Instructional Continuity Plan (ICP)

When the COVID-19 pandemic closed schools to in-person learning in March of 2020, school districts across Florida pivoted to a fully virtual learning environment for teachers, students and families. Districts, including The School District of Lee County, responded with creative solutions and new approaches to nearly all aspects of school operations.

During that time, The Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) worked with districts to develop plans for the continuation of learning and the safe reopening of schools for the 2020/2021 school year.

The FLDOE reviewed the plans, and then hired a consultant to examine research on best practices and interview a sample of Districts across Florida, including the School District of Lee County.

Based on that research all 67 counties were required to craft and submit an Instructional Continuity Plan (ICP) to prioritize the success of all students and provide necessary access and supports to ensure high quality teaching and learning when there is a disruption to in-person learning.

In addition, in The U.S. Department of Education’s Interim Final Rule, 88 FR 21195, dated April, 22,2021 directs Local Education Authorities (LEAs) to create a plan for the safe return to in-person instruction that addresses how it will maintain the health and safety of students, educators, and other school and LEA staff, and the extent to which it has adopted policies or practices and a description of any such policies or practices regarding safety recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

The following plan addresses both the FLDOE’s requirement for an Instructional Continuity Plan to ensure the continuation of all educational operations during periods of separation from in-person learning, as well as the USDOE’s requirement for a plan that addresses the safe return to in-person instruction.

Part 1: Safe Return to In-person Instruction

Overview

The Lee County School District returned for full face to face instruction in August, 2020. In partnership with local medical and educational experts, we created a Tiered Mitigation Strategies Matrix to guide us through the Pandemic.

The measurement we use to determine the level of mitigation strategies is the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC's) Local Community Transmission Rate which is made up of two components:

1. New cases per 100,000 persons in the past 7 days; and
2. Percentage of positive NAATs tests during the past 7 days.

Policies or Practices Regarding CDC Recommendations

Part 2: Instructional Continuity Plan

The Instructional Continuity Plan details the necessary processes and procedures for the continuation of all educational operations during periods of disruption of in-person learning.

The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) developed an Instructional Continuity Framework that consists of ten components outlined below, each of which has a series of development activities which the School District of Lee County used to develop and refine our own draft Instructional Continuity Plan (ICP).

Academics

Technology

Operations

Communications

Part 3: Periodic Review and Public Input

Overview

Districts are required to review and, as appropriate, revise their Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan at least every six months through September 30, 2023, including seeking public input and taking such input into account in determining whether to revise the plan and, if revisions are determined necessary, on the revisions it makes to its plan.

In addition, the ARP Act requires that school districts make their Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan available to the public online and that the plans be in an understandable and uniform format; to the extent practicable, are written in a language that parents can understand or, if not practicable, orally translated; and upon request by a parent who is an individual with a disability, provided in an alternative format accessible to that parent.

Before making its plan publicly available, school districts must seek public comment on the plan and develop the plan after taking into account public comment.

Response

During the period of the American Rescue Plan ESSER award (until September, 2024), The School District of Lee County will periodically review, and, as needed revise our Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan. We will seek and consider public input during the review process as well as update the plan to address any updated CDC, State and Federal guidance.

The plan will be posted on the District’s website at www.leeschools.net. It will be available in multiple languages through the use of our website provider, School Messenger. The link to the final plan will also be sent to our families and employees through our messaging systems, and our District Advisory Committees.

Conclusion

The School District of Lee County has created a comprehensive plan that details the safe return to in person instruction as well as the necessary processes and procedures for the continuation of all educational operations during periods of disruption of in-person learning. The plan outlines the steps we will take to support our student, teacher, school and community, while upholding our mission of ensuring that every student reaches his or her highest personal potential with a focus on their health and wellbeing.