• GENERAL QUESTIONS

    Building closure to continue through end of the school year

    On April 6 the Idaho State Board of Education extended the “soft closure” of all public schools to the end of this school year. We will conclude this school year in our present Remote Learning framework. With revisions made Monday in the State Board of Education’s guidelines for when school buildings can reopen to instruction, we now know our District cannot return to in-person instruction during the remaining four weeks of this school year. For more details on our end-of-year plans, GO HERE.

    Fields and tracks reopen to public use

    Our school fields and tracks are again open to public use, although visitors should avoid congregating in those areas. All school playgrounds remain closed to visitors. Please do not climb over fences to access school property. Thank you!

    Will the school year be extended?

    No, we will not extend the 2019-20 school year.

    How will instruction occur for now?

    Our instructional teams at every grade level have put together a remote learning framework to serve students during our building closure. Through remote learning, students will be able to finish the school year having met the essential standards and targets most important at their grade level. Remote learning will be challenging, and we don’t expect everything to be perfect. This is a major shift in how we provide instruction and support for all students, and we will constantly evaluate how it’s working and how we can improve the experience for students and families. For more details on how remote elarning will work, see our Back to School Newsletter.

    Will students be held back if they cannot finish the year because of school closure?

    Students will not be kept at their current grade levels, if that is a concern. We fully expect that catch-up learning for all our students will be required next fall, but we are confident that remote learning this spring will be an effective means of teaching and learning for our teachers and their students in the coming weeks. The more parents can establish routines by having their children read good books, get exercise, take care of themselves, and write every day about topics that interest them, the better their children will navigate these difficult times.

    New student registration

    New student registration is available online, by phone, or using a paper form. Register now here. Once we reopen our schools, families also may register in person. 

    Open enrollment application window is closed

    The deadline to apply for a student to be enrolled in a school outside his or her attendance zone closed April 30. Middle and high school families will be notified of decisions by mail no later than May 18. Elementary families will be notified of decisions in late August or early September.

  • ELEMENTARY SCHOOL QUESTIONS

    What about kindergarten registration?

    Kindergarten registration is underway. Families may register their children online, by phone, or using a paper form at our kindergarten registration page. Once we reopen our schools, families also may register in person. The sooner we know who will be joining us next fall, the better we can prepare for our newest class of students!

    Will students still take the ISAT (Idaho Standards Achievement Test)?

    No, the Idaho State Board of Education has canceled the spring ISATs for all students. (Elementary students in grades 3-5 normally take the ISAT in math, English language arts and science.)

    Will students still take the Idaho Reading Indicator (IRI)?

    We will not be administering the IRI this spring. The State Department of Education will not require the exam as part of school accountability measures.

    The best ways you can maintain your child’s growth as a reader is to:

    • Encourage your child to daily read books of interest.
    • Read stories and books aloud to your child or family.
    • Read yourself. When adults model reading at home, they have a tremendous impact on their children's reading aptitude and interest.

  • SPECIAL EDUCATION

    Our Special Education staff members are using multiple avenues of providing services to our students with special needs, while keeping the health and safety of our students and staff a priority. This includes everything from paper packets to remote learning to deliver services. We are also placing a strong importance on collaboration and communication between school and home. This situation has proven to be very difficult for many of us to navigate but we are doing our very best to develop innovative solutions. We understand that services may not look the same as they would in the classroom. What is important is that everything we provide as a district is accessible, reasonable, and shows a good faith effort when trying to maintain and grow student skills.

    STUDENTS WITH 504 PLANS

    A 504 Plan ensures that a child who has a disability identified under the law receives accommodations that will ensure access to the learning environment. As we begin to offer remote learning opportunities after Spring Break, 504 Plan accommodations will be followed as is reasonable under these unusual conditions. Strategies such as providing extended time and shortened assignments would still apply. Remote learning will create a lot of space for students to take advantage of their accommodations. Three-year evaluations can wait until school buildings reopen. Expired 504s will still be valid during this time. If you have any concerns, please reach out to your child's teacher or school counselor.

  • TECHNOLOGY: DEVICES, INTERNET AND PASSWORDS

    Tech support for Remote Learning

    Email: techhelp@cdaschools.org
    Call: (208) 763-0811
    Web: cdaschools.org/techsupport
    Hours: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Monday through Friday

    What if my student needs a laptop computer at home?

    We are checking out Chromebooks/Hot Spots to any students that still has a need at the District Office from 9 AM-2 PM, Monday-Friday. Families will need to email a request for a device to techhelp@cdaschools.org.

    What if we don’t have access to the Internet?

    If you do not have Internet service at home, these providers in our community are offering resources and discounts. You also are invited to let us know about your needs in our student device checkout form.

    We need help logging in

    If your student needs help accessing Clever, Sora or Google Classroom, or the Skyward Student Management System (grades and schedules, communicating with teachers), we have made this guide to help: Parent Guide to Student Usernames and Passwords

    How do we keep accounts separated?

    With students and parents using the same devices, at times it can be confusing which account is being used. Fortunately, in Google Chrome you can use "Profiles" to keep everything separated and make logging in a breeze. See this guide for detailed directions: Using Chrome Profiles to Keep Accounts Separated

    What if we need help with any of this?

    Have questions of a technical nature? Trouble logging in? You may contact your teacher for guidance on usernames and passwords. You also can contact us at techhelp@cdaschools.org.

  • STUDENT MEALS

    When and where are Grab-N-Go meals available?

    Free Grab-N-Go meals from Coeur d’Alene Public Schools are available for children ages 1-18 Monday through Friday during the school closure. We are handing out a breakfast bag and a lunch bag together each day from school buses at 12 locations in our district. Pickup times are 11 a.m. or 11:45 a.m., depending on location. For a schedule and other details, see our Grab-N-Go meal page.

    CHILD CARE

    What type of child care is available at this time?

    Emergency K-5 child care is available at Ramsey Magnet School and Skyway Elementary School. This is for Coeur d’Alene School District students whose parents or guardians work in healthcare or emergency services. THERE IS NO COST FOR THIS SERVICE. The hours are 6:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. REGISTER HERE to enroll a student in our Emergency K-5 Child Care if you work in a hospital or other healthcare facility, or if you work in law enforcement or emergency services.

    Because of the need to focus our staff resources on providing the emergency child care during the coronavirus pandemic, we have suspended our regular School PLUS child care program until further notice. For those who have prepaid for School PLUS, a credit will be applied to your account for all days the program remains closed. If you have questions for us, please let us know. You may email us at schoolplus@cdaschools.org. 

     

  • MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL QUESTIONS

    Open enrollment application window is closed

    The deadline to apply for a student to be enrolled in a school outside his or her attendance zone closed April 30. Middle and high school families will be notified of decisions by mail no later than May 18.

    Middle school grades

    All Semester 2 grades have been converted to Pass/Not Pass. This transition from traditional letter grades to Pass/Not Pass grades will take into account the classwork completed between January 27 and March 13, when our buildings closed. Teachers will continue providing remote learning activities on a weekly basis. Staff will provide student feedback and record the task in Skyward so that both students and parents can track the work that has been completed. These tasks will be entered into Skyward as a “no count.”  This means that we are recording and tracking the work, but it is not affecting their overall grade.

    High school grades

    We are using Pass/Not Pass for all Semester 2 high school courses, including high school courses taken in middle school. With parent permission, students may opt to receive letter grades, rather than Pass/Not Pass, for all of their Semester 2 courses.

    • PASS/NOT PASS - Unless we hear from you, your student will receive a Pass/Not Pass for each of their second semester classes. This will be based on what their grades were on March 13, 2020, before our buildings closed. (Only students who had an F in a class on that date will receive a “Not Pass” for that class, if they do nothing more this semester; those students still have the opportunity to improve their grade this semester.) The Pass/Not Pass marks given this semester will be recorded on the academic achievement record and will have no bearing on a students’ cumulative grade point average.
    • LETTER GRADES - If you wish for your student to receive letter grades for this semester, you must inform the school by 12:59 p.m. on June 1, 2020. By choosing this option, you agree to have your student receive letter grades for all enrolled courses, including Idaho Digital Learning Academy and Kootenai Technical Education Campus classes. These will be the grades they had on March 13, 2020, before our buildings closed. The grades shall be recorded on the academic achievement record with grade points earned and used in determining GPA and class rank. The option for letter grades also applies to middle school students enrolled in high school-level courses.
    • STUDENT WORK DURING THE CLOSURE - Student work completed during the closure of our buildings cannot negatively impact a student’s grades. In other words, the grades recorded as of March 13, 2020, will not go down for any reason. Students may, however, improve their grades before the end of the semester by remaining engaged in learning opportunities. Teachers will provide opportunities for student work to count during the building closure if it will increase the student’s academic standing. This applies to all students, whether they remain on Pass/Not Pass or opt in for letter grades.
    • TO OPT IN FOR LETTER GRADES - Please email the school by 12:59 p.m. June 1, 2020, to select the letter grade option for your student. Include the name and grade of the student. You then will be sent a form to complete to verify your selection.
    • APPEAL PROCESS - In situations where students may have not had access or opportunity to address this decision based upon their unique circumstances, we will provide an appeal process. All requests for appeal should be received no later than April 30, 2021. The intent of this appeal is not to reverse a previously made decision, but to provide allowances for students and families experiencing extended difficulties during the pandemic.
    • Here is the full resolution adopted by the Board of Trustees on April 20, 2020.

     

    Dual credit classes

    Dual credit classes are governed by the college’s grading policies, regardless of where the class is taught. Colleges have moved instruction online, and there is an expectation for students to continue meeting deadlines and completing their assigned work. It is important to understand that college grades and records are separately maintained by the institution issuing the college credits (ie. North Idaho College, University of Idaho). If you want to modify how the college or university will report and record grades on your college transcript, you may need to follow additional procedures set forth by the individual college(s). A summary of those procedures can be found here.

    The Idaho State Board of Education has produced a video detailing recent Board-approved changes to high school graduation requirements and Idaho’s Advanced Opportunities programs in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Students, particularly juniors and seniors, have a lot of questions about certain graduation requirements and how credit will be awarded for their dual credit and Advanced Placement courses. Watch the video here. (The video mentions two potential dates for the SAT School Day this fall; the date is Oct. 14, 2020, for Coeur d'Alene Public Schools.)

    More information for young people who are planning their futures is available at NextSteps.Idaho.gov.

    Senior projects  

    All senior project requirements for Semester 2 are considered complete. Seniors will receive a “pass” grade and credit for their senior project. The Idaho State Board of Education has waived the senior project graduation requirement for the class of 2020. High schools may offer ways to celebrate seniors who completed their projects.

    Will my senior still graduate?

    Seniors will still graduate if they are on track to graduate and receive a passing grade for the courses taken in the second semester. On track to graduate means between the student’s scheduled classes this spring (including any scheduled credit recovery courses) and the student’s accumulated credits as of the end of first semester, the student would meet the credit requirements for graduation. The Civics Test is still a graduation requirement per state law. Most seniors have already passed this assessment. The district will communicate and work with seniors who still need to pass this assessment.

    How will this affect scholarship requirements and NCAA student-athlete eligibility?

    Organizations offering scholarships may announce changes in eligibility requirements in response to school closings and adjustments being made for the remainder of this school year. Visit the organization’s website to learn more. You also may check with the school counseling office for updates. We are working to make sure students are not penalized.

    Will there be high school commencement ceremonies for graduating seniors?

    Yes, the graduation ceremonies will happen on the originally scheduled dates: June 4 for Venture High School; June 5 for Coeur d'Alene High School; June 6 for Lake City High School. CHS and LCHS will have drive-in ceremonies at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. This allows us to comply with the guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control, Idaho State Board of Education and Idaho governor's office, with approval by Panhandle Health District.

    Each senior will arrive in a single passenger vehicle with immediate family members. (Please note: RVs, limousines, 15-passenger vans, party buses, boats, trailers and other oversized vehicles will not be permitted to enter the fairgrounds.) Guests will remain in their vehicles and will be able to follow the ceremony on large projection screens and listen to a broadcast of the event. Each senior will take their turn exiting their vehicle to walk across the stage, in cap and gown, and receive their diploma. We will provide professional photo and video services at the stage and make those images available to all families. As we expect some family members attending will be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, we will ask all guests to remain in their vehicles for the duration of the ceremony. The ceremony also will be streamed live on social media for other family and friends to follow from home.

    Will senior proms still happen?

    We have made the difficult decision to cancel the Class of 2020 Senior Balls due to the continuing need to practice social distancing for the health and safety of all in our community. We had hoped to be able to move forward with plans for this special event in May. With the precautions necessary to slow the spread of coronavirus, bringing students together for a dance this spring is not advisable, even if some restrictions can start to be lifted in the coming weeks. We understand the disappointment this will cause for our seniors and those who work tirelessly to plan our Senior Ball. This pandemic is affecting everyone, and is especially difficult for our senior students who are missing out on so many of the treasured rites of passage during this chapter of their lives. Our priority is to continue to protect the health and safety of our students, faculty, families and community.

    Will students still take the ISAT (Idaho Standards Achievement Test)?

    No, the Idaho State Board of Education has canceled the spring ISATs for all students. (Students in grades 6-8 and 10 normally take the ISAT in math, English language arts and science.)

    Do seniors still need to take the SAT to graduate?

    If seniors had not yet taken a college-entrance exam, the Idaho State Board of Education has waived this requirement for this school year.

    Will juniors still take the SAT?

    Current juniors (Class of 2021) will still need to take a college-entrance exam in order to graduate in 2021. The Idaho Department of Education has rescheduled the SAT School Day for October 14, 2020. That is the same date of the PSAT taken by freshmen, sophomores and juniors.

    What about the ACT college admissions exam?

    ACT has rescheduled its April 4 national test date to June 13 across the U.S. All students registered for the April 4 test date will receive an email from ACT informing them of the postponement and instructions for free rescheduling to June 13 or a future national test date.

    Will students in AP (Advanced Placement) classes take their May exams?

    Yes, students who have signed up will still be able to take their AP exams. The College Board is providing the exam online. The format and content of the test has changed in response to school closures across the nation. Information can be found on the AP website.

    Will seniors still need to pass the Civics Assessment for graduation?

    The Idaho State Board of Education has recommended to the governor that this graduation be waived for seniors.

    More details on state assessments

    For more infomation about state assessments, read our newsletter here.

    Are spring sports and activities be canceled?

    Yes. On April 17, the Idaho High School Activities Association Board of Directors announced that all spring sport and activity seasons and all state tournaments are cancelled. This decision was based on guidelines established by Gov. Brad Little, the Idaho State Board of Education, as well as feedback from schools and districts throughout the state.

    What about Driver’s Education?

    Students in the current section have the opportunity to receive a refund or wait to finish the course once class is able to resume. The decision to resume class will be made sometime in mid-May, based on the Governor's plan to reopen services and businesses. All future classes are on hold until further notice.

  • DID WE ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS?

    If you didn't find the answers you were looking for, please let us know. Email us at info@cdaschools.org