- Tempe Union High School District
- Return to School & Learning Options
Welcome to Tempe Union High School District's Return to School Plan
-
Updated: September 9, 2020, at 12:08 PM
At this time, Tempe Union will offer two options to students for Fall 2020. (PDF)
Both the In-Person option and Tempe Union Online take into consideration the guidelines provided by the CDC, the Governor's office, and the Arizona Department of Education, as well as the health, safety, and well-being of everyone involved with the educational experience of our students. Both options allow for students and teachers to make meaningful connections, and maximize student learning opportunities. Additionally, in the In-Person option, parents will have the flexibility to determine when they feel comfortable with their students returning to campus.
To enroll in either Tempe Union In-Person or Tempe Union Online for your student, follow one of the provided pathways below.
For a list of additional frequently asked questions, please scroll down to the bottom of this page.
-
The In-Person option allows students to maintain their high school schedule based on their learning needs and elective choices including AP and Dual Enrollment. Classes will begin virtually on August 3. At this time, Governor Ducey's Executive Order delays in-person instruction until August 17. With the safety of our students, teachers and staff and their families as a priority, TUHSD will work in partnership with our state officials to determine the in-person start date. Parents have the flexibility to keep their students in virtual mode until they feel comfortable with their student returning to campus.
If you have already enrolled for the 2020–2021 school year, and plan on doing in-person instruction for Fall 2020, you do not need to enroll again.
If you have not already enrolled, please click here for further information.
-
Students who wish to attend school in an online environment will have the opportunity to enroll in the Tempe Union Online program. All instruction is online and students receive feedback from their online instructor. In addition, students may schedule to attend online labs at their home schools to work on their online classes or work with teachers 1:1 during their online office hours daily. Classes will begin on August 3.
Fully online students will be taking 3 semester classes every 9 weeks, allowing them to complete the full 6 classes in a semester. Students will have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities at their home school as they are available.
Academic FAQ
-
How long will Tempe Union remain in virtual learning mode?
The Tempe Union High School District Governing Board voted 5-0 at their August 5, 2020, meeting to keep students in virtual mode for the duration of the first quarter, or until the metrics for reopening provided by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) can be met.
The full resolution passed by the Governing Board is available to view here. The resolution stems from the Governor’s most recent executive order regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and the safe reopening of schools.
The reopening metrics from ADHS are available here.
-
How will students/parents know what is expected of them academically?
Teachers will post weekly agendas for students. In this posted weekly agenda, teachers will notate what documents students can download each week so they are not impeded from completing the activity by inconsistent WI-FI access. Additionally, departments will have common syllabi that post key learning targets, academic expectations, and how students will apply their knowledge. Ongoing communication will be provided to support families, including time at the end of each school day in which both virtual or in-person students can clarify their understanding, get feedback and remediate learning as needed. Students are accountable for completing their weekly assignments prior to their in-person classes.
-
How will teachers know what to teach?
Departments meet weekly by subject to assess students’ knowledge and understanding of material covered and design instruction to enhance learning for the coming week. Based on the insights gained from evaluating students’ understanding, the departments design learning activities, assessments, and locate resources to support a range of learner needs.
-
How will student attendance be reported?
Attendance will be reported based on guidelines provided from the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) regarding student attendance, truancy, and credit earned.
-
How will teachers address the learning gaps?
Teachers have spent the month of June analyzing 4th and 1st quarter essential standards to plan and determine how skills will be taught at the beginning of the year. Teachers will also assess students in the fall to understand the specific student gaps in learning. Information from the assessments will be used to adjust instructions and allow for the necessary scaffolding and student support to help accelerate learning and minimize any pandemic learning loss.
-
How is the In-Person model (in virtual mode) different from the fourth quarter online experience?
A major difference is that the teaching and learning process will be delivered in real-time. Students will be engaging, virtually online with teachers following their master schedule with attendance taken for each course. Staff will teach from their classroom or home with the aid of additional technology and with the expectation that they will begin and end on time following their school’s daily bell schedule. This provides that sense of normalcy by establishing student accountability.
This is a different model from last spring and we have provided more staff training and support for our teachers. Teachers are also provided additional days at the beginning of the school year for teacher professional development and ongoing planning for the delivery of instruction.
-
How will my student be graded?
Teachers will work collaboratively to design and utilize common agendas, learning tasks, and assessments. From these assessments, teachers will develop proficiency scales and/or rubrics which define levels of proficiency. Teachers will determine how grades will be calculated in accordance with district policy. Teachers will provide ongoing feedback to students regarding student acquisition of skills during their prep time, office hours, and if needed before/after school. To view your students’ progress, be sure to check your ParentVue account each week. If you have any questions or concerns, you can access your child’s teacher through that account.
-
How will school meals be offered for breakfast and lunch?
-
How will schools provide social-emotional support?
All sites work with district and site staff as well as collaborative partnerships with local agencies to support the social and emotional needs of all students. In addition, counselors, Care 7 staff, academic interventionists, dean of students and dropout prevention staff will coordinate to provide social emotional support and deliver a social-emotional learning curriculum. Counselors will work with site intervention teams to determine what services will be provided in-person or remotely. Click here to learn more about our Social and Emotional Wellness program.
-
What are some of the other ways that TUHSD has invested in supporting our students during this critical time?
- Additional days dedicated for teacher professional development
- Increased access to technology for both teachers and students
- Hot spots to increase access to wifi at our school sites
- Removal of course fees to support families during this critical time while also ensuring that all students have access to high-quality electives
- Elimination of activity and athletic fees (when those programs resume)
-
How will services be provided to special education students in either model available?
- All parents and educators are striving to provide a sense of normalcy for our students while ensuring they have access to meaningful educational opportunities. Services for Special Education students will be aligned to their IEP regardless of the learning model you have selected is online or in-person.
- If you have selected the in-person learning model for your student, your student will receive all of their specially designed instructional minutes virtually for the first two weeks of the school year and then receive direct services when we return to campuses.
- If you have selected online learning for your student when the 2020-2021 school year opens, we will be contacting you when the staff returns to set up an immediate IEP meeting to first make sure this is an effective location of services for your student before school starts.
- We will always ensure that all our students with IEPs have equal access comparable to their general education peers. All students will receive service minutes on their IEPs, accommodations, and modifications, regardless of the learning model selected.
Please see our Special Education webpage for detailed Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.tempeunion.org/Special-Education
-
My child does not have access to a laptop or other computer. Will we be able to check out a laptop?
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 for students who do not have access to the internet during the day.
-
I don’t have Wifi at my current residence. What are my options?
Several Internet providers are offering free and heavily discounted services at this time. Here are some options:
- From COX:
- First two months free Connect2Compete service, $9.95/month thereafter
- First two months free remote desktop and phone support through Cox Complete Care to provide peace of mind and ease for technology needs
- Resources for discounted, refurbished equipment through our association with PCs for People
- Organization and Educator toolkits are available to help families connect to the internet
- Program eligibility and other restrictions apply. Learn more at www.cox.com/c2c or see this pdf flyer for more information.
- Spectrum is offering free Internet Access to qualifying homes with students.
- Call 1-844-579-3743 to enroll.
- In an effort to ensure Americans have the necessary access to online resources, qualifying households with students can get 60 days of FREE access8 with a Spectrum Internet account.
- Available for households with K-12 or college students.
- Limited to new accounts who do not already have a Spectrum Internet subscription.
- Installation fees will be waived.
- Internet access during the COVID-19 emergency is more important than ever before. A fast, reliable, and affordable internet connection can help each of us stay connected to healthcare services, school coursework, and each other. High-speed internet is not yet available everywhere in Arizona, but there are many special offers and options to help you find low-cost (or no-cost) internet solutions at the time you need them most.
- To find every internet provider in Arizona please see: Tools to Access Broadband at Home - PDF.
- From COX:
-
Will there be any technical support for students and parents?
Webinars will be created on how to use our learning management system, Schoology, for teachers, for students, and for parents. In addition, troubleshooting guides will be made available to help students/parents navigate online instructional tools.
-
Will my student be able to attend EVIT?
Tempe Union will continue to transport students to EVIT and will support our EVIT partnership based on their District school opening plans. Students will need to follow the EVIT opening guidelines if attending. EVIT announcements are located on their website here.
-
Will there be changes to Dual Enrollment programs?
Dual Enrollment programs will remain the same. Our dual enrollment partner will support our learning model and has confidence that we are ensuring that students receive the essential standards.
-
How will parents/students be updated?
This website will be updated frequently, and other district communication will be circulated regularly. Principals and school administration will communicate with their families routinely to provide critical information and resources. ParentVUE is a good way to ensure regular communication is received from the school and district as information changes rapidly.
-
Who should I speak with if I have additional questions?
Site and District administration should be able to address any questions you might have. You can also check our website for regular updates. Communication regarding plan updates will be released via email, social media, and on our website.
TUHSD online School Transfer Credits
-
Acceptance of transfer credits from sources outside the Tempe Union High School District is not automatic. It is recommended that students meet with their counselor before enrolling in courses outside TUHSD to determine what process must be followed, and to clarify how the credit will be accepted. Beginning with school year 2017-2018, online courses from non-TUHSD accredited high schools are accepted by TUHSD as elective credit only.