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Students will start 2020-21 school year in more robust NTI
July 21, 2020 – Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) will begin the 2020-21 school year on Tuesday, Aug. 25, with all students receiving lessons through online Non-Traditional Instruction (NTI), under an amended calendar and school plan approved tonight by the Jefferson County Board of Education.
The district will remain in NTI for the first six weeks. At that time, district leaders will assess the learning environment and make a decision about moving forward with guidance from local, state and federal health and education officials.
“We are always going to do what is best for our students and staff” said board chairwoman Diane Porter. “While all of us want our children and teachers together in classrooms, we believe starting the school year with at-home learning is the right thing to do as we meet the academic, social and emotional needs of students and staff.”
Teachers and instructional staff will begin on Monday, Aug. 10 for 11 days of in-service training and professional development to help them prepare for the more rigorous activities expected under the upcoming school year’s NTI, dubbed “NTI 2.0”.
The at-home instruction will include more robust and engaging activities for students. Lessons will occur on a more consistent schedule with greater communication between students and teachers to more closely resemble regular classroom instruction. The district will also provide additional supports and technology resources to students and families to ensure equity and high-quality learning opportunities for all students.
“The health and safety of our students and staff continues to be our highest priority,” said Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio after the board’s vote. “I applaud the Board of Education for its bold action tonight to reduce the threat of exposure to COVID-19 for our JCPS students, staff and families.”
When school buildings reopen, JCPS will provide an online option for families who do not wish to return to in-person classes.
Under the amended calendar, students will have 171 days of instruction, instead of the 175 days typically included in the JCPS calendar. The calendar maintains 187 days for teachers and instructional/school staff.
The amended calendar changes four days that had previously been non-school days for students – Oct. 6, Nov. 2, January 4, 2021 and March 26, 2021 – to instructional days. Barring weather or other delays, the last day of the school year for students is May 27 and one day later for teachers/instructional staff.
The district’s plan for the start of the 2020-21 school year can be found in the Onward, Together manual.
Last week Dr. Pollio announced he would recommend the adopted changes to the school board, saying at the time that “the COVID-19 crisis has left us with only imperfect options for our return to school this fall.”
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