The following information was sent to members on Friday, March 27, in a Member Matters e-newsletter, and updated on Sunday, March 29, with information on multi-track schools. Click here for instructions on how to sign up for Member Matters to get the latest updates sent directly to your inbox.

As your first week of remote work comes to a close, we want to share the latest developments regarding school closures—many of which were released within the past several hours by the Hawaii State Department of Education.

3rd-quarter grades due April 1 for most schools, April 6 for multi-track schools

The HIDOE announced Thursday that third-quarter grades and IEP progress reports are due by the end of the workday on April 1. Teachers should not be asked to report to campus to submit grades or print report cards.

Some teachers asked for more time to input grades. In discussions with the HIDOE, we were told that extensions could be provided on a school-by-school basis and administrators were notified this afternoon of that option. If teachers on your campus feel the need for more time, please talk to your principal about adjusting the deadline for your school. Read this memo for more information.

UPDATE: The HIDOE issued another memo dated March 27 stating that third-quarter grades and IEP progress reports will be due by the end of the working day for teachers on Monday, April 6, 2020 for the following multi-track schools: Holomua Elementary, Mililani Middle School, and Kapolei Middle School.

Should you have any questions, please contact the Office of Curriculum and Instructional Design at (808) 305-9651 or email ocidhelp@k12.hi.us.

What are teachers expected to do during school closures?

Teachers continue to work from remote locations during school closures and are expected to work within the scope of their classroom or non-classroom position. The superintendent announced that school facilities will be closed to students until at least April 30 and traditional in-school instruction is on hold until schools reopen. During this time, educators should be implementing “remote enrichment opportunities to ensure continuity of learning. Continuity of learning provides continued learning opportunities to maintain or enrich what student learned prior to Spring Break.”

Teachers are empowered to use their professional training and judgement to determine the scope and method to provide appropriate learning and enrichment activities via our agreement with the superintendent (see Section IV, page 3).

Special education guidance released Friday night

For weeks, members and HSTA leaders have been asking the HIDOE for clarification regarding special education services during coronavirus-related closures. The department finally released guidance tonight in a memo about programming and timelines for students with special needs during school closures. In regards to IEP deadlines and meetings, the HIDOE says teachers should make a “good faith effort to meet timeline requirements” and attempt to hold virtual meetings if possible. It is also our understanding that teachers should provide enrichment activities to students with special needs and make accommodations where possible. The memo also contains specific guidance related to virtual IEP meetings and timelines. This follows the latest U.S. Department of Education guidance issued on March 21.

The memo also links to a series of resources for teachers. Please note, this site is not open to the public and employees must be logged in with their work Google accounts to access it.

The HIDOE tonight also released a memo related to student support/related services personnel such as therapists, educational assistants, and others. This memo applies to other bargaining unit employees who work with students. Teachers may find the memo informational as they interact with these individuals in their day-to-day work.

Earlier today, the department released a flyer for parents of students with disabilities which said, "To ensure the health and safety of all, direct in-person services will not be provided to students at any location. Related services may be provided via telepractice when it is appropriate to do so.”

Graduation requirements

Late today, the State of Hawaii Board of Education posted the agenda for its Thursday, April 2, meeting. It includes a request from the HIDOE for a waiver to BOE Policy 102-15 High School Graduation Requirements and Commencement. The department is seeking flexibility to award a diploma or certificate to graduating seniors based on approval from individual school administrations. There are approximately 10,000 students who are eligible to earn diplomas this year. While we are not sure of the specific flexibility sought, HSTA supports efforts to ensure our graduating seniors and high school students are not negatively impacted by the effect of the long-term COVID-19 school closures.

Rumors about an extended school year

Members and the public continue to speculate about an extended school year. The department has not proposed to extend the year, nor is it something HSTA would advocate for. An extension would require millions of dollars a day and could negatively impact students, especially seniors. There is also no realistic way to extend the multi-track school year as they have no extra days in the school calendar.

TATP timeline extended by two weeks

The department has extended Teacher Assignment and Transfer Program posting, interview, and selection dates. The first-round interview and selection deadline has been delayed from March 25 to April 6. Round two of postings has also been adjusted. View the HIDOE memo here.

Reclassification deadlines to submit credits pushed back one month

The DOE also moved back the deadline to submit academic and/or professional development credits for reclassification requests in spring 2020 semester from March 30 to April 30. Submitting before the deadline ensures pay increases would be retroactive to the beginning of the semester rather than at the start of the next semester. Should you have any questions, please contact the Teacher Reclassification Unit at (808) 441-8383 or e-mail teacher.reclassification@k12.hi.usView the HIDOE memo here.

Live briefing to stream Sunday on Facebook, YouTube

The HSTA will stream a live briefing Sunday, March 29, at 4 p.m. on Facebook and YouTube to discuss the latest developments and answer your questions. Sign language interpreters will be a part of this presentation. As always, please check this page for full updates with the latest official information.

We’d also like to respectfully ask for your patience during this crisis. HSTA leaders and staff are doing their best to provide you with accurate information, but we often don’t have all the answers when you ask. Our leaders have been in frequent touch with top HIDOE officials and continue to offer feedback and advice on various changes. That being said, we sometimes find out about major announcements only when they are made public. We are not able to interpret the information and give you accurate guidance until after we consult with HIDOE leaders.

Mahalo for your dedication and resilience as we continue to advocate for our members and our keiki.