April 28, 2020

Question: Is school officially out for the 2019-2020 school year?

Answer: Yes. To ensure the health and safety of all students and school employees during the

COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis, Governor Whitmer announced Executive Order 2020-35

Thursday, April 2 that stated all schools in Michigan are closed for face-to-face learning for the

rest of the school year. Schools will be moving to a distance learning model. The models should

be put in place by April 28, according to the mandate. DPSCD will implement its plan no later than

the week of April 20, 2020.

Question: Will food still be provided to students and families?

Answer: Yes. The 17 schools that are currently used for meal service will continue to offer

expanded at Roberto Clemente and Gompers on Thursday, April 16th to increase our food

distribution sites to 19.

The printed academic packets will also be made available at these 19 locations. Additional sites

have also been identified to distribute the packets as well. See below for the complete list of

schools that will also offer access to the academic packets.

Question: Where can I get more information about Coronavirus/COVID-19?

Answer: For the most up-to-date information on Coronavirus/COVID-19 please visit the Center

for Disease Control and Prevention’s website (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-

Question: What emotional supports will be available to students and families?

Answer: The District has counselors and support staff available through a hotline, please call

1-833-466-3978 Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

and Friday, 9:00 a.m., and 3:00 p.m. The hotline will be active by April 20

and select schools). A list of locations is provided on the last page of this document. The District

will send a robocall to families when packets are ready for pick up. Our district staff has been

working hard since school was closed to develop a new learning framework that will offer learning

opportunities for PreK-12 students in literacy, mathematics, science and social studies. This will

include lessons for physical education and art as well. Learning will build from the curriculum our

students are currently using with linked videos introducing learning concepts and assignments.

The printed packets will be available the week of April 20

pick up.

Answer: Microsoft Office has a variety of applications, most people use Word, Excel and

PowerPoint. Microsoft Teams is an app in the Microsoft suite, that enables teachers, students

and staff to talk and video chat, to share written messages (similar to text messaging), as well as

documents and assignments. Teachers and students can also schedule meetings and collaborate

with other students. Each DPSCD employee and student has five FREE licenses to use this app

and Microsoft Office using their district email address.

Question: How do we set this up?

Answer: Teams is set up and ready to use for students. They can login through Clever

with their district accounts and click the purple Teams icon. Families can also download

We will focus on student learning and their social emotional needs during these difficult times as

well. All of the assignments will be printed for families and students who do not have technology

and/or internet. This is the academic packet referenced in these responses.

Question: I don’t have a smartphone, tablet or computer. Can I still use Teams?

Answer: Students unable to use the Teams app on a smartphone, tablet or computer can still

take advantage of support offered on Teams; every scheduled meeting includes a local (313)

telephone number and pin so that students can call in and participate in the audio portions of the

session.

Question: Will the District be providing laptops/tablets or internet service?

Answer: The District is actively working with the business community to implement a strategy to

provide all DPSCD families with a tablet and internet access. Our goal is to execute this

Question: How many hours are students expected to work each day?

Answer: Recommended student schedules will be shared with families by your child’s teacher

and can also be found on the District’s website at https://www.detroitk12.org/Domain/5087.

Students in different grade levels have a different number of recommended live and video

engagements. On average, students may spend between 3 to 4 hours a day engaged in

recommended academic activities. After reviewing your student’s recommended work, families

should determine their level of participation. Our goal is to keep learning occurring at a pace

individual students and/their families can support.

Question: Do I have to be my child’s teacher during this time?

Answer: No. We understand that juggling parenting and your other responsibilities is challenging

work. We know that your child will need your help and support to engage in distance learning.

learning activities your child will need. Obviously for younger students (grades PreK-3), caregivers

will need to play a greater role facilitating learning at home than caregivers with older students.

Question: How can I help my child with their work?

best when they are free from worry and stress and have a predictable environment. Your child

will learn best if they first feel safe and loved and have as close to “normal life” as possible.

You can also help your child by helping them set up a calm and quiet space where they can work

without too much distraction. Setting up a routine will also help your child adjust and be ready to

learn.

Create a calm environment by:

- Watching online videos with your child(ren)

- Helping to communicate with teacher

- Calling homework hotline if you need help: https://www.detroitk12.org/homeworkhotline

Question: Will students still receive academic report cards or transcripts throughout our

Answer: No. Grades will not be issued during online learning; however, feedback will be given

for assignments. Failing status before the shutdown can be improved by completing assignments

through online/academic packet learning.

Question: How can I enroll my child in a DPSCD School for Fall 2020-2021?

Answer: Traditionally, enrollment has occurred in person at your school of choice. Currently, we

are moving to an online enrollment system that will launch by May 1, 2020. Please check our

website https://detroitk12.org/enroll for the latest updates. If you have a time sensitive concern,

please connect with an enrollment specialist during normal business hours by calling 313-873-

6345.

Question: I am a senior and I need to take additional classes to graduate. Will I have an

opportunity to take these classes?

Answer: Yes. Students who need additional classes will be enrolled in up to three recovery

courses. Once students earn enough credit to receive a passing grade in the class, then they will

receive the credit. Summer school may also be an opportunity to make up credits (face to face

and/or online) based on the health status of the crisis.

graduation ceremonies?

Question: What is the status of prom?

Answer: Currently all proms are canceled. We are open to proms once the stay at home order is

lifted, hopefully this can happen in late June or early July. If this is possible, all proms will be held

at the high school. No prom will be held at the original planned prom location.

Question: I paid senior/eighth grade dues, will we get our money back and when?

Answer: Yes. Funds will be returned to students/parents for graduation activities once the stay

at home order is lifted and school staff returns to work to process refunds. The district will cover

any, and all, graduation ceremony and/or prom expenses.

Question: When will students be able to clean out their lockers and return

Question: How does the stay at home order and school closures impact students who were

resume their education in this virtual environment?

unique, we encourage students to reach out to their school principal for specific information.

Question: Has the SAT testing date for April 14, 2020 rescheduled for a later date and is

DPSCD doing anything to bring ease to juniors during this time regarding testing?

Answer: The spring SAT administration has been cancelled statewide. All juniors and seniors will

be able to take the SAT in the fall of 2020. Scores will be returned in time for college admissions

processes.

Question: Will our trips to other countries be canceled or postponed?

Answer: All trips are canceled.

will be issued for quarters 3 or 4. Colleges and universities typically focus on earned credits for

particular courses; this will still be earned by high school students this year. GPAs will remain the

same as prior to the closure.

Question: Will there be summer school?

Answer: Once the stay at home order is lifted, the District is open to providing summer

school services for enrichment at an increased number of summer sites if the health condition of

the city improves. The District is also committed to offering summer school to identified seniors

who need 3 or fewer credits to graduate face to face and/or through online learning.

STAFF

Question: Are all teachers using the same online platforms or programs?

Answer: All teachers in the district will be using Microsoft Teams as their online learning platform.

Teams allows teachers to communicate with students, have video or phone meetings with

students, collect work, and provide feedback. Teachers may have been using other platforms,

includes, i-Ready, Khan Academy, myON, and Newsela. Teachers may decide to assign

additional work, practice, or reading from those platforms. In addition, students can access them

through Clever (clever.com/in/dpscd) and do independent practice and work.

Question: I do not have access to the internet or a telephone to access Teams. What do I

do?

Answer: Per the executive order, staff can report to a school to provide support to students for

online learning. The district will identify school buildings for this purpose and employees will be

able to work in separate rooms to maintain social distancing. Employees unable to work due to a

self or medically ordered quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19 are expected to take

leave through protections and relief offered by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Affected

Question: Will staff be able to clean out their classrooms or collect their personal

belongings?

Answer: No, not until the stay at home order has been lifted. The schedule to do this will be

announced.

Question: If I am sick or the caregiver of someone who is sick, what do I do when it is time

Answer: Staff members who are ill or caring for someone who is ill, will need to take leave.

Eligibility for FMLA or other extended leave can be determined by the Department of Benefits and

Employee Health Services. Please email dps.ehs@detroitk12.org or call 313-576-0080 to speak

with the Benefits team.

Question: I am not sick but unable to work with my children at home. Do I need to take

leave?

job because they had to take leave during online learning. Eligibility for FMLA or other extended

leave can be determined by the department of Benefits and Employee Health Services.

Answer: The expectation is that you continue to reach out to as many of your students as

Question: As a staff member I have obtained a 2

allowed to keep this job?

Answer: Yes. If the job is worked outside of normal work hours. Per board policy, you must also

disclose any additional work by completing the Employee Disclosure form located in Peoplesoft.

Question: Will all employees continue to be paid?

Answer: We are disappointed that the Legislature did not commit to maintain the same rate of

funding through this fiscal year, but this is to be assumed by the Governor’s Executive Order. We

will work to ensure that our employees continue to receive their full pay and expected income as

from home; however, when this is not possible based on their job responsibilities then school

buildings can be open under the Executive Order to support online learning. If this occurs then

masks and gloves, and daily cleaning of work areas. Employees will be told, if and when, they

may need to complete their work at school buildings. The status of working from home or a district

or school building will evolve if, and when, the stay at home order is lifted.