Inclement Weather Asynchronous Instruction Plan
For the 2023-2024 school year, HCPSS again will repurpose up to three inclement weather days as asynchronous instruction days, which will be used at the discretion of the Superintendent.
The HCPSS vision for the asynchronous instruction day includes minimizing the disruption to instructional momentum and preserving the HCPSS academic calendar, including spring break and the last day of school.
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The Basics
For the 2023-2024 school year, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) is allowing local school systems to repurpose up to three inclement weather days as asynchronous instruction days. The HCPSS plan was created following State requirements, and in conjunction with Howard County Board of Education Policies 8010 Grading and Reporting: Pre-Kindergarten Through Grade Five and 8020 Grading and Reporting: Middle and High School, and was approved by MSDE in October.
View/download the MSDE-approved 2022-2023 HCPSS Inclement Weather Asynchronous Instruction Plan. The HCPSS 2023-2024 Plan will be submitted to MSDE upon Board of Education approval, scheduled for Aug. 24.
Notification of Asynchronous Instruction
Students, families, staff and community members will be notified if/when HCPSS implements an asynchronous instruction day the same as all other inclement weather notifications: HCPSS Status website, HCPSS website, Email/Text, HCPSS Twitter, and Information Hotline.
Learn More About Inclement Weather/Emergency Notifications
Elementary School Students
Assignments
Asynchronous instruction day materials will be posted below and updated each month, and will be accessible by computer, laptop, tablet, phone or other mobile device. Schools will provide printed copies for students as needed.These tasks only need to be completed if HCPSS has an inclement weather asynchronous instruction day.
Students on an IEP who receive modified assignments will receive a paper copy of the assignment from their special education teacher or case manager. A reminder email will be sent on the inclement weather instruction day by the student’s special education teacher/case manager.
Directions: Students should print out the assignment and circle the completed tasks OR list the completed tasks on a separate piece of paper. Students are to submit this document or the completed tasks list to their teacher at the end of the month to get marked for asynchronous day attendance.
Preschool and Prekindergarten Tasks
Students are expected to complete a total of three multidisciplinary asynchronous tasks. Students have up to 10 school days to complete the tasks.
Attendance
Elementary students will indicate attendance by submitting a list of their completed tasks at the end of each month. For asynchronous days occurring less than nine days before the end of the month, tasks completion lists will be collected at the end of the next month. Attendance for asynchronous days will be updated monthly.
Kindergarten-Grade 5 Tasks
Students are expected to complete one asynchronous instruction day task per curricular area: Math, English Language Arts, Content (science, social studies, or health), and related arts class(es) scheduled for that day. Students have up to 10 school days to complete the tasks.
Middle & High School Students
All students in grades 6-12 have an HCPSS-issued device, and should have it at home for use on inclement weather asynchronous instruction days.
Assignments
- Secondary students are expected to log in to each course via Canvas and complete assigned work. Students have up to 10 school days to complete the tasks.
- Assignments will be available in Canvas as early as two hours after the start of the regular school day.
- Students on an IEP who receive modified assignments will receive a paper copy of the assignment from their special education teacher or case manager. A reminder email will be sent on the inclement weather instruction day by the student’s special education teacher/case manager.
Attendance
- Students will indicate attendance by completing attendance assignment posted in each of the classes/courses.
Special Education Services
A Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) will continue to be provided to students with disabilities. Special education and related services will be delivered as identified in Individualized Educational Programs (IEPs) to the greatest extent possible on asynchronous instruction days. The Department of Special Education, Countywide Services, and the Office of Early Intervention Services will work with school based providers to coordinate and support services that were not received during the asynchronous instruction day.
On an inclement weather asynchronous instruction day, students will receive accessible or alternate asynchronous tasks that follow any accommodations and supplementary aids and services outlined in the IEP.
HCPSS will continue to comply with all regulations established in IDEA, COMAR, and MSDE technical assistance.
Additionally:
- Child Find/Early Intervention Assessment Team will hold meetings virtually if possible;
- Individualized Family Support Plan/IEP meetings will occur for birth-fifth grade students;
- In secondary schools, IEP meetings that were previously scheduled two hours after the start of the regular school day will be held virtually; and
- Assessments scheduled with Child Find/EIAT may continue using a virtual format.
Staff
The staff reporting structure for inclement weather asynchronous instruction days will be posted to the HCPSS Status website. Details on the reporting structure are aligned with bargaining agreements and are forthcoming.
Special Education Staff Will:
- Maintain a tracking document for services that were provided on the asynchronous days; and
- Collaborate with staff in the Department of Special Education, Countywide Services, and the Office of Early Intervention Services to coordinate delivery for services not provided on asynchronous instruction days.
Elementary Staff Will:
- Receive Central Office-created asynchronous instruction day tasks for distribution, per family requests;
- Virtually attend previously scheduled meetings, including IEP, PIP, team meetings, leadership meetings, staff meetings, collaborative planning meetings, Student Support Team meetings, School Improvement meetings, committee meetings, etc.;
- Complete a staff attendance form;
- Collect list of completed asynchronous instruction tasks from students upon return to school.
Elementary Certified, School-Based, Non-Classroom Teachers Will:
- Complete a staff attendance form; and
- Virtually attend previously scheduled meetings, including IEP, PIP, team meetings, leadership meetings, staff meetings, collaborative planning meetings, Student Support Team, School Improvement, committee, etc.
Secondary Staff Will:
- Utilize Canvas to deliver HCPSS curriculum resources for all subjects and courses;
- Post assignments for each class in Canvas no later than two hours after the regular student start time;
- Include assignments that are a continuation of work, review, or preparation for future lessons/instruction;
- Include no new learning or assessments in asynchronous instruction day assignments;
- Include an assignment to record student attendance;
- Provide meaningful opportunities for students to make up missed work outside of virtual learning, in accordance with Board of Education Policy 8020 Grading and Reporting: Middle and High School;
- Grade assignments in accordance to parameters for the assignments;
- Virtually attend previously scheduled meetings two hours after the student start time, including IEP, PIP, team meetings, leadership meetings, staff meetings, collaborative planning meetings, Student Support Team meetings, School Improvement meetings, committee meetings, etc.; and
- Complete a staff attendance form.
Secondary Certified, School-Based, Non-Classroom Teachers Will:
- Virtually attend previously scheduled meetings two hours after the student start time, including IEP, PIP, team meetings, leadership meetings, staff meetings, collaborative planning meetings, Student Support Team, School Improvement, committee, etc.; and
- Complete a staff attendance form.
Public Feedback
The HCPSS 2023-2024 Inclement Weather Asynchronous Instruction Plan was publicly presented at the Board of Education Meeting on May 11, 2023.
All parents, students, staff and community members are invited to provide feedback on the Plan by emailing InclementWeatherPlan@hcpss.org through June 9, 2023.
PLEASE NOTE: Messages received will be reviewed; however, staff will not respond to individual emails.