Our Reopening Plan

Dear KIPP Delta Team and Family,

With the support and feedback from our families and staff, KIPP Delta Public Schools (KDPS) has been working incredibly hard to plan the safest and highest quality educational program we can for the 2020-21 School Year. We want to thank all of our parents and staff, as we know the pandemic has brought new and uncertain challenges. We share your concerns about COVID-19, and we assure you that the health and wellness of our students and staff is our top priority.

Admittedly, we have an ambitious goal. Amidst the pandemic, we will continue to deliver the academically excellent and joyful educational experience our students deserve. We will not allow the unknowns to hinder our unshakable resolve and commitment to make college and career readiness a reality for all of our students. In fact, our choice to press on and develop a range of options demonstrates our unwavering belief in the capacity of our students, families, teachers, and staff to adapt and overcome these uncertain times.

Throughout this plan, you will see the extra safety measures we are taking to keep our families safe. You will also have the opportunity to explore the educational options available to families for students to resume learning for the 2020-21 School Year. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for your family and hope you find these options inclusive and that they illustrate our genuine respect for you and our communities.

Thank you for your trust in our Team & Family to steward our responsibilities and commitments well. We feel and understand the tremendous weight of our task and reassure you that we will keep doing what is in the best long-term interest for our children. We appreciate your continued support, commitment to the KIPP Delta Team & Family, and for your assistance and cooperation in implementing our school reopening plan. Working together, we can make our plan a reality.

With Gratitude,

William Hill
Executive Director

Regular cleanings and sanitizations are among the first line of defense in protecting our school communities. In the upcoming school year, we will:

• Continue daily, enhanced school cleanings and disinfecting efforts, with a focus on high contact surfaces, such as desks, keyboards, and door handles
• Establish sanitizing stations at all main entrances and throughout our schools in high traffic areas
• Require the use of facemasks for all adults and students in grades K-12
• Train students and staff on COVID-19 prevention practices, including physical distancing and face-covering best practices
• Provide each classroom with its own cleaning supply kit
• Sanitize each desk before student arrival the following day
• Maintain a time-stamped log of cleanings for classrooms and restrooms
• Provide bottled water for all students and staff. Water fountains will be disabled on all campuses.

We will maintain all necessary health and physical distancing protocols inside our schools to ensure a safe learning environment for students and staff. These updated protocols are:

• Increase the physical distance between individuals across all buildings, including the distance of desks in classrooms, by limiting the number of students based on the size of the space
• Provide additional classroom supplies to eliminate sharing
• Classrooms with windows will keep some of them open to encourage the proper ventilation of spaces. For classrooms without windows, where feasible, we will provide air purifiers to support ventilation.
• Place signage throughout school buildings to encourage safety best practices such as regular hand washing and maintaining six feet of physical distance
• Install protective barriers in the main offices of all schools
• Encourage handwashing throughout the day and require handwashing before and after meals.
• Provide each student with a computer for use at home and school
• Place signage throughout the school buildings to designate the two-way flow of traffic. Inside classrooms, traffic will flow in one direction.
• Transition teachers between classrooms where traditionally elementary and middle school students would transition between classes. Specials teachers (music, art, etc.) will move between classrooms rather than students.
• Provide teachers with protective barriers for their desks to ensure proper distancing from students

Arrival and dismissal procedures for students, families, and visitors will be updated to reflect guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Arkansas Department of Health. Students and families will practice physical distancing while outside and on their way to school. Additional information about arrival and dismissal will be sent before the start of the school year.

Students, staff, and visitors will be required to undergo a brief health screening before entering a school building or office. Temperature checks will be administered to all students, staff, teachers and visitors at our campuses. Bus riders will have their temperatures taken at the bus stop and car riders and walkers will have their temperatures taken at the school by the front office staff when they arrive at school. Masks are required for all adults, including visitors, and all students in grades K-12.

We will continue to provide transportation services for families choosing our in-person and hybrid learning options. Per public health guidelines and the Arkansas Department of Education guidelines, our buses will be disinfected after each trip. All students will wear a mask on the bus. Students will be seated via a seating chart with preference to students sitting with family members. Students will be required to maintain 6-foot physical distancing while waiting on the bus to arrive. All transportation staff, including our drivers and bus monitors, will participate in a precautionary training on COVID-19 protocols and bus sanitization.

Students eating a school meal will receive individually prepared meals for consumption in their classrooms. Instead of large, communal spaces, such as the cafeteria, students will remain in their small groups and eat meals in class. Sharing food will be strictly prohibited, and handwashing will be required before and after eating meals. Hand sanitizer will be available in the classroom for support of healthy hygiene for students and meal consumption. The school staff will review allergy and dietary restrictions before the school year.

Students will also have the option to bring their meals when feasible.

To learn more about meal distribution for virtual and hybrid scholars, click here . 

Measures to support students’ physical and social-emotional health are a top priority for the upcoming school year. All campuses will have a nurse isolation space in case a student develops symptoms during the school day. Each community will have a healthcare professional to support student health needs. Existing nursing staff will continue to support non-COVID related needs. We will contact families immediately should their students begin to show symptoms or with other health concerns.

We highly recommend any student with the medical conditions below consult with their family medical provider before participating in in-person, blended schooling. We are offering an entirely virtual learning option for students in the upcoming school year and urge students with any of the conditions below to join the all-virtual learning cohort, if possible.

As of June 25, 2020, people of any age with the following conditions are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19:

• Chronic kidney disease
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
• Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 or higher)
• Serious heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
• Sickle cell disease
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus
• Congenital heart disease
• Certain neurologic, genetic, or metabolic conditions

As of June 25, 2020, people with the following conditions might be at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19:

• Asthma (moderate-to-severe)
• Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain)
• Cystic fibrosis
• Hypertension or high blood pressure
• Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines
• Neurologic conditions, such as dementia
• Liver disease
• Pregnancy
• Pulmonary fibrosis (having damaged or scarred lung tissues)
• Smoking
• Thalassemia (a type of blood disorder)
• Type 1 diabetes mellitus

If your child has a medical condition that is not on the above list, but you are still concerned about his or her safety, please contact your healthcare provider.

This virtual-only option provides students of all grade levels with a comprehensive virtual learning opportunity from their home. This virtual-only option will include live, teacher-led instruction, pre-recorded lessons, and asynchronous (independent) learning.

Elementary Virtual-Only Sample Schedule

Students will receive live instruction during a portion of the instructional blocks. We will engage students through small group instruction, discussion groups, and asynchronous instruction.

*Sample schedule – the length, start time, and end time of periods are subject to change

Middle & High School Virtual-Only Sample Schedule

Students will receive live instruction during a portion of the instructional blocks. We will engage students through small group instruction, discussion groups, and asynchronous instruction.

* Sample schedule – the length, start time, and end time of periods are subject to change

* We will address questions about schedule flexibility on a case-by-case basis at the school level. If you have questions regarding your student’s schedule, please contact your child’s school.

Elementary Hybrid In-Person + Remote Sample Schedule

Students in grades 3-12 begin school virtually on Monday, August 24, 2020. Blended learning starts on Monday, August 31, 2020.

In this rotational schedule, each school will separate students into one of two groups based on their home address to minimize the likelihood of the community spread of COVID-19. Group A will attend school in-person on Mondays and Tuesdays and work remotely on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Group B will attend school remotely on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays and attend school in-person on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Student recess will be on a rotational schedule to allow one classroom outside at a time. Schools will notify families of their groups in August.

*Special education services will be scheduled throughout the day

*Sample schedule – the length, start time, and end time of periods are subject to change

*Note: No A/B group rotation on Fridays

*Special education services will be scheduled throughout the day

*Sample schedule – the length, start time, and end time of periods are subject to change

*Note: No A/B group rotation on Fridays

Middle & High School Virtual-Only Sample Schedule

Students in grades 3-12 will be all virtual until Monday, August 31

In this rotational schedule, students will be separated into one of two groups based on their home address to prevent community spread. Group A will attend on Mondays and Tuesdays with remote learning the remainder of the week. Group B will start the week with remote learning and be in-person on Wednesday and Thursday. Recess will be on a rotational schedule to only allow one classroom outside at a time. Teachers will have a rotational planning time.

*Special education services will be scheduled throughout the day

*Sample schedule – the length, start time, and end time of periods are subject to change

*Note: No A/B group rotation on Fridays

This option is only available to students in grade PK-2. This school option provides families with an in-person learning experience five days a week from Monday through Friday. Fridays will be half-days. Recess will be on a rotational schedule to only allow one classroom outside at a time. Teachers will have rotational planning time during the school day. In-person learning for these students will begin on August 24, 2020.

PK-2 In-Person Sample Schedule

*Special education services will be scheduled throughout the day

*Sample schedule – the length, start time, and end time of periods are subject to change

Beginning Tuesday, July 28, 2020, schools will start contacting each of our families by phone to complete your family school selection and address any of your concerns.

Our team has already started preparing classrooms for those students who will return to school in-person in the coming weeks. However, to be fully prepared and remain as safe as possible, we require families to complete this form by Saturday, August 1, 2020. If you would like to complete this form now, please visit  https://forms.gle/Tmf5swp8zPQUq5pt6 .

The first day of school for all students is Monday, August 24, 2020. This model includes students choosing the virtual, in-person, and hybrid options. Students choosing the hybrid option will begin with virtual classes and begin in-person courses on Monday, August 31, 2020.

Unfortunately, we cannot. The well-being of our students, staff, and families are of the utmost importance to us. We cannot guarantee that no one will get sick this school year. We will take every reasonable precaution to mitigate risk but cannot guarantee that students and staff will not become ill.

Yes. KIPP Delta Public Schools is prepared to pivot to different learning options based on the evolving community health environment and guidance from the Arkansas Department of Education, the Arkansas Department of Health, and Governor, Asa Hutchinson.

All students and staff are required to wear face masks when on KDPS busses and in our buildings and offices. We will consider special accommodations on a case-by-case basis for students with specific medical considerations.

We highly recommend that each student and staff member bring your face mask from home. KIPP Delta Public Schools will also provide washable and re-useable cloth face masks for every student. We will also have available disposable masks available for staff and essential visitors.

Mandatory face masks are now considered part of the school uniform. Students who have a fixable uniform issue, including issues with face masks, will be asked to step out of the classroom to correct the problem. Schools will call the parents of students who refuse to wear a face mask for a conference. If a student continues to refuse to wear a face mask, we will send that student home. We recognize that a small segment of our special-education population may be unable to wear face masks because a medical or learning condition presents an inability to wear a mask. If a unique circumstance arises, we will work with families on a case by case basis to find a solution that honors the needs of the student and the safety of the broader school community.

Beginning Tuesday, July 28, 2020, schools will contact each of our families by phone to complete their family school selection form and address any of your concerns. We require families to complete this form by Saturday, August 1, 2020. If you would like to complete this form now, please visit  https://forms.gle/Tmf5swp8zPQUq5pt6

Yes, we will provide bus transportation for students. Bus schedules, bus stops, routes, and bus seating charts, will be communicated to parents before the start of the school year, including via our website at  www.kippdelta.org . If changes to bus schedules, bus stops, or bus routes become necessary during the school year, those changes will be communicated to parents and the broader school community via school messenger.

All students in grades K-12 are required to wear a face mask while on the school bus. Specific school bus windows will remain open while transporting students to and from school for ventilation purposes. KDPS will follow all ADH and DESE directives and guidelines.

KDPS will provide multiple options as detailed in the mock schedules above for families to choose what they believe would be best for their students. Our goal is to maintain a joyful learning experience while mitigating risk. You can find sample school schedules above.

KDPS has arranged classrooms to maximize spacing between students and teachers. We will make every effort to conform to social distancing guidelines and provide a safe environment for teachers and students.

Based on current ADH guidelines regarding limited capacities in cafeterias, students will eat lunch in their classrooms.

Yes, elementary students will have school recess. We are restricting students’ movement to keep each class together and away from other large groups of students to minimize the risk of COVID-19 exposure.

We have restricted school field trips for the fall until further notice. We will follow ADH and DESE guidance.

No. Water fountains are disabled on campuses to prevent the spread of germs. We will provide bottled water to all students and staff.

Yes. KIPP Delta Elementary Literacy Academy will continue to offer Pre-K in-person for families.

No. To mitigate risk, KIPP Delta Public Schools will not offer sports or after-school extracurriculars this fall.

We will clean, disinfect, and sanitize all school buildings, busses, and offices daily. We will give extra attention to high touch surface areas like restrooms, and door handles.

Everyone entering any KDPS campus or building will have their temperatures taken. For bus riders, temperature screenings will occur when boarding the bus. For all other students–car riders and walkers–we will take their temperatures at the designated student arrival area on each campus before they enter. Temperature checks for staff, teachers, and essential visitors will occur daily at the front desk upon entrance.

If a student comes to school sick, the school nurse will screen the student. If the student has a temperature over 100.4 degrees (per ADH guidance), we will send the student home. The student will need to be fever-free for 48 hours without medication before returning to school. Students who are bus riders with temperatures of 100.4 degrees or higher at the bus stop will not be allowed to board the school bus and will be sent back home for parents to decide if they should take their children to the doctor. Upon returning to campus, the school staff will screen the student upon check-in again.

If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, we will contact the Department of Health and follow their guidance as outlined by the  Response Levels for On-Site Learning  guide for districts to follow. KDPS has a designated district point of contact who will work with the Department of Health for working with students, families, and staff who test positive for COVID-19. In the event of a school or district closure, KDPS is prepared to move into an entirely virtual learning model.

Under current ADH guidance, parents/guardians will not be allowed in the school except for the reception area where they are required to wear a face mask and have their temperatures taken and recorded. Parents/guardians will not be allowed to eat with their child. Visits to the school will be limited to essential activity only. Essential services vendors will be permitted onto the campus but must have temperatures taken and wear face masks at all times.

Parents and guardians are invited and encouraged to walk their children to school when appropriate, but may not enter the school building without an appointment and a facemask.

KDPS is prepared to accommodate students with special needs through both onsite and remote instruction. Our Special Education instructors are taking extra precautions when working with students. If parents have concerns about their students who may be at high risk for COVID-19, we recommend that you contact your child’s school right away to discuss additional support and schooling options.

The district curriculum team, along with classroom teachers and administrators, are continuing to revise district curricula so that we intentionally address missed essential standards and skills from the spring semester when students return.

In the event of a school closure, students will transition to virtual learning at home. KDPS is now prepared to move into an entirely virtual learning plan based on state and local decisions about school closures resulting from COVID-19 spread.

Families who would like their children to stay home and continue their education can select our virtual-only learning option.

Families can change the learning option for their children following the first nine weeks of the semester (October 29). Students are not able to switch between virtual and in-person/hybrid options before October 29, 2020. We determine school staffing based on a school’s student enrollment and shifting models mid-semester would create staffing and organizational challenges.

Yes, we will have staff available to help escort your child to their proper classroom.

All students will receive their class assignments and schedules by August 19, 2020.

We will do our best to encourage the six-foot rule for all students. To ensure that we follow these guidelines, we have installed signage throughout our schools and buildings to assist students and staff in maintaining the six-foot physical distancing rule.

No. We have separate teachers assigned to teach in our virtual school.

No. For attendance purposes and grades, each student must select and follow only one of our models for their grade level.

No. We understand that children, even those in the same family, have different learning needs. Parents are encouraged to select the learning model that works best for each child and their families.

Yes, KDPS will take student attendance each day irrespective of the families’ chosen schooling model as mandated by law.

We considered all school options and closely monitored the feedback we received from our parent and staff surveys in July. Our facilities are not large enough to safely physically distance all of our students. By providing the hybrid option for grades 3-12, we can limit the number of students in a classroom as outlined by CDC guidelines while providing a supportive in-person learning opportunity for our students.

Yes. Our KIPP Through College and high school teams will work with our high school students to create a workable schedule. We will handle students who are eligible to enroll in concurrent classes on a case-by-case basis.

School uniforms and technology are available for pickup for students and families. Please contact your school’s campus to find out the dates and times of uniform and technology pickup.

Yes. Teachers will offer virtual office hours to provide one-on-one support for students, as needed.

For additional information, please call your student’s school:

• KIPP Delta Elementary Literacy Academy…………………… 870-753-9800
• KIPP Delta College Preparatory School……………………….. 870-753-9444
• KIPP Delta Collegiate High School……………………………….. 870-338-8138
• KIPP Blytheville College Preparatory School……………….. 870-776-8833
• KIPP Blytheville Collegiate High School……………………….. 870-780-6333