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- Rose Tree Media School District
- Flexible Instruction Days
Background Information
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A Flexible Instructional Day (FID) is a program available to public school entities to be used as an alternative approach to delivering instruction if a circumstance arises that prevents instruction in the customary manner.
With the passage of Act 64 of 2016 (Act 64) Section 1506 of the Public School Code allows public school entities to develop an FID program to meet the 180 instructional day requirement of section 1501. Act 64 defines eligible school entities to include school districts, intermediate units, career and technical schools, charter schools and regional charter schools, as defined under section 1703-A. An FID program may be online, offline, or a combination of both.
While public school entities are expected to build make-up days into their local school calendars, FID programs can support public school entities in cases when circumstances (e.g., a disease epidemic, a hazardous weather condition, a law enforcement emergency, the inoperability of school buses or other equipment necessary to the public school entity's operation, damage to a school building, or another temporary circumstance rendering any portion of a school building unfit or unsafe for use) prevent the delivery of instruction in its customary manner or location.
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What is a Flexible Instructional Day (FID)?
As detailed by the PA Department of Education, FID is a program available to public school entities that may be used in place of in-person instruction for any one of the following reasons: a disease epidemic, a hazardous weather condition, a law enforcement emergency, the inoperability of school buses or other equipment necessary to the public-school entity's operation, damage to school buildings, or another temporary circumstance rendering any portion of a school building unfit or unsafe for use.
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How many Flexible Instructional Days can RTMSD use?
Based on the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s guidelines and based on Rose Tree Media School District’s approved application, RTMSD can use up to five FIDs.
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Can the FID be used for just one school or grade level?
No, the FID must be used for all students in all school buildings.
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How will RTMSD communicate that they are using a FID?
The superintendent will use various forms of mass communication, including, but not limited to email, phone calls, and the district website, to notify our students and families about the implementation of an FID. Furthermore, expect to see an email from your building principal with more specific information.
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Will RTMSD transport my child to an out-of-district placement during a FID?
The district will run buses to private schools and out-of-district placements on an FID.
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Where does my child go to access work?
New for the 2024-2025 school year: The Flexible Instructional Day Plan delivers live, online teacher-led instruction for up to 2.5 hours* as well as learning activities. FID also provides scheduled office hours for teacher support and guidance via Zoom. These synchronous virtual office hours are optional for students. To learn more about FID in Rose Tree Media visit https://www.rtmsd.org/Page/158 and look for building-specific information regarding FID learning from your principal and teachers.
*Students unable to login online during FID must complete and return their paper packet of work. This will count as those students’ attendance check.
To ensure student success if an FID is implemented, here are a few reminders:
At the Elementary level:
Students will use their own/their family’s device. No technology will be sent home for elementary students.Students in grades K to 5 should work on the paper packet that was previously sent home. These same packets are available in Schoology, and they will be included in the email your child’s teacher will send by 9:00 am should FID be scheduled.
All work is due on the next in-person school day, and it counts for student attendance.
OPTIONAL office hours for students will be held according to the following schedule:
Elementary Classroom Teachers: 9 am - 9:30 am and 11:45-12:15 pm
IEP, 504, MTSS, and GIEP Meetings will occur as scheduled unless there is an emergency (i.e. no power). A Zoom link will be provided by the school.
At the Secondary level:
All work will be posted on Schoology unless your child received printed assignments from a teacher in advance.Attendance will be taken on Schoology.
All work is due on the next in-person school day.
OPTIONAL office hours for students will be held according to the following schedule:
Secondary Teachers: 12:30 pm - 1:15 pmSchool Counselors: 12:30 pm - 1:15 pm
Special Education Teachers, MTSS, Speech, OT, ELL: 11:45 am-12:30 pm
IEP, 504, MTSS, and GIEP Meetings will occur as scheduled unless there is an emergency (i.e. no power). A Zoom link will be provided by the school.
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What type of work will my student receive?
New for the 2024-2025 school year: The Flexible Instructional Day Plan delivers live, online teacher-led instruction for up to 2.5 hours* as well as learning activities. FID also provides scheduled office hours for teacher support and guidance via Zoom. These synchronous virtual office hours are optional for students. To learn more about FID in Rose Tree Media visit https://www.rtmsd.org/Page/158 and look for building-specific information regarding FID learning from your principal and teachers.
*Students unable to login online during FID must complete and return their paper packet of work. This will count as those students’ attendance check.
To ensure student success if an FID is implemented, here are a few reminders:
At the Elementary level:
Students will use their own/their family’s device. No technology will be sent home for elementary students.Students in grades K to 5 should work on the paper packet that was previously sent home. These same packets are available in Schoology, and they will be included in the email your child’s teacher will send by 9:00 am should FID be scheduled.
All work is due on the next in-person school day, and it counts for student attendance.
OPTIONAL office hours for students will be held according to the following schedule:
Elementary Classroom Teachers: 9 am-9:30 am and 11:45 am-12:15 pm
IEP, 504, MTSS, and GIEP Meetings will occur as scheduled unless there is an emergency (i.e. no power). A Zoom link will be provided by the school.
At the Secondary level:
All work will be posted on Schoology unless your child received printed assignments from a teacher in advance.Attendance will be taken on Schoology.
All work is due on the next in-person school day.
OPTIONAL office hours for students will be held according to the following schedule:
Secondary Teachers: 12:30 pm - 1:15 pmSchool Counselors: 12:30 pm - 1:15 pm
Special Education Teachers, MTSS, Speech, OT, ELL: 11:45 am-12:30 pm
IEP, 504, MTSS, and GIEP Meetings will occur as scheduled unless there is an emergency (i.e. no power). A Zoom link will be provided by the school.
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How should my child contact teachers for questions?
During the Flexible Instruction Day (FID), all teachers will check email in the morning, at mid-day, and at the end of the school day to answer any student questions.
OPTIONAL office hours for elementary students will be held according to the following schedule:
Elementary Classroom Teachers: 9 am-9:30 am and 11:45 am-12:15 pm
IEP, 504, MTSS, and GIEP Meetings will occur as scheduled unless there is an emergency (i.e. no power). A Zoom link will be provided by the school.
At the Secondary level:OPTIONAL office hours for students will be held according to the following schedule:
Secondary Teachers: 12:30 pm - 1:15 pmSchool Counselors: 12:30 pm - 1:15 pm
Special Education Teachers, MTSS, Speech, OT, ELL: 11:45 am-12:30 pm
IEP, 504, MTSS, and GIEP Meetings will occur as scheduled unless there is an emergency (i.e. no power). A Zoom link will be provided by the school.
If you have additional questions, please reach out to your building principal or to the Office of Curriculum and Instruction at (610) 627-6000.
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Where will the Zoom links be located?
Zoom session links will be posted in Schoology courses. Additionally, elementary Zoom links will be emailed to families.
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How will my student be marked present for the day?
At the elementary level, student attendance during an FID will be taken from work completed and submitted on the next regular school day.
At the secondary level, student attendance will be taken on Schoology.
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What if we lose power and my student cannot complete the work?
Students in kindergarten through fifth grade will have paper packets that have been previously sent home. If there is an issue completing the paper packet, please contact the student’s classroom teacher. Students in grades 6 to 12 should discuss this situation with their teacher/s upon return their in person return to school.
