July 13, 2020
Dear Naperville 203 Community:
At tonight’s meeting, the Board of Education heard Naperville 203’s Return to Learn plan.
This spring, in preparation for the 2020-2021 school year, Naperville 203 administration created a Return to Learn Committee that began reviewing state and federal guidance and implementation strategies. On June 23 the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) released requirements and recommendations for schools to resume in-person learning this fall while keeping students and staff safe and healthy. The guidance continues to evolve, but Naperville 203 plans are in coordination with ISBE, the Illinois Department of Public Health and the DuPage County Health Department.

The Return to Learn committee had these goals at the forefront of their planning:
Develop and implement a plan that can be flexible and responsive to the changing conditions of the pandemic and ultimately return to full in-person instruction.
Ensure safe and secure learning/work space for all students and staff aligned to ISBE and IDPH recommendations.
The guiding principles when coming up with the Return to Learn plan included aligning teaching and learning with the District mission; utilizing a EC-12 lens for planning and decision making; consider both the academic and social emotional needs of students; ensuring equity and access for all students; and at least 5 hours of daily instruction and/or student engagement.
As you can imagine, returning to school during the COVID-19 pandemic has ongoing challenges including helping Naperville 203 families and faculty prepare and plan for the 2020-2021 school year; balancing the in-person leaning with guidance on reducing the transmission of the virus; and heeding guidance from national, state, and local agencies that is continuously evolving.
With all of that in mind, Naperville 203 has created two options for families to consider for the start of the 2020-2021 school year.
Option 1 - Hybrid Model (click here for more information).
Option 2 - Online Academy (click here for more information).
If parents choose this option, a decision needs to be made by July 22, 2020 so we can plan for the school year appropriately. Choosing Online Academy is a commitment of a trimester (EC-8) or semester (HS) depending on level.
We believe that beginning the year with the hybrid model allows for students to acclimate back into the educational setting, learn the new health and safety guidelines, and to evaluate what each student needs both academically and socially-emotionally for a successful transition. The Hybrid model and current state will be continuously evaluated with the goal of returning students to in person learning as soon as it is safe to do so.
All Naperville 203 families must log into the Infinite Campus Parent Portal and complete a household survey regarding your intent to either enroll in hybrid with (if eligible) your transportation preferences or your intent to enroll in the Online Academy (when you log in, you will see a survey tab). Families with multiple children can make individual decisions for each student making it possible for students living in the same household to enroll in different models. Enrollment for the Online Academy will close on July 22, 2020, and any student that does not have a completed survey will be enrolled in the Hybrid Model.
The coming school year brings a lot of uncertainty, but I want to assure you that we are working to return to a safe learning and work environment for our students and staff. I ask for your patience as we continue to finalize these plans for Return to Learn. As more information becomes available, District and school administration will be communicating with families. To watch the Board presentation, please click here. More information can also be found on our District website. If you have additional questions regarding the Return to Learn Plan, please use our Let's Talk platform to submit your question.
Sincerely,
Dan Bridges
Superintendent
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