March 20: Child Care, Meal Distribution, Remote Learning, NYS suspends assessments

Child care resources

If your child is not of school age, and you need a free referral to a legal, reliable child care program, please contact the Childcare Council of Orange County by calling toll free at 1 (844) 461-4689 or access the program’s referral search at http://childcarecounciloc.org/services/family-search-for-child-care/ 
(Section added April 8)

Free meals available to all students, with pick up and drop off options

Free meals are available to all students throughout the extended Covid-19 school closure. Families can pick up two-days worth of breakfast-lunch meals on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., at S.S. Seward’s entrance.
— April 9 update:  Starting Monday, April 13, families have the option to request that meals be delivered to their residence instead. To place a delivery request, Golden Hill families should email dlisack@floridaufsd.org.  SSSI families, please email your delivery request to susanmoore@floridaufsd.org or mrheaume@floridaufsd.org.

Remote Learning Website

The Florida Union Free School District has developed a remote learning  website to provide technical assistance, helpful videos and a variety of resources available to everyone. Please use this link to access the site: https://sites.google.com/floridaufsd.org/fufsd-remote-learning/home?authuser=0

There is a section of the website where students, parents and staff can submit IT Support requests using a Google Form. Please use this link to access the IT Support Google Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdWFEGFOQcmyB_zaaLM6hR619InbYrCVh_AIVPRi0uZQOI8_A/viewform

We plan to update information on the site so please check back often.

Continuity of Learning

Teachers will be providing instructional activities early next week.

School Closure

As per executive order of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo  signed on March 16, all schools in New York were directed to close by Wednesday, March 18 for two weeks ending Wednesday, April 1.  At that time, the state will reassess whether to extend the school closures further.

New York State Education Department Assessments Suspended

The New York State Board of Regents and state Education Department announced Friday, March 20, that the 2020 elementary- and intermediate-level state assessments have been suspended for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year.

“It is most important that during the time of closure, schools are able to continue to focus their efforts toward local school and community needs, as they have been doing, and not be concerned about state assessments. NYSED has applied for federal waivers for testing, accountability and reporting requirements,” according to a statement from Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa and Interim State Education Commissioner Shannon Tahoe.

This suspension applies to the following New York state testing programs:

  • New York State Grades 3-8 English Language Arts Test;
  • New York State Grades 3-8 Mathematics Test;
  • New York State Grade 4 Elementary-Level Science Test;
  • New York State Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Test;
  • New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test (NYSESLAT) in Grades K-12; and
  • New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA) for students with severe cognitive disabilities in Grades 3-8 and high school.

The state has yet to give guidance on end-of-June Regents exams and The College Board’s Advanced Placement exams.

This is a changing situation and we will continue to monitor it closely.  Please continue to keep  your families safe.  If you have any questions about this email, please contact me by email at jjehring@floridaufsd.org