Important Update: 2020-21 School Year

Important Update: 2020-21 School Year
Posted on 07/14/2020
Dear Douglas County School District Parents/Guardians,

The COVID-19 pandemic has provided us with many challenges and continuously changing information. And with that, we understand that the idea of returning students and staff to the classroom comes with great anxiety. As the safety of our staff and students is of utmost importance, the decision to return to in-person learning is not one we are taking lightly. We are listening to the concerns of our community and working to answer the many questions being raised by our students, parents, staff, and community members.

As there is much to be done to prepare for a safe return to the classroom, DCSD is delaying the first day of school to Monday, August 17. This delay will afford all DCSD staff the opportunity to train and prepare for a safe and healthy in-person learning environment. This additional time will also enable us to obtain additional feedback from our community and provide our families and staff with the specific details and answers they need to feel comfortable returning to our classrooms.

Douglas County School District is moving forward with opening all K-12 schools for full-time, in-person learning (five days a week) beginning August 17. A DCSD eLearning option will also be offered at each of our schools as an alternative to in-person learning for families who prefer their student(s) continue learning remotely.

Click here for details about DCSD In-Person Learning for 2020-2021

Click here for details about DCSD e-Learning for 2020-2021

Prior to the Start of School

To assist us in planning and staffing for the upcoming school year, after reading the descriptions of our in-person and e-learning options, we ask our families to complete this short form outlining your plans for the 2020-2021 school year, as well as your needs for school bus transportation.

PLEASE COMPLETE ONE FORM FOR EACH STUDENT WHO WILL ATTEND DOUGLAS COUNTY SCHOOLS DURING THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR, NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY, JULY 22.

If your child attended a charter school in 2019-2020, and plans to continue in their charter school for 2020-2021 you do not need to complete this form. Charters have the autonomy to design their own operations and education delivery opportunities, and will be communicating their plans directly to enrolled families. If your child attended a DCSD neighborhood school in 2019-2020, and is transferring to a DCSD charter school, or a non-DCSD school for 2020-2021, please complete the form to help us plan for staffing at your child’s prior school.

Kindergarten / Balanced Beginnings

In DCSD, we have a special transition process in place for our Kindergarten students called Balanced Beginnings. The first days of school will be staggered, with small groups of students coming rather than the entire class. This eases the transition into Kindergarten and allows teachers and students to build positive relationships, introduce the new environment and routines, and collect informal data as they begin their year with students.

This means that Kindergarten students will not begin full days of school until Friday, August 21. Kindergarten students will be assigned a half-day to come in and transition into their classrooms with a small group of 6-8 students August 17 - August 19. Then, August 20 will serve as a planning day for Kindergarten teachers so they can use the information they collect when they meet with transition groups and plan for targeted and individualized instruction in the first weeks of school.

While the past few months have been challenging, we have also had much to celebrate. We hosted in-person commencement ceremonies for our Class of 2020 in alignment with guidance from local and state health officials. In addition, our Nutrition Services department has distributed over a half a million meals to children across Douglas County since the pandemic began in the spring. These milestones were possible thanks to the commitment of our community members, and their trust in DCSD.

Our return to in-person learning may not be perfect, and I know there are many questions that still need answers. But I know that together, we can do this and help our students and staff through this next chapter of this pandemic.

We will continue to provide updates to our community about the return to school. Information is also available on our website at www.dcsdk12.org/roadtoreturn.

I look forward to partnering with you and welcome your continued feedback throughout this process.

Proud to serve as your superintendent,

Thomas S. Tucker, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Douglas County School District
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In compliance with Titles VI & VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, and Colorado law, the Douglas County School District RE-1 does not unlawfully discriminate against otherwise qualified students, employees, applicants for employment, or members of the public on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, religion, ancestry, or need for special education services. Discrimination against employees and applicants for employment based on age, genetic information, and conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth is also prohibited in accordance with state and/or federal law. Complaint procedures have been established for students, parents, employees, and members of the public. The School District's Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator to address complaints alleging sexual harassment under Title IX is Aaron Henderson, 620 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, [email protected], 303-387-0127.

Outside Agencies

Complaints regarding violations of Title VI, (race, national origin), Title IX (sex, gender), Section 504/ADA (handicap or disability), may be filed directly with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 1244 North Speer Blvd., Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204. Complaints regarding violations of Title VII (employment) and the ADEA (prohibiting age discrimination in employment) may be filed directly with the Federal Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 303 E. 17th Ave., Suite 510, Denver, CO 80202, or the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 1560 Broadway, Suite 1050, Denver, CO 80202.

NOTICE OF DESTRUCTION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION RECORDS

Special Education records which have been collected by Douglas County School District related to the identification, evaluation, educational placement, or the provision of special education in the district, must be maintained under state and federal laws for the period of five (5) years after special education services have ended for the student. Special education services end when the student is no longer eligible for services, graduates, or completes his/her educational program at age 21, or moves from the district. This notification is to inform parents/guardians and former students of Douglas County School District's intent to destroy the special education records of students who exited special education services as of June 30, 2016. These records will be destroyed in accordance with state law unless the parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student notifies the school district otherwise. After five years, the records are no longer useful to the district, but may be useful to the parent/guardian or former student in applying for social security benefits, rehabilitation services, college entrance, etc. The parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student may request a copy of the records by requesting the records at this link ( Douglas County School District Transcripts and Records Requests ).