Welcome to TUHSD! We are happy you chose to bring your student to TUHSD. First and foremost, your student is a general education student and can equally access every appropriate learning option in our district, the same as a general education student.

You do have the option to keep your son/daughter at home until you feel comfortable sending him/her to campus, regardless of if you select our In-person learning model or TUOL.

Currently, we are under an Executive Order delaying the start of face to face instruction, through August 17, 2020.  Although face to face instruction has been delayed, TUHSD offers two educational choices for parents and students; “In-person” learning which will be synchronous (virtual instruction) until we can resume face to face instruction on campus(es) and/or be extended virtually for first semester OR TUOL learning which is asynchronous learning (on-line instruction) and self-paced. We recognize that these can be difficult decisions and our goal is to support the needs of all of our students and families.

TUHSD will not require parents, students, or guardians to sign a COVID-19 liability waiver.

Our synchronous learning opportunities will allow special education students to participate in their regular class schedule offering access to their general education peers. Once in-person instruction resumes on campus, students will participate in their regular daily activities.

In-person: Synchronous learning on a virtual platform while school is closed with students following the daily campus bell schedule and their class schedule of 6 classes per day: live sessions with teachers, staff, and peers. When schools reopen for in-person instruction, students can continue on virtually for the remainder of that semester, (In-person Extended) OR return to campus in person, continuing to follow their same schedule and continuing to receive all of their services on their IEP. Students will be required to go to their home campus for all related services, once we are allowed to return to school IF you select In-person Extended. Related services will be provided by appointment during pre-scheduled times on a weekly or monthly basis. 

TUOL: Determined as the location of services by the IEP team. This model is asynchronous and self-paced for students. Students take 3 classes per day per quarter for a total of 6 classes per semester. Students will be required to go to their home campus for all related services on an IEP, provided by appointment at pre-scheduled times only on a weekly or monthly basis. 

All accommodations and modifications will be implemented by the student’s teachers and support staff per the student’s IEP.

Please follow the link below to enroll your student in our Tempe Union Online Learning, (TUOL) model for online instruction for all of the first semester. Because your son or daughter has an Individualized Education Plan, (IEP), your home campus will first need to hold an IEP Team Meeting before school starts to determine if TOUL is an appropriate location of services for them.

https://www.tempeunion.org/Enroll

For In-Person and In-Person (Extended) - if your child is already registered for the 20-21 school year, no further action or enrollment is required at this time.

The first two weeks of the 2020-2021 school year will involve real-time interaction between students and teachers, conducted virtually. It also allows the District to continue to adapt to any new guidelines or Executive Orders that may be issued by Governor Ducey.

The advantage of the In-person learning model is that the courses that your student registered for will remain intact. Teachers will teach virtually, either from home or in their classroom, in real-time with lessons created by site-based teacher teams and aligned to Standards. Courses will begin and end on time following their school’s daily bell schedule. This option is in place until it is deemed safe for students and staff to return in person.

If a student is enrolled in our TUOL learning model, their instruction will be self-paced and they will be enrolled in 3 courses per quarter.  Both learning models will expect students with related services to come to their home campus to receive their related services in person, per their current IEP, if they are not attending In-person instruction, once all campuses reopen.

Students receiving related services such as Speech, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy will require an IEP meeting prior to enrolling in TUOL. One of the purposes of this IEP Meeting is to determine if TUOL is the most appropriate location of services for your son or daughter, including how each student will receive all related services on their IEP.

Yes, your son or daughter can use their personal device, if that is the preference. 

Tempe Union is committed to providing devices for students who need access to technology. The District will distribute devices so that students with an internet-connected device have access to Schoology, Google Hangouts, etc. Labs will be open at each school site for students who do not have access to the internet during the day.

Your student can access a tablet if that is his/her personal device. If a parent is requesting a tablet be provided, these will be considered on a first-come, first-serve basis as well as considering individualized student IEP needs.

Teachers will teach virtually, either from home or in their classroom, in real-time with lessons created by site-based teacher teams. Courses will begin and end on time following their school’s daily bell schedule. This option is in place until it is deemed safe for students and staff to begin returning to school.

Teachers will have the discretion to use a variety of user-friendly platforms, embedded into Schoology. A lesson may be recorded, if a student has that accommodation in their IEP and it is not a violation of FERPA.

Your son or daughter will have two options to participate in their Free Appropriate Public Education in TUHSD. They may attend our “In-person” learning model, (provided virtually right now until it is deemed safe to return to campus) OR our Tempe Union Online Learning, (TUOL), model. If you select the In-person learning model, you may decide to continue with virtual, synchronous learning for your student for the remainder of the semester, even after the Gov. allows us to return to campus in person.

Both learning models will embed higher levels of rigor and engagement than was in place for the fourth quarter of last year. Our In-person learning model will require a student to be logged on to a full day of school per the student’s class schedule. Our TUOL model is self-paced.

To cancel your TUOL registration, please contact your student’s Guidance Counselor. There is no new 3rd option; students/families will now have the option to continue In-person learning virtually even after the Governor allows students to return to campuses for In-person face-to-face instruction.

All students will receive all accommodations and modifications within their IEP, regardless of which learning model is selected.

At this time, IEP meetings will be held virtually to minimize person to person contact.

Generally, case managers will schedule IEP Meetings two to four weeks prior to the annual IEP due date. For students who elect to participate in asynchronous/on-line instruction through TUOL, an IEP meeting will be scheduled prior to the start of school.

We recognize how hard the fourth quarter of 2020 was for all students. We also know that most students demonstrated some degree of regression because of these challenges. Our special education teachers and related service providers are continually trained to collect regression and recoupment data for all students with an IEP. Data collected for each student will be used to determine whether or not additional services may be needed to support academic and related service(s) recoupment, once we resume face to face instruction.  

Please talk to your student’s IEP Team regarding your parent input/preferences regarding your child not being pulled out for core classes.

Some IEP’s may require an update for a variety of reasons, depending on your individualized situation. Your student’s IEP Team will contact you to set up an IEP Meeting, IF there is a need to update your child’s IEP. As the parent/guardian of a student with an IEP, you also have the option to request an IEP Meeting at any time.

Finalized student schedules will be posted in Synergy prior to August 3rd, 2020, the first day of the 2020-21 school year.

All families that select the In-person learning model will not require an IEP to be rewritten at this time. Last quarter the district informed all families with students on an IEP via a Prior Written Notice dated 3/27/2020 that the district would be shifting to an online learning model per Governor’s orders. 

Families selecting the TUOL learning model will be required to have an IEP team meeting prior to enrollment in TUOL to determine if an online learning platform is an appropriate location of services for the student.

Students who have paraprofessional support on their IEPs will continue to receive all of their support, including para support via a virtual platform until is safe to return to campus.

Your student will receive their service hours per their IEP virtually until the Governor says we can resume face to face instruction. If you select TUOL for your son/daughter, we will proceed withholding an IEP meeting to determine if TUOL is an appropriate location of services for your son/daughter. 

Please elaborate if these are not the hours you are referring to.

Following our current state guidelines, both of the learning models we are offering does meet the definition of the least restrictive environment so that we can keep all students and staff safe.

Parents and students will need to determine which model best benefits their student’s instructional needs. Parents are encouraged to collaborate with the Student Service Coordinator on their son or daughter’s comprehensive campus for specific questions.

Because our synchronous instruction is in real-time each day, when person to person instruction resumes, each student will remain with the same class and teacher when we are able to return to brick and mortar.

At this time, we are not sending any staff members into a home for the health and safety of all parties involved.

At this time, all school districts in our State are under an Executive Order preventing person-to-person contact. The District recognizes that all students benefit from social engagement. Through our synchronous (virtual instruction) In-person earning model, we are embedding robust and interactive social activities for students. We are also working hard to closely monitor and support the social-emotional needs of all students, regardless of the learning model a parent selects. We are also requiring all teachers to participate in professional development the week of July 27th, specifically to learn additional strategies to support our students with their social and emotional needs.

Due to safety concerns, TUHSD will not provide any printed materials. However, parents and students will be able to print selected materials on their home printers, if they would like. Parents can also use their cell phones to share scanned and/or photographed student work with their students' teachers.

We recognize the challenges this has created for all staff and students and the additional anxiety that may be caused because of the lack of in person-to-person interaction. We will consult with our risk management organization to determine the best and safest next steps to consider providing these additional opportunities for our students and still remain in compliance with the current Governor’s orders and CDC guidelines.

We want to first clarify that we are not offering a concurrent model of learning for students in TUHSD. The two choices for your student to return to school are either “In-person” or “TUOL”.  You may be referring to our In-person learning model because students may extend their in-person learning to participate virtually, even after all students are allowed to report back to school for face to face instruction.

Yes, when school resumes on August 3, 2020, students will receive transition skills through synchronous learning including job coaching, career awareness, career exploration, and career readiness. When school returns to person-to-person instruction, job coaching will take place on campus, where students can practice work skills in a safe and controlled environment.

Yes, a virtual Success University Parent Information Night will be held on July 30, 2020, from 3 – 4:15 PM. We will be sending a virtual invite to the parent/guardian and their son or daughter for all incoming students.

Once schools reopen per the Governor’s order, and we can safely interact with masks on, we look forward to showing you our new program in person.

We understand face coverings may be challenging for both employees and students to wear in all-day settings such as school but this requirement is essential when physical distancing is difficult. All students will be regularly reminded not to touch their face covering and to wash their hands frequently.

Further information will be provided to staff/students on proper use, removal, and washing of cloth face coverings. 

If staff and/or students cannot provide their own mask, one will be available at the point of entry. A face shield can be worn, but only in conjunction with a mask/face covering.

TUHSD will not require parents, students, or guardians to sign a COVID-19 liability waiver.

All teachers will receive a Snapshot for any student with IEPs and/or 504s in their classrooms on their rosters prior to the first day of instruction. 

All teachers are required to provide access to learning and apply the accommodations and modifications within the student’s IEP and/or 504 Plan. 

All case managers will continue to support all students on their caseload and consult closely with teachers and support staff for students with an IEP.

Please know we value student and staff safety as our number one priority. See the answer to the above question to reassure you that your son/daughter will get the support he/she needs to continue to progress in their academic and social/emotional growth.

We highly value student safety and we also recognize the additional anxiety this has caused everyone. Please know we are here to guide your child through this progress in all content areas and support their emotional growth.

We recognize the challenges that shifting to a virtual model of learning has caused many students. We look forward to collaborating with you to support your child with their academic and social-emotional growth.

All students are general ed students first. All current TUHSD learning options available to all students are regardless if they have an IEP or not. The models of learning we are able to offer are directly linked to what our current Arizona Department of Education will fund. Your student’s case manager and IEP team will work closely with you in providing services as indicated in your student’s IEP.

If you have selected our In-person learning model for your student and do not want your student to return to In-person learning, once the Governor allows schools to reopen, you WILL be allowed to remain in our In-person learning model for the remainder of the semester. 

Those who are attending TUOL will be required to remain in TUOL for the remainder of that semester.