New School Year Update
2021-22 School Year
Dear Los Altos School District Families,
We are thrilled to welcome all students at all grade levels back to in-person learning on August 18th: the first day of the 2021-22 school year! This means a return to school similar to what we experienced before the coronavirus pandemic, including a full junior high schedule, extracurricular activities and after school programs.
A Strong Record of Health and Safety
Just as we did last school year with great success, we will safely and confidently operate our schools to prevent the spread of illness. Our COVID-safe operations are now second nature to our administrators, staff and educators. We have proven time and again we know how to ensure students follow these important health guidelines to keep everyone safe.
Strict Adherence to Public Health Guidelines
These critical protocols will be in place when school begins on August 18:
Students and staff must complete a daily symptom screener before coming to campus
Students and staff must stay home if they are sick
Students and staff will be required to wear a mask unless eating or drinking, or if they have a documented medical exemption
LASD will follow all CDPH guidelines regarding any identified positive COVID-19 cases
For more details on our health and safety protocols, please read below.
LASD will rigorously follow the scientific expertise and guidance of state and local public health officials throughout the school year. We will remain vigilant and flexible to respond to any changes to keep our schools safe and open. You may read more about current health guidelines to protect all students and staff here. Please note: these guidelines have been updated to take into account the current rise in cases from the Delta variant.
A Focus on Excellent Education and Student Well-Being
At LASD, we build strong educational communities at all schools and in all classrooms by creating an engaging, welcoming and inclusive learning environment to support social development and academic success. As we begin the school year, our dedicated teachers and staff will ensure each student knows their social, emotional and educational development is our top priority.
LASD believes in-person learning is the optimal educational experience for students at all grade levels. Students who are unable to return to campus for medical reasons may enroll in a 100% virtual Independent Study program for the upcoming school year. Please note, this program will be operated by a third-party following California Department of Education requirements and will not be the same as our LASD Virtual School from the 2020-21 school year. For more information on the Independent Study option, please read below and register here for an Independent Study Town Hall on Wednesday, August 4 at 7:00 pm. Please contact Erin Green for additional program details and to register your child for this program.
I am proud of our school district’s unwavering commitment to all students’ educational success and emotional and physical well-being. It is a privilege to partner with our families to provide a full, enriching and rigorous educational experience once again this year. We can’t wait to welcome all of our students back to school!
Sincerely,
Jeffrey Baier
Superintendent
Los Altos School District
Health & Wellness Strategies
LASD requires adherence to all state and local health guidance and protocols on campus to ensure the health and safety of all individuals on campus.
Checking Symptoms and Staying Home when Sick
To prevent transmission, it is critical for individuals to remain home if sick. On campus, staff will monitor symptoms and contact families should a student become ill at school.
Staff members and student guardians will be asked to monitor daily for symptoms including fever over 99.6 degrees Fahrenheit, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion, nausea or vomiting and diarrhea.
Students may return to school when:
At least 24 hours have passed since resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications; and other symptoms have improved; AND
They have a negative test for SARS-CoV-2, OR a healthcare provider has provided documentation that the symptoms are typical of their underlying chronic condition (e.g., allergies or asthma) OR a healthcare provider has confirmed an alternative named diagnosis (e.g., Streptococcal pharyngitis, Coxsackie virus), OR at least 10 days have passed since symptom onset.
Universal Mask Wearing
Current state guidance requires masking regardless of vaccination status by all staff and all students (TK-8th grade) on campus.
Each school site has a supply of face masks in case an extra face mask is needed.
If a student is having difficulty wearing a face mask consistently, an administrator will be in contact with the parent/guardian to determine a solution (e.g., face mask breaks as needed.)
Handwashing and Hygienic Practices
Routine, frequent and proper hand hygiene (soap and water or hand sanitizer) is critical to limit transmission. Hand hygiene is one of the most effective strategies to prevent the spread of most respiratory viruses including COVID-19, particularly during the pre-symptomatic phase of the illness.
Schools will continue to teach and reinforce washing hands, avoiding contact with one's eyes, nose, and mouth, and covering coughs and sneezes among students and staff.
Hand sanitizer and handwashing stations will continue to be placed in various locations on campus for use. LASD has ensured ample access to handwashing stations for students.
Cleaning Protocol
Schools will continue to clean sites every day. Cleaning involves wiping down high-touch surfaces to remove surface contaminants.
In the event of a confirmed case of illness, custodial staff will use high-grade sprayers with a sanitizing product that is EPA approved for use against COVID-19.
All cleaning solutions provided by the district are EPA approved for use in classrooms.
Each classroom and workplace will have access to paper towels and spray bottles of a cleaning solution to wipe down any shared surfaces, light switches, door knobs, desk surfaces, shared objects, and any other high touch surfaces.
Ventilation and Outdoor Space
Properly installed and maintained Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems are key to ensuring healthy indoor air quality in school learning environments.
The HVAC systems at all sites in the district have been evaluated by a licensed contractor to ensure proper air circulation in every building in the district. Filters are replaced on a regular scheduled timeline.
Outdoor spaces have been identified and designated as options for classroom lessons.
Positive COVID-19 Test Result Protocol
In the event of a positive case of COVID-19, administrative staff will communicate with employees and/or families of students who are close contacts, in adherence to all privacy laws. Information will be provided when students may return to school following a positive test result, and appropriate disinfecting protocols will be followed in the classroom or office.
We will continue to communicate updates of any state and local guidance recommended for schools. As a community, we will continue to ensure the health and wellness of our students, staff and LASD families.
Independent Study
In the Los Altos School District, we have been diligently preparing for the new school year with full in-person learning 5 days a week. This is in alignment with the state's emphasis of resuming full-time in-person instruction for students. As such, Distance Learning as implemented last school year is no longer an allowable learning alternative. Per recent state legislation, Independent Study is the only allowable option for students as an alternative to in-person learning. Independent Study in LASD will contain a mix of some online, classroom-style instruction with an overseeing teacher, and independent, at-home individualized learning overseen by the parent/guardian.
What This Means for LASD Students
LASD administrative staff strongly recommend that students return to school campuses for in-person learning, which encompasses a well-rounded academic and social-emotional experience. With multi-layered mitigation protocols such as universal masking indoors, frequent hand washing, ventilation, and parent responsibility to keep symptomatic children home, we feel confident we are providing a safe learning environment.
However, for families with health concerns, Independent Study will be offered in partnership with an approved independent, online school. The state assembly bill updates regarding independent study were made available July 12. LASD is quickly working to determine a program that will adhere to the updated legislation (AB 130).
Please note that Independent Study is meant as an alternative for families whose members may have health risks. Although Independent Study is primarily done at home, there are live interaction requirements where the designated online school will support our students. Independent Study is not intended for students who reside temporarily out of the district. Families enrolling in LASD’s Independent Study program must meet all residency requirements.
In-person Learning on School Campus
5 full days per week on campus in-person learning
Schools will adhere to public health department guidance regarding masking, gathering size limitations, daily health screening, ventilation, cleaning, etc.
Additional interventions and support will be made available for students identified as needing academic or behavioral support
Opt Out of In-person Learning: Independent Study Program
Students will transfer out of their current in-person school and enroll into our Independent Study program. The program will be hosted in partnership with an independent, online school program. Independent Study includes synchronous and asynchronous instruction and live interaction. Please note that the number of live minutes will be substantially less than last year’s LASD Virtual School led by LASD teachers.
The designated Independent Study program provides an online standards based curriculum.
There may be a combination of grades in each class.
There may be students from other districts in the class.
A student with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) cannot participate in Independent Study, unless the student’s IEP specifically provides for that participation. If interested, please contact your current school site administrative assistant to request an IEP meeting.
Independent Study students will be TRANSFERRED OUT of their current school and will enroll in our Independent Study program. Students may transfer back to in-person instruction per parent request. Transfers back to in-person learning will take place within 5 days of the request. When the student returns to in-person learning, the district will make every effort to transfer the student back to their previous school, but placement is not guaranteed. If the grade level at a site is full, then the student will be placed at another site. LASD guarantees placement at one of our schools and is unable to “hold spots” at the current school.
Devices will be provided by LASD as needed.
Platform support will be provided by the designated Independent Study program.
While enrolled in the designated Independent Study program, communications will be received by the Independent Study Program and the district. While you may still receive communications from your child’s home school, please note that this does not guarantee a spot when they return to in-person learning.
Please note, if your child returns to in person learning after being in the Independent Study program there is no guarantee placement will be in their home school for the 2021-22 school year. However, priority will be given for students to be placed at their home school when possible. Every effort will be made to return students to their home schools in the 2022-2023 school year.
Student-Parent-Educator Conference
Parents and guardians have the right to request a student-parent-educator conference to ask questions before making the decision about enrollment or disenrollment in the Independent Study program. The conference may be conducted by telephone, videoconference or in-person. If you wish to request a conference for your student, please contact Erin Green at egreen@lasdschools.org.
Procedures for Enrolling, Disenrolling and Reenrolling in Independent Study
To enroll in the Independent Study program for the 2021-2022 school year, we will partner with families to develop a written agreement outlining the details, requirements and support included in the program. A student with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) may not participate in Independent Study unless the student’s IEP specifically provides for that participation. Contact the LASD Special Education Office to request an IEP meeting for your child.
If you would like to enroll your student in Independent Study, you must complete the following Independent Study Application. By submitting this application, you are notifying LASD of this enrollment decision, and that you are ready for LASD administrative staff to meet with you regarding the Independent Study Agreement. Please complete the application by August 6, 2021 to help with placement into our Independent Study program on August 18th. For applications submitted thereafter, every effort will be made to place your child in a timely manner.
Thank you and please contact Erin Green with any questions about the Independent Study process: egreen@lasdschools.org
Los Altos School District
Website: lasdschools.org
Location: 201 Covington Road, Los Altos, CA, USA
Phone: 650-947-1150
