March 21, 2020 update

Laptop distribution began today with high school students and will continue through to at least the end of next week. By the end of this process, we expect to distribute about 25,000 devices.

Eligible families who completed the survey will be contacted directly with specific instructions for when and where to pick up technology.

We are so thankful to all families for their continued patience throughout this process.

FYI - Don't forget that the Duval HomeRoom will be available tomorrow evening. Please check back with us then!

March 20, 2020 update (final update)

Only update today is that the Duval HomeRoom webpage is scheduled to launch Sunday evening. This site will include links and learning materials students will need, instructions for families, and bus route information telling families where they can go to get the educational materials and school lunch.

Also...we have received many questions regarding support for our ESE and ESOL students.



For the safety of students and staff members, services will be adjusted in this model.

ESOL and ESE students on General Education standards will use the same prescribed general education platforms and meet the same expectations with applicable accommodations.

ESE teachers will provide services and supports in collaboration with the content area teacher.

ESE students following Access Points standards will use teacher-assigned, on-line Unique Learning System (ULS) lessons/activities or ULS adapted paper packets. Teachers of the gifted will provide enrichment activities and online resources aligned to gifted frameworks.

March 19, 2020 5 p.m. update

We have two updates this evening regarding some frequently asked questions:

New student enrollment – Yes, new students can enroll. Call 904-390-2183 to begin the process. Laptop/technology distribution – Thank you to everyone who completed the survey. Qualifying parents will be contacted directly by email with instructions on how to pick up their laptop(s) and/or internet-access device(s).



March 19, 2020 11:30 a.m. update

We've received many questions about the home education plan presented yesterday, as well as questions about the number for the parent survey. So below are just a few clarifications. Hope this helps!

We are still requesting that families inform us of their technology availability through the online survey, which can be completed on a computer or a cell phone.





The only families that should call the 904-348-5200 number are those who have no other way of completing the survey.





Families do not need to call to receive an elementary grades instructional packet. These packets will be available in multiple ways They will be available online when Duval HomeRoom opens before Monday morning. They will be available at elementary schools beginning next week. They will be distributed to bus stops. The schedule of bus stop times and locations will be posted on the Duval HomeRoom website when it opens before Monday morning.





Grab-and-go lunches will continue to be served weekdays at all district-managed schools. (Note: Families do not need to drive up. They can also walk up.)





Next week, grab-and-go lunches will also be distributed on the bus routes along with the elementary instructional packets. The schedule of bus stop times and locations will be posted on the Duval HomeRoom website when it opens before Monday morning.

March 18, 2020

Today, Dr. Diana Greene presented information and details on the launch of our home-based instruction plan -- Duval HomeRoom. Highlights of this plan include:

High School and Middle School students – Almost all instruction and instructional interaction will be moved to online learning platforms. Teachers and students will be able to connect in real-time online and in teleconferencing.



Elementary School Students and Buses – School buses will deliver standards-aligned, grade-appropriate educational packets for elementary school students. These packets will be combined with online learning platforms, and online teleconference instructional interaction.



School Meals on Wheels – “Grab and Go” lunch will still be available at schools. And we’ll also use our buses to deliver school meals into neighborhoods as they deliver the educational packets. The bus delivery sites will be posted by Monday, March 23, on our Duval HomeRoom website. Visit www.duvalschools.org and look for the Duval HomeRoom link to find this information.



Phone number for technology survey – We need every family to complete our “technology availability” survey. You can complete this survey on a computer or cell phone. But if you can’t get to the survey for any reason, please call our technology help desk number, 904-348-5200, and we will take down your information by phone. The help desk is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please call them Thursday morning to report your needs.



Duval HomeRoom website – By Sunday evening, we will launch our comprehensive website for Duval Homeroom. This site will include links and learning materials students will need, instructions for families, and bus route information telling families where they can go to get the educational materials and the school lunch.



Timeline – This week, we are working to prepare school leadership for this transition so they are ready to support teachers and other school-based staff. On Friday, we will provide training to educators. Over the weekend, we’ll work to close the technology gap and deliver laptops and air cards to secondary students who register their needs through the survey. We’ll also launch the Duval HomeRoom site. Monday will be an orientation to online-learning day, and the first day we will deliver materials and lunch through our bus system. By Friday, March 27 – we hope that all students are fully connected and engaged in home-based learning.

March 17, 2020 9:45 p.m. Update

The district is announcing that beginning March 23, we will be moving to home-based education through at least April 15.

Background:

Because of the extraordinary measures being taken in the nation to prevent the spread of COVID-19, our team has been planning for the possibility that we would need to implement home based education across the district. On Tuesday, Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Department of Education announced that all public schools must move to distance education at least through April 15. This announcement has moved us rapidly from planning to implementation.

Details

When Duval County Public Schools resumes on Monday, March 23, we will be deploying our new home education program: Duval HomeRoom.

The Duval HomeRoom initiative will keep your child moving forward educationally with creative and familiar approaches to instruction appropriate for his or her grade level. Many of our activities will utilize learning platforms and programs your children routinely use. This instruction will be delivered in a way that your children can continue learning from the comfort of home while avoiding large groups as directed by health officials.

What we need from parents/families

Complete survey: First, if your family does not have computer access in the home, we need to hear from you. Please let us know through a brief survey available by clicking here. As part of our plan, we want to make sure every family has a capable device and internet connectivity. Community partners, such as Comcast, are already helping provide services so all students are able to connect.



Stay tuned: Wednesday, we will begin sharing more details and answering questions for how the Duval HomeRoom initiative will work. Our goal is to make sure everyone is ready to re-engage with education on Monday, March 23. Be sure to check our website at least once each day for updates and directions. We will also keep you informed with emails and telephone calls.

While this is a brand new way to experience education, we truly understand this will be challenging for many families, and we will be available to support you remotely. We ask for your patience, understanding, and feedback as we transition and work through the inevitable challenges we experience along the way.

Our motto is “Every Student. Every Day.” Even under these extraordinary circumstances, we look forward to this new way of bringing the best possible educational experience to your children.

March 17, 2020 5:30 p.m. Update

Complete Survey: As we continue to respond to the ever-evolving situation with COVID-19, the district is finalizing plans for the implementation of home-based education. To assist us, we are asking all parents to complete a “technology availability” survey.



This survey will give us a broad understanding of what the technological needs are among our families. The survey is available now, and we ask that you complete the survey by this Friday, March 20.



Visit https://dcps.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4TxWSwquHBgd3lb to access the survey.



Note: The survey has been developed that each submission represents ONE STUDENT. If your household has more than one student, we encourage you to submit an entry for each student.



School Meals: Remember that school lunch service continues each weekday, at every district managed school between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Students can go to their nearest school to receive the meal.



Continue to Monitor: Keep your eye on this website. Details on how Duval County Schools will resume operations will be posted here soon.

March 16, 2020 Update

Note: Today's (March 16) update is the same as yesterday's (March 15). There have been no changes in the last 24 hours. Remember that school lunch and snack distribution begin at all district managed schools tomorrow between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. This will be available on weekdays. Continue to monitor this site for updates.





Parents and Families:

Spring Break extended: Classes and activities are fully canceled for the week of March 16-20. Spring break has been extended through March 22.



Student self-isolation: If you have traveled out of the continental United States, if you have been on a cruise, or if a member of your close family participated in any such travel, you must not return to school until you have self-isolated for 14 days and you are symptom free.



Home education for self-isolating students: If your children are in self-isolation, please call your school during the week of March 16-20 to report self-isolation and develop a home education plan. If you have any trouble reaching your school, you may also call (904) 390-2999 to initiate home education.



School lunch: Beginning Tuesday, March 17, a “grab and go” school lunch and snack will be available for ALL students. These lunches may be picked up curbside at all district managed school campuses between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on weekdays. Students may receive the meal at their nearest school location. They do not have to go to their attendance school; however, the student must be present to receive the meal.



In addition, field trip cancellations, extra-curricular activity cancellations, and enhanced cleaning procedures from previous announcements remain in effect.



For students who may need internet access, Comcast is offering short-term free internet access for families that qualify. Details provided at www.internetessentials.com/covid19







Employees:

Please find below the work schedule for the week of March 16-20, 2020. This limited reporting will allow us to maintain the sanitation of our sites while preparing for the return of employees and students on March 23.

12-month Employees - Normal work schedules. Return to work: March 16. This includes:

Administrators (District and School-Based)



12-month Instructional Staff (Specialists – administrative and instructional, Psychologists, etc.)



12-month Support staff (Clerical, Security, Maintenance, IT, Custodial, etc.)





10-month Instructional Staff (Teachers, Speech/Language Pathologists) – March 16-20 non-work days. Return to work: March 23.





10 and 11-month Support Staff (Paraprofessionals, Interpreters, Job Coaches, Truancy Officers) – March 16-20 non-work days. Return to work: March 23.





11-month Support Staff (Clerical) - March 16-20 non-work days. Return to work: March 23.





School Police – Hours vary; specific instructions to be provided by your supervisor.

Additionally, we have identified certain areas as mission critical to ensure we are able to provide meals to students at each school, continue the sanitation of our facilities, and support delivery of additional instructional materials to schools. Currently those areas include:

Food Service

Print Services

School Choice

Maintenance

Impacted employees in these groups will receive additional instructions via a separate email.

All employees should refer to email for further details and continuing updates.

March 15, 2020 Update

Note: The March 15 update is exactly the same as March 14 with one exception: School lunch distribution beginning on March 17 has been expanded from elementary schools to all district managed schools. See further details below.

Parents and Families:

Spring Break extended: Classes and activities are fully canceled for the week of March 16-20. Spring break has been extended through March 22.



Student self-isolation: If you have traveled out of the continental United States, if you have been on a cruise, or if a member of your close family participated in any such travel, you must not return to school until you have self-isolated for 14 days and you are symptom free.



Home education for self-isolating students: If your children are in self-isolation, please call your school during the week of March 16-20 to report self-isolation and develop a home education plan. If you have any trouble reaching your school, you may also call (904) 390-2999 to initiate home education.



School lunch: Beginning Tuesday, March 17, a “grab and go” school lunch and snack will be available for ALL students. These lunches may be picked up curbside at all district managed school campuses between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Students may receive the meal at their nearest school location. They do not have to go to their attendance school; however, the student must be present to receive the meal.



In addition, field trip cancellations, extra-curricular activity cancellations, and enhanced cleaning procedures from previous announcements remain in effect.



For students who may need internet access, Comcast is offering short-term free internet access for families that qualify. Details provided at www.internetessentials.com/covid19

Employees:

Please find below the work schedule for the week of March 16-20, 2020. This limited reporting will allow us to maintain the sanitation of our sites while preparing for the return of employees and students on March 23.

12-month Employees - Normal work schedules. Return to work: March 16. This includes:

Administrators (District and School-Based)



12-month Instructional Staff (Specialists – administrative and instructional, Psychologists, etc.)



12-month Support staff (Clerical, Security, Maintenance, IT, Custodial, etc.)





10-month Instructional Staff (Teachers, Speech/Language Pathologists) – March 16-20 non-work days. Return to work: March 23.





10 and 11-month Support Staff (Paraprofessionals, Interpreters, Job Coaches, Truancy Officers) – March 16-20 non-work days. Return to work: March 23.





11-month Support Staff (Clerical) - March 16-20 non-work days. Return to work: March 23.





School Police – Hours vary; specific instructions to be provided by your supervisor.

Additionally, we have identified certain areas as mission critical to ensure we are able to provide meals to students at each school, continue the sanitation of our facilities, and support delivery of additional instructional materials to schools. Currently those areas include:

Food Service

Print Services

School Choice

Maintenance

Impacted employees in these groups will receive additional instructions via a separate email.

All employees should refer to email for further details and continuing updates.

March 14, 2020 Update

Parents and Families:

Spring Break extended: Classes and activities are fully canceled for the week of March 16-20. Spring break has been extended through March 22.



Student self-isolation: If you have traveled out of the continental United States, if you have been on a cruise, or if a member of your close family participated in any such travel, you must not return to school until you have self-isolated for 14 days and you are symptom free.



Home education for self-isolating students: If your children are in self-isolation, please call your school during the week of March 16-20 to report self-isolation and develop a home education plan. If you have any trouble reaching your school, you may also call (904) 390-2999 to initiate home education.



School lunch: Beginning Tuesday, March 17, a “grab and go” school lunch and snack will be available for students. These lunches may be picked up curbside at all district managed elementary schools between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.



In addition, field trip cancellations, extra-curricular activity cancellations, and enhanced cleaning procedures from previous announcements remain in effect.



For students who may need internet access, Comcast is offering short-term free internet access for families that qualify. Details provided at www.internetessentials.com/covid19

Employees:

Please find below the work schedule for the week of March 16-20, 2020. This limited reporting will allow us to maintain the sanitation of our sites while preparing for the return of employees and students on March 23.

12-month Employees - Normal work schedules. Return to work: March 16. This includes:

Administrators (District and School-Based)



12-month Instructional Staff (Specialists – administrative and instructional, Psychologists, etc.)



12-month Support staff (Clerical, Security, Maintenance, IT, Custodial, etc.)





10-month Instructional Staff (Teachers, Speech/Language Pathologists) – March 16-20 non-work days. Return to work: March 23.





10 and 11-month Support Staff (Paraprofessionals, Interpreters, Job Coaches, Truancy Officers) – March 16-20 non-work days. Return to work: March 23.





11-month Support Staff (Clerical) - March 16-20 non-work days. Return to work: March 23.





School Police – Hours vary; specific instructions to be provided by your supervisor.

Additionally, we have identified certain areas as mission critical to ensure we are able to provide meals to students at each school, continue the sanitation of our facilities, and support delivery of additional instructional materials to schools. Currently those areas include:

Food Service

Print Services

School Choice

Maintenance

Impacted employees in these groups will receive additional instructions via a separate email.

All employees should refer to email for further details and continuing updates.

March 13, 2020 Update

With the unknowns associated with student and family travel outside the continental United States and cruises over spring break, and with daily changes in guidance from health care officials regarding those who should self-isolate, it is imperative that Duval County Public Schools take time to assess our capabilities to safely open schools.

Therefore, Duval County Public Schools will extend spring break for one week, through Sunday, March 22.

There will be no school or academic activity next week, with one exception: we have SAT testing planned at several high schools for Saturday March 14, 2020. That testing will go on. We are requesting that any student who has flu like symptoms or who has recently traveled out of the country to self-isolate and not participate in this testing. Appropriate cleaning before and after testing will take place in those testing areas.

High Schools where SAT testing will be held as planned on Saturday, March 14, are:

First Coast

Sandalwood

Mandarin

Jackson

Ribault

Fletcher

Ed White

Douglas Anderson School of the Arts

Westside

Terry Parker

Parents: Please continue to monitor this website for updates about re-opening and a possible shift to remote education as the COVID-19 situation continues to change.

In addition:

We have disinfected and sanitized all schools and school buses. We will adapt our daily cleaning procedures to focus on ongoing sanitization of frequently touched surfaces including door handles, desks, and keyboards. All field trips are canceled until further notice. All after-school extracurricular events, including athletic contests, are canceled until further notice. (Practices will be allowed to resume when school resumes). Any employee who has traveled out of the continental United States, including cruises, or who has had close contact with another such traveler, is required to self-isolate for 14 days. We will keep our families informed about procedures for re-entry if they have traveled and for any changes to online or remote education that may occur after next week.

March 12, 2020 Update

Duval County Public Schools continues to monitor the COVID-19, coronavirus, situation in close consultation with local, state, and federal health authorities and other officials.

The Florida Department of Education is recommending that school districts in the state of Florida continue normal operations at this time. All school districts in the state of Florida are continuing normal operations, and we plan to do so beginning on Monday, March 16.

What we are doing:

We have disinfected and sanitized all schools and school buses.



We have adapted our daily cleaning procedures to focus on frequent sanitization of frequently touched surfaces including door handles, desks, and keyboards.



We have banned all out-of-state field trip travel by airplane.



Student field trips and activities with large groups over 250 people are being canceled until further notice.



We are continuing to consult with the Florida High School Athletic Association regarding athletic events. We will notify schools of any cancellations and post updates to the district’s website.



We have instituted re-entry procedures for families who traveled to high-risk areas. (If your family traveled to a high-risk area, please do not come to a school. See further instructions below).



We continue to review in-state field trips and events and will make decisions on a case-by-case basis in consultation with health authorities.



We have asked any employee who has traveled to a high-risk area or who has had close contact with another person who has been in a high-risk area to self-isolate for two weeks, and we are reviewing leave procedures for possible accommodations for employees.



We are preparing for the potential of a large scale closure and conversion to online learning if health officials advise or direct public schools to close.

What you should do:

If your child is exhibiting any signs of illness (fever, cough, or shortness of breath), keep your child home from school and call your health care provider. If your health care provider directs you to isolate your child for an extended period of time, contact your school to develop a home education plan.

If you have traveled to any of the following countries, do not come to a school facility. Please call the Family Resource Center by phone at (904) 390-2999 to receive instructions regarding access to a home education plan.

China

Iran

South Korea

Europe





Families returning from cruises are advised to monitor their health and limit interactions with others for 14 days after returning to the United States. If you become symptomatic, immediately self-isolate and contact your county health department or health care provider.



If your child is healthy and has not been to a high-risk area, you may plan to come to school as normal on Monday.



If you are not comfortable sending your child to school during this COVID-19 event, you may choose to keep your child home. Normal excused absence policies will be followed and there will be no adverse academic consequences as a result of the absence. Please contact your school as you would for any other absence.



Continue to monitor this webpage for further updates.

March 3, 2020 Update

Dr. Diana Greene, superintendent of Duval County Public Schools, has directed several actions for the district and schools to take to combat the spread of the Coronavirus, COVID-19.

These actions address precautions upon re-entry to school after travel, new student registrations, school cleaning, school attendance, and student and staff travel. Duval County Public Schools remains in close communication with the Florida Department of Health to make appropriate operational decisions and to keep the public aware of the most current recommendations from the Florida Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Re-entry of Students Traveling

Duval County Public Schools will request all parents and guardians to inform their schools by telephone if people in their household have traveled to areas that the CDC has deemed to be high-risk for widespread sustained transmission of the virus. Upon notification, schools will work with district and community health officials to determine the appropriate action regarding re-entry of those children into the school. The district will make this request with a letter to be distributed through schools and with other communications later this week.

Registration of New Students from High Risk Areas

Any new families arriving to Duval from high-risk areas are also requested to telephone the school for instructions prior to registration. School officials will work with district and community health officials to determine the appropriate registration and attendance plan for those students. A registration in-take center will be established in the district’s Parent Resource Center to assist these families. Families arriving from high-risk areas are asked not to visit schools, but to interact with the district by telephone. Families that arrive at schools will be asked to conduct registration through the Parent Resource Center.

Sanitization of School Facilities

Beginning Wednesday, March 4, the district will begin a process of sanitizing and disinfecting of all schools using Center for Biocide Chemistries approved viral disinfectants. All schools will be treated between Wednesday and the end of Spring Break, March 15. The district is prepared to deploy the sanitizing procedure immediately to a school or district facility determined to be potentially exposed to the Coronavirus.

Bulk hand sanitizer is being distributed to all schools, and schools have been advised to ensure adequate supply of soap and paper towels for student and employee use.

School Attendance

Students who provide written documentation from their healthcare provider advising them to refrain from attending school due to the Coronavirus will be fully accommodated with home health education plans. Families of these students are asked to coordinate with their school principals to develop an appropriate education plan on a case-by-case basis.

For all other students, normal school attendance policies remain in effect. The district is prepared to make school-by-school decisions with guidance from state and local health officials as necessary.

Employee and Student Travel

Any school-sponsored or district-sponsored travel to high-risk areas will be canceled. To the best of its ability, the district will work with families to pursue refunds, if possible.

Currently planned school-sponsored or district-sponsored out-of-state travel which is non-refundable for students and employees may be allowed if a trip is to an area which is not on the CDC’s list of concern. District administration will review each trip on a case-by-case basis. If an employee or student is not comfortable traveling, those individuals will be excused from the event and every effort will be made to release the student or employee from any financial penalty for non-attendance. There will be no academic consequences for non-attendance.

Currently planned school-sponsored or district-sponsored out-of-state-travel which is refundable will be reviewed by district administration to determine if the travel is permissible.

Until further notice, new out-of-country travel requests will not be approved.

Until further notice, new out-of-state travel requests will not be approved, except for emergency situations or highly-mission critical employee travel.

The district is proceeding with caution regarding in-state travel. All in-state travel must be approved by a regional superintendent or cabinet-level supervisor. Trips requiring air travel, events held in closed spaces, or events with 1,000 or more participants will be carefully considered on an individual basis.

There are no restrictions at this time for in-county field trips. The district will continue to work with the Florida Department of Health and monitor any potential issues in our local community.

Students and employees who are ill will not be permitted to travel. Prior to traveling, students and employees will be made aware that if they become ill during the course of travel they may not be allowed to return via public transportation if the transporting authority makes the determination that the individual poses a risk to others being transported. If a student is not allowed to return due to illness or mandatory isolation, a responsible adult will be required to remain with the student. Both students and employees with exposure to others with the Coronavirus will be expected to self-isolate as recommended by the Florida Department of Health.

We are currently working with Florida High School Athletic Association regarding regional and state athletic events and will provide guidance to schools once that information is received.

Parents and guardians are urged to ensure their phone numbers and email addresses are correct and permissions are set to receive messages. Please check with your school to confirm your contact information and to enable telephone and email messages.