 in-person academic models:

As we learned earlier today, Governor Newsom announced that all public and private schools located in California counties on the state’s monitoring list for rising coronavirus infections will be required to close for in-person instruction until the counties are off the monitoring list for 14 consecutive days. Because Orange County is currently on this list, all school districts in the county, including IUSD, will be required to start the 2020-21 school year in a distance learning format until conditions improve.

Click here to access the Planning FAQ and the 2020-21 Opening and Safety Planning resource page for a wide range of information that can support your decision-making process.

Click here for more details about IUSD’s academic models for the 2020-21 school year.

The academic models outlined below are aligned with state and local guidelines for schools and designed to meet the interests of our students, staff and families. School principals will provide information with directions for families to make their academic model selection. You will have today, July 15, through Sunday, July 19 to make your selection , please check your email for this important communication.

The Board also voted to require face coverings/masks at all times on IUSD campuses and in classrooms for all staff, students, and visitors. Face coverings/masks may only be removed when maintaining physical distancing of six feet or more and at the direction of a teacher or other staff, or when drinking, eating, or participating in recess/physical activity. Persons with a medical or mental health condition, or disability that prevents wearing a face covering may be exempt per state guidelines. Click here to read more.

IUSD remains committed to the safety, health, and wellbeing of our students, staff and families and to providing educational equity and excellence for our more than 36,000 students. The challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic remind us, each day, of the importance of this collective commitment. To that end, last night, the Board of Education made the critically important decision to approve the academic models for the 2020-21 school year.

Important: academic model selection is needed for each student by July 19. Information and process described here.

The District will notify our community next week when the FAQ is available. Thank you for your partnership and participation throughout this planning process. We look forward to receiving your questions and connecting you with information and resources to aid in your family’s decision-making process.

Click here to view a list of questions submitted by our community and to submit additional questions. If you do not see your question listed, you will have an opportunity to add it through our online submission form. Many families are asking similar questions, so staff is grouping them by topic areas to streamline the FAQ for easy reference.

Our staff continues to work diligently on planning for the 2020-21 school year to meet the diverse needs of our community. A critical component of this process is feedback and input from our families. In addition to IUSD's two recent surveys, staff is developing a comprehensive frequently asked questions (FAQ) resource to help answer the many questions we have received through the Task Force, surveys, direct communications to the District and Board of Education, and on social media.

During the regularly scheduled July 14 Board of Education Meeting, the Board will consider the Task Force recommendations and further details about the proposed academic models and related guidelines for schools. If the current county and state guidelines about masks do not change in the future, the District will consider at a later time whether to adopt more stringent requirements.

Throughout the COVID-19 public health crisis, IUSD has closely monitored the impact of the pandemic, worked with expert agencies and adapted, as necessary, to support the health and wellbeing of our more than 36,000 students and over 4,000 staff, while maintaining our promise to provide academic excellence and equity. This process has centered on student and staff safety, which will remain a priority and will help guide our decisions.

There has been some confusion or misinformation that IUSD has made a decision about masks that is “anti-mask” or “anti-science.” IUSD would like to assure our community that neither assumption is correct. The Board and District leadership will continue to examine the guidelines for Orange County schools, which are evolving, while monitoring health conditions in our county and state before making final decisions. This includes masks and face coverings for both students and staff. Please note, however, in anticipation of the start of the new school year, IUSD has already procured enough cloth coverings and face shields to support free access for all students and staff. In addition, IUSD is working with the California Office of Emergency Services to secure an additional 141,000 cloth and disposable masks for students.

As districts in Orange County continue to prepare for schools to reopen in August, all of these rapidly developing plans are being built in reference to the guidelines issued by the California Department of Public Health, the Orange County Health Care Agency, and the Orange County Department of Education. In Superintendent Walker’s June 25 communication to the IUSD community, the information provided reflected the current guidelines for Orange County schools as set forth by the above agencies. As it relates to the wearing of masks in classrooms by students, the IUSD Board of Education has not formally considered, and therefore has not made a decision, whether the District should go beyond the current state and county guidelines.

Thank you for your understanding and partnership, as we work to support our students and teachers during this unprecedented time.

Please note, we have canceled the July 1 Special Board Meeting and moved the staff presentation of the proposed academic models to our regularly scheduled July 14 Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m. We will also be developing additional resources, including a comprehensive FAQ, to answer the many questions we’ve received and to help families and staff develop a better understanding of each of these options.

Since the onset of COVID-19, IUSD has closely monitored the impact of the pandemic, worked with expert agencies, and adapted, as necessary, to ensure the health and wellbeing of students and staff, while maintaining our promise to provide academic excellence and equity. When year round schools open on August 20, they will benefit from the most recent guidance and have access to the same resources and opportunities as our traditional schools.

Today, we informed our year round families that the Orange County Health Care Agency has not finalized the guidelines required for schools to safely open to students and staff in time for the start of year round schools on July 15. Schools are legally required to attest to their compliance with certain guidelines, which cannot happen while the guidelines themselves are still in flux. In light of this information, and in acknowledging that approximately 70% of our year round families want some form of in-person, on campus instruction, we will be adjusting the start of the year round school calendar to August 20, to coincide with the traditional school calendar for the 2020-21 school year. We have every intention to go back to the year round calendar for the 2021-22 school year.

Thank you for your understanding and partnership, as we work to support our students and teachers during this unprecedented time.

Also, please note that we are now canceling the July 1 Special Board Meeting and moving the staff presentation of the proposed academic models to our regularly scheduled July 14 Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m. We will also be developing additional resources, including a comprehensive FAQ, to answer the many questions we’ve received and to help families and staff develop a better understanding of each of these options.

Please know that we understand this change may be upsetting, disruptive and generate many questions. We are very sympathetic to this reality and our schools will work with families, who may have plans or prior commitments aligned with the year round calendar. In the meantime if you have immediate questions or concerns, please contact your school directly.

Since the onset of COVID-19, IUSD has closely monitored the impact of the pandemic, worked with expert agencies, and adapted, as necessary, to ensure the health and wellbeing of students and staff, while maintaining our promise to provide academic excellence and equity. When year round schools open on August 20, they will benefit from the most recent guidance and have access to the same resources and opportunities as our traditional schools.

To that end, the Orange County Health Care Agency recently informed all Orange County school districts that they have not finalized the guidelines required for schools to safely open to students and staff. Schools are legally required to attest to their compliance with certain guidelines, which cannot happen while the guidelines themselves are still in flux. In light of this information, and in acknowledging that approximately 70% of our year round families want some form of in-person, on campus instruction, we will be adjusting the start of the year round school calendar to August 20, to coincide with the traditional school calendar for the 2020-21 school year, and the opening of all other IUSD schools. We have every intention to go back to the year round calendar for the 2021-22 school year.

On behalf of the IUSD Board of Education and District leadership, I want to thank you for your patience and understanding as staff and the 2020-21 Task Force plan for the new school year. The evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic has presented many challenges to public education and unfortunately, guidance from the local and state agencies continues to shift, including ongoing debates about significant health guidelines. We will continue to monitor these guidelines and make any necessary adjustments.

Thank you in advance for your participation and for your ongoing engagement.

Although our school sites and facilities are closed to the public, our staff continues to serve and support teachers, who are working to deliver high-quality educational experiences despite the significant challenges and limitations of distance learning. For additional resources, including FAQs, information about mental health and wellness, grab and go meals, and other support, please visit iusd.org/COVID19 .

The Emergency Distance Learning survey is open through Friday, April 24. All survey responses are anonymous and will be kept confidential – your candid feedback is appreciated.

IUSD remains committed to continuity of learning that will support students as they work toward mastery of essential standards and demonstrate sufficient understanding of core content that will help prepare them for a successful transition to the next level. Feedback from our students and families is critical in achieving these important goals. Please take a moment to complete ’s brief Emergency Distance Learning survey , which will help teachers and staff reflect, adapt and continually improve distance learning for both students and families.

It has been just over one month since IUSD began Emergency Distance Learning in response to the COVID-19 public health crisis. During this unprecedented time, our teachers, staff and principals, with support from District staff, have been working diligently to provide distance learning to our TK-12 students.

Please continue to visit iusd.org/COVID19 for updates, information and resources. For all COVID-19 communications from Superintendent Walker, click here .

This is the first time IUSD or any California school district has heard about this possibility. Thank you for your patience as we work to better understand what it means.

In the meantime, IUSD will work with state and local agencies and health experts to understand what this possibility may mean for our district and students. Please know that IUSD’s decision making process will be based on expert health guidelines to ensure the safety of our students and staff.

Update April 28: IUSD is aware of comments made by Governor Newsom during a press briefing this afternoon. With “cautious optimism,” the Governor discussed the possibility of schools reopening for the 2020-21 school year starting this summer. Additional guidance for schools will be coming from the Governor’s office in the following days. As we have more information, we will provide updates to our community.

Update April 29: Today, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond issued a statement about his intent to explore the possibility of California schools starting earlier with state and national leaders. Click here to read his full statement.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we work together to navigate this complex situation, while taking into account the many diverse perspectives and needs of our community.

In the meantime, please visit iusd.org/COVID19 for an FAQ, resources and information.

Safety is our Top Priority Please know that the health, safety and wellbeing of our students, staff and families is our top priority. Any IUSD decisions will be made through this lens.

Fiscal Considerations As you may know, the Governor recently announced proposed cuts to education funding, which is another important consideration in the IUSD planning process. However, IUSD’s growth in recent years, coupled with our sound fiscal investments and management has positioned us to address these potential challenges better than most districts in California. We will continue to monitor these state funding developments and proactively advocate for the interests of our IUSD community.

IUSD Task Force District staff will continue to work through the summer, while following the guidelines of expert agencies, to ensure we are ready for the safe return of students and staff, whether in-person, through distance learning or a blended approach. This includes convening a task force comprised of District leadership, parents, students, principals, teachers, staff, and school nurses. More information about the work of this task force will be provided in the coming weeks, including opportunities for all IUSD families and staff to share their insights and feedback to support our planning.

Start of the 2020-21 School Year At this time, both year round and traditional schools are scheduled to start on time (July 15 and August 20 respectively). We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide an update for our year round schools once we learn more about the implications of the awaited California Department of Public Health guidelines, which are set to be released for review in early June with additional guidance from the Orange County Health Care Agency. We will continue to provide our entire IUSD community with updates as we have them. Please ensure your contact information in Parent Portal is up to date and that you check your email regularly this summer.

As you know, the COVID-19 public health crisis continues to evolve and is fluid. Although we do not know what conditions will be at the start of the new school year, IUSD will continue to collaborate with expert agencies, state and local officials, the Orange County Department of Education, other school districts, and our students, staff and families. We will explore options for safely beginning the school year, while maintaining academic excellence, which has become the hallmark of IUSD.

While IUSD is working diligently to support students, teachers, staff and families in the final days of this school year, we know that our community is looking ahead to the 2020-21 school year, wondering what it may look like. Our IUSD team is working daily on planning for the new school year. Below is a brief update to keep you informed about our planning considerations and next steps.

I would like to express our District’s collective gratitude and sincere appreciation for your partnership and support in managing the significant changes and challenges created by this global pandemic. We also recognize and empathize with the realities of these impacts and have developed richer insights into how to navigate these challenges with your continued feedback.

Thank you for your partnership, engagement and support. We look forward to receiving your immediate feedback on the survey so that we can continue the timely and vital work of preparing for the 2020-21 school year.

Our year round schools resume on July 15 and our traditional schools on August 20. As you know, much can change during this time and we are hopeful that any new developments will only improve our opportunities to return to as normal of a school environment as possible. Our plans include considerations for each of California’s reopening phases and can be scaled to meet those phases as needed. IUSD will continue to work collaboratively with state and local expert agencies and officials to closely monitor this fluid situation. Please know that the safety of our students, staff and families is our top priority and all decisions will be made through this lens in accordance with health guidelines.

In an effort to allow parents to plan and prepare for the upcoming school year, including our year round families, the following tentative timeline is provided:

Once we receive your feedback through the 2020-21 Family Survey , more information about each academic model will be provided. We are firmly committed to engaging in an inclusive process and considering the diverse needs and input of our community before finalizing any planning.

At this time, as California and Orange County are entering into Phase 3 of the state’s reopening criteria, IUSD is considering the following academic models to meet the needs of our students and families. We recognize the importance of both in-person and online distance learning options; however, the models may look different at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Your feedback will serve to guide our consideration of options that best align with our families’ interests:

The District is reviewing the recently released guidelines and recommendations for reopening schools from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the California Department of Education, as we await specific Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA) direction for our county.

In this survey, you will have an opportunity to provide information about your child and your family’s needs, and to identify preferred academic models for the 2020-21 school year. Please know that we consider your feedback carefully.

Your input is critical to our planning process. Please take a moment today to complete the District’s 2020-21 Family Survey , which is open through Wednesday, June 17. We recognize the compressed timeframe; however, the work of preparing for the new school year is an urgent and compelling task, and we want to ensure our families have time to evaluate their options.

As we have shared, IUSD will continue to inform our community of our planning efforts for the 2020-21 school year. Our Task Force is currently considering various plans to maintain continuity of instruction and provide equity and academic excellence for our more than 36,000 students. The impact of COVID-19 notwithstanding, we are committed to delivering the highest quality education we can envision while prioritizing student and staff safety.

Thank you for your continued partnership during this ever changing and fluid situation.

Below is a reminder of our timeline for planning and communications. Again, our next communication to you will be on Thursday, June 25. You will receive any new updates related to CDPH guidelines and a second survey with more detail for each academic model.

During the Board of Education Meeting tomorrow, June 23 at 6:30 p.m., staff will provide an overview and update to the Board. Please note that no action will be taken by the Board during the meeting. This is an informational presentation. To watch the meeting, which will be streamed live, click here or tune into Cox Channel 39. Survey feedback, including more than 6,000 comments, from our community have been provided to both the Board and the Task Force.

This is one of many examples of how, in the era of COVID-19, information and guidelines can change requiring IUSD and our families to pivot. As we have shared, our plans will remain flexible to allow IUSD to adapt to state and local guidelines, while maintaining equity and academic excellence for our more than 36,000 students.

The Orange County Department of Education recently released their guidelines titled Orange County Together: A Guide for Safely Reopening Schools in the COVID-19 Era , which reinforce the recently released California Department of Public Health (CDPH) guidelines. However, since both agencies released their guidelines last week, CDPH language regarding masks in schools continues to evolve. Once we have information that is more definitive and understand what this means for school districts throughout California, we will keep our families informed.

Throughout the COVID-19 global pandemic, information and situations have evolved rapidly. IUSD’s process has been to work collaboratively with state and local expert agencies and officials to monitor this fluid situation, while prioritizing the safety of students, staff and our community. All decisions will continue to be made through this lens and in accordance with health guidelines as they are issued and updated.

Please note that IUSD will provide in-person AND online only options for students . It is our intention to offer options that align with family preferences to the extent possible, while adhering to California Department of Public Health and Orange County Department of Education guidelines. Continuing to collaborate with our community and staff will be critical as we endeavor to maximize our resources and meet the compelling needs of our students on very compressed timelines.

IUSD’s 2020-21 Task Force is currently reviewing your feedback as they consider the design of each academic model. On Thursday June 25th, you will receive a communication that will include a more detailed description of each model along with a second survey. This second survey will be designed so that our families can carefully evaluate these more detailed options and again communicate their preferences.

Thank you for your participation in IUSD’s family survey and for your feedback regarding your preferred academic model for the 2020-21 school year. IUSD received 16,423 responses with preferences captured below:

Finally, I would like to thank you for your partnership. Our parents play an important role in helping us deliver on our promise to provide the highest quality educational experience we can envision. Our current circumstances have challenged us all, but together we will ensure that our children continue to learn at the highest levels and to thrive both in school and beyond.

We understand that living in an environment of constant change can generate frustration, fear, and a sense of uncertainty. Please know that our District will continue to follow expert health guidance and provide our community with the most timely and accurate information available. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we engage in this complex and important work.

The rapidly evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic has required IUSD to work closely with state and local agencies and officials to understand the implications for our schools and adapt as needed to serve our students and families. Please know that the safety of students, staff and our community is our priority; therefore, we will continue to be vigilant and adjust as needed to ensure our practices align with the current conditions, while maintaining academic excellence and equity for all students.

Students who participate in the District's Special Education programs or services, have 504 plans, or receive language development support may select any of the academic models offered. For students who are in Special Education and/or receive related services, access to those related services will be provided to the fullest extent possible either in person or virtually.

As you consider the different academic models, we anticipate that you may have additional questions. IUSD staff is working on Frequently Asked Questions and a 2020-21 Planning webpage, which will both be available soon. In the meantime, if you have specific questions you would like addressed, please add them to the open-ended response option in the survey or email them to info@iusd.org .

Please click here to access the survey and an overview of each academic model for Elementary, Middle and High School Programs, including our Year Round Schools .

The State Legislature announced this week that schools should return students to in-person instruction to the greatest extent possible. To that end, all IUSD families will have the option to return their children to an in-person model of instruction at their neighborhood school or prior approved school of choice.

IUSD understands that some families may wish to change to a different academic model during the school year. Our schools will do their best to accommodate these requests and will provide additional information regarding the process for initiating a change.

Local and state health guidelines recommend that schools maximize space between seating and desks to the extent possible. Teacher and other staff desks will be placed at least six feet from student desks. When physical distancing is more difficult, it is recommended that schools consider the use of study carrels or partitions when possible.

IUSD will provide our staff with both masks and face shields in accordance with these guidelines. For additional information about face coverings, please see the links to the guidelines listed above. Should this guidance change, IUSD will inform our families.

IUSD schools will follow the local and state guidelines related to masks, face coverings and face shields. Current guidance from the OC Health Care Agency states, “face coverings should be worn by students, staff and visitors when six feet of distancing is not feasible and other exemptions do not apply.” To clarify, face coverings, including face shields, are recommended but not required. Additional face covering guidelines include:

While our families identified the protocols listed above as important considerations, two, in particular, have drawn significant attention – masks and the use of classroom spaces on our campuses.

The guidelines established by the California Department of Public Health, the OC Health Care Agency, and OC Department of Education informed all our planning efforts and the design of each academic model. These guidelines include promoting handwashing, encouraging face coverings, cleaning and disinfecting, allowing for physical distancing, and creating smaller cohorts of students, when possible. For more information about these practices and protocols in our schools click here .

Please carefully review the contents of this letter and each academic model before completing the IUSD Family Survey No. 2. The survey is open through Monday, June 29 until 5:00pm.

The models outlined below were designed to meet the interests of our students, staff, and community and align with the California Department of Public Health guidelines and Orange County Department of Education guidelines .

As we continue our planning for the 2020-2021 school year, we know that designing academic models that meet the diverse needs of our students and families is critically important. We appreciate the feedback and considerations you shared in our first family survey. The Board of Education and the IUSD 2020-2021 Task Force carefully reviewed these responses to understand your preferences for online, blended, and traditional academic models. Final recommendation of these academic models will be brought to the Board of Education for approval at the July 1, 2020 Special Board Meeting.

April 15, 2020

IUSD Grading During Distance Learning

April 1, 2020

Governor Directs CA Schools to Remain Closed through 2019-20

March 31, 2020 Update

Update (March 31): IUSD is aware of statements made by the State Superintendent of Schools, Tony Thurmond, indicating that it is unlikely California school sites will reopen before the end of the school year, bolstering comments made by Governor Gavin Newsom a couple of weeks ago. IUSD has been closely monitoring this situation and following all guidance from federal, state and local officials and expert health agencies, in addition to collaborating with other Orange County school districts. We are in the process of working with these organizations to determine what this means for our school district and next steps. As we have more information, we will keep our community informed. IUSD emergency distance learning and services continue as planned. For more information and ongoing updates, visit iusd.org/COVID19. Additional Language Support:

March 27, 2020

With Gratitude and Respect

March 24, 2020

School Closures Extended to May 1

March 19, 2020

COVID-19 Update: Governor's stay at home order

March 15, 2020

Reminders for the Week Ahead

March 13, 2020

ALl IUSD Schools to Close Effective March 16

March 12, 2020

COVID-19 New State Guidelines for Public Gatherings

March 10, 2020*

COVID-19 Update from Supt. Walker

February 27, 2020

Coronavirus Update & Spring Break Travel

February 2, 2020

Update From Superintendent Walker: revised guidelines

January 26, 2020

UPDATE FROM SUPERINTENDENT WALKER