To CUSD parents and staff,

We are writing to clarify directives we receive from the state regarding COVID-19 mitigation strategies. Governor Doug Ducey released an Executive Order on March 25, 2021 that rescinds previous Executive Orders. However, it does not rescind Executive Order 2020-51 requiring school districts and charter schools to require face coverings through June 30, 2021. It also does not overturn the Emergency Order from Arizona Department of Health Services AZDHS Emergency Measure 2020-04 that specifically requires school districts to have a face-covering policy in place.  Based on these orders, mask-wearing remains a requirement by students, staff, vendors and guests at all CUSD facilities.

The Governor’s March 25, 2021 Executive Order also recommends that we continue to follow the guidance of our health department as well as the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC). Thank you again for your ongoing support in our mitigation efforts to make our schools a safe place as we work together to support the health and well-being of our students, staff, families and community.

#SaferStrongerTogether

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey issued an Executive Order today that loosens COVID-19 restrictions in the community. The Order takes away the authority for municipalities (such as the City of Chandler, towns of Gilbert and Queen Creek, and Maricopa County) to mandate mask-wearing.

It does not, however, remove the order requiring school districts and charter schools to require mask-wearing. Mask-wearing remains a requirement at all Chandler Unified schools and offices. Here is a statement of clarification provided today from the Arizona Department of Education:

“Dear School Leaders,

We wanted to share information we received from the Arizona Department of Health Services today in light of Governor Ducey's executive order relaxing COVID-19 restrictions. AZDHS Emergency Measure 2020-04 is still in effect, requiring masks in all K-12 schools. Masking is one of the top mitigation strategies for safe in-person learning as recommended by the CDC.

Masks must be worn on school campuses, on school buses and during school-associated activities by all students, faculty, staff, contractors, and visitors.

Thank you,
Arizona Department of Education”

Chandler Unified will continue to review and respond to evolving COVID-19 guidelines.  We remain committed to all health and safety requirements in order to keep our staff and students safe and our classrooms open for learning.

1/14/2021

Last night, the Governing Board voted to reaffirm their decision to resume in person learning for grades Pre-Kindergarten through twelfth grade on Tuesday, January 19. The action followed a presentation which included a review of CUSD’s Covid-19 timeline, a comparison of learning models, and an outline of the five data sources used to make informed decisions (student considerations and needs, school specific threshold, safety concerns and mitigation plan, Maricopa County benchmarks, and health official recommendations).  

The full presentation may be viewed here.

The Chandler Online Academy and Elementary Connect students will remain in their current instructional setting. We are accommodating families who would like to enroll in our online program as an alternative.

We appreciate the support of the community for their flexibility as we work together for the best interest of students, staff and families. 

The CUSD Help Desk has been created to assist students and families with technology questions and concerns. The direct phone number is 480-812-7697. We are experiencing a high call volume. If staff are not available, call again.

The Governing Board voted tonight on the following for all preschool through 12th grade students:

• Virtual instruction will begin on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 and in-person instruction will resume Tuesday, January 19, 2021 (the day after Martin Luther King Holiday). 
• Tuesday, January 5, 2021, will be a teacher workday and students do not attend school (including Chandler Online Academy).  Teachers will report to their school sites in order to prepare for virtual instruction and distribution of devices to those students who need them. 

This option allows for a quarantine period after returning from winter break where students have travelled and participated in gatherings.  The Governing Board will revisit this action on January 13, 2021.

Special Education services will be provided as they were during the previous virtual instruction.  Dr. Marshall and her staff will work with teachers to deliver in-person services to those in specialized classrooms beginning the week of January 11th.  Details will be communicated directly to the families involved.  All students with special education services will return to school with the K-6 general education population on Tuesday, January 19, 2021.  

Food and Nutrition Department will distribute meals.   Details are forthcoming.

Childcare options will continue.  Details are forthcoming.

Schools will be open per Executive Order 2020-51 to provide free on-site learning opportunities and support services for students who need a place to go during the day.  Details will be coming from your school. 

SUPPORT STAFF WORK SCHEDULE

If virtual instruction impacts an employees’ ability to perform their regular job duties, the Administration recommends the employee be redeployed in meaningful work.  

THRESHOLD FOR TEMPORARY VIRTUAL LEARNING

Based upon the community spread, the Administration recommends that the current thresholds for the temporary closure of an individual site with virtual instruction be lowered as outlined below. The Board will further study this issue at the February 10, 2021 meeting.

The Governing Board meeting has been moved up to 5 p.m. Monday, January 4. The meeting can be viewed live at www.cusd80.com/GoverningBoardMeetings

December 31, 2020

Dear parents and guardians,

As mentioned in our last letter on December 18, COVID-19 case numbers in Arizona, similar to other states and countries, have continued to increase.  On Monday, January 4, the CUSD Administration will meet with certified and support staff committees to review metrics, gather input, and discuss COVID mitigation strategies.  Dr. Peggy Stemmler, MD, MDA from Maricopa County Health will be presenting information and taking questions. 

The CUSD Governing Board has scheduled a meeting for Wednesday, January 6 at 5 p.m. to review committee input and current data in order to recommend an instructional path moving forward that will best meet the needs of our students, families and staff.

December 18, 2020

Dear parents and guardians,

In the last 60 days, COVID-19 cases in Arizona, similar to other states and countries, have increased significantly.  In August, the Maricopa County Health Department developed metrics to guide the reopening of schools.  Two of the three metrics have exceeded the desired threshold.  As of this week, the third metric – hospital census – exceeded the threshold.  At the November 18, 2020 board meeting, the board and administration discussed plans and rationale for moving forward, including a timeline and process for a temporary closure if a school hits the threshold of student/staff active COVID-19 cases.  (See PowerPoint PDF or YouTube video presentation.)  Additionally, on December 9, 2020, the Governing Board approved a virtual option for grades 7-12, similar to what quarantined students are provided, for the first two weeks of January, if families choose.  (See COVID-19 Update Letter – 12/11/2020.)  Based upon the community spread, the District is working closely with state and county health officials and local hospital personnel to garner their input and strengthen our mitigation practices, including the following:

1. Partnering with ASU to provide free COVID testing at a district site with staff and students prioritized.
2. Updating guidelines for acceptable face masks to completely cover your nose and mouth and fit snugly against the sides of your face without gaps.  Face shields no longer accepted.
3. Increasing communication of, and adherence to, mitigation strategies on campus.
4. Expanding the CUSD dashboard to include all confirmed cases for staff and students, regardless of school exposure.
5. Seeking the input and counsel of local hospitals.  At this time, our local hospital officials believe that the community is best served when students are at school with strong mitigation in place.
6. Working with health officials and health insurance providers to prepare for the arrival of vaccines.
7. Gathering input from a representative group of certified and support staff to understand and respond to concerns.  On January 4, 2021, Dr. Peggy Stemmler, MD, MDA from Maricopa County Health will update the members of this focus group with the latest guidance regarding community spread benchmarks and the use of additional data to assist schools in making decisions.  Topics to be discussed include strengthening mitigation strategies and setting criteria for school-by-school return to virtual learning, if necessary.

We are grateful for the upcoming winter break.  Please follow all the mitigation strategies that are recommended to help contain the spread of the virus.  The tremendous sacrifices made by all CUSD employees and the struggles our families face are readily apparent.  We look forward to the day when the pandemic is behind us and we can celebrate the many contributions made to this effort.  Your cooperation is very much appreciated as we work together toward a brighter future.

December 11, 2020

As guidance related to COVID-19 continues to evolve, we have updated our plans based on the latest information and guidance available, including the latest recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Arizona Department of Public Health, and the Maricopa County Department of Public Health Administration.  We have also received numerous communications from our staff, parents, students, and the community sharing their opinions. 

Based on the most recent Board action

Anticipating that families will be traveling over the holidays and hosting family gatherings, on Wednesday night the Governing Board voted to temporarily allow students in grades 7-12 to listen and view instruction for classes via Google Meets, as is currently available for quarantined students, in place of attending in-person instruction for the first two weeks of the second semester (January 5-15, 2021).

Providing quality instruction for students in-person will continue to be the primary focus for classroom teachers.  Students choosing to attend class in a virtual modality are expected to commit for the two-week period, log-in on a daily basis and meet assignment due dates.  Students attending virtually will be able to listen and view live instruction in core subject areas (English Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies and World Languages) via Google Meets, have assignments and resources uploaded into Google Classroom as the teacher deems appropriate, and complete assignments online.  Elective courses will upload assignments into Google Classroom that can be completed independently. 

If you would like your student to participate in this virtual opportunity, please contact your child’s attendance clerk to indicate your intent.  You may leave a message on the attendance line. Parents have until January 4, 2021 to notify their school.
 

Communication during break

We encourage families to notify us of any active COVID-19 cases that develop over the winter break.  For any student’s positive diagnosis that occurs between December 18, 2020 and January 4, 2021, please send an email with the student’s name and ID number to Health@cusd80.com.  Please also attach documentation of the test result.
 

New guidelines for Quarantine – Effective January 5, 2021

In accordance with new CDC guidelines, the 14 day quarantine period may end:

• after 10 days without testing if no symptoms have occurred
     or
• after 7 days if no symptoms have occurred and a documented negative test result has been provided to the school

If choosing to return after 7 days, the test sample must have been collected at least 5 days after exposure.  Send-off PCR tests are preferred, but rapid PCR or antigen tests are acceptable.

If you are exposed again during quarantine, the period must start over.  If you develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19 during the quarantine period, you must follow the instructions for isolating yourself and notify the school.
 

New guidelines for Face Masks – Effective January 5, 2021

The Arizona Department of Health Services Emergency Measure 2020-04 (Slowing the Spread of COVID-19 in Schools) “mandates that masks are worn on school campus, on school buses, during school-associated activities, and while participating in or observing any school-associated athletic activities, by all students, faculty, staff, contractors and visitors.”  This Emergency Measure cites Center for Disease Control research that supports community masking to reduce the spread of COVID-19.  In compliance with this emergency measure, face masks are required on all CUSD campuses for all students, staff, and visitors ages 2 and older.  Furthermore, the Maricopa County Department of Public Health specifies that an acceptable face mask should completely cover your nose and mouth and fit snugly against the sides of your face without gaps. 

As a result, beginning January 5, 2021 face shields will no longer be an acceptable face covering for students unless a medical exemption is provided by a licensed healthcare provider and is on file with the school site.  Staff will ONLY be allowed to utilize a face shield when necessary for specific classroom instruction and where they are able to socially distance from students and staff.
 

In This Together

We all have a role to play to keep our schools and community safe.  Please stay home if you are not well and experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, are awaiting test results, or have received a positive test.  

You can view our active cases and quarantine information on our dashboard at www.cusd80.com/COVIDdashboard.  The dashboard will be enhanced next quarter to include cases affiliated with schools, even when there has been no exposure on campus.

Thank you for your support as we continue to make decisions that promote the health and safety of our students, staff, and community.

In an effort to promote timely communication and transparency, CUSD was among the first school districts in Maricopa County to publish a COVID-19 Dashboard.  Over the last several weeks we have made modifications to the COVID-19 Dashboard to provide the data that our community and staff have requested.  The following information is now provided on the dashboard:

• School
• Total Employees and Student Enrollment
• Confirmed Active Cases
• Percentage of Active Cases
• Resolved Cases (cases are moved to this category if the positive individual has been cleared to return to a CUSD campus)

Recently, we’ve received questions about the accuracy of the dashboard and reliability of the data.  The data that is reported on the dashboard is accurate.  However, we realize that further clarification is necessary to ensure effective communication.  Only “confirmed active cases” are reported on the dashboard.  A “confirmed active case” is defined as meeting the following criteria before it is added to the dashboard:

1. CUSD has a confirmed positive test from a student or staff member.  A positive test can be confirmed either by a parent or staff member providing a copy of the positive COVID-19 test result that the Registered Nurse will confirm OR confirmation from Maricopa County Department of Health Services of a positive test.  Most often our health services team receives a copy of the test directly from the parent or staff member before confirmation from the County.
2. The person who has tested positive is confirmed to have been on a CUSD campus during their infectious period.  The infectious period is defined as starting 48 hours prior to the onset of COVID-19 symptoms or a positive test result, whichever came first and through the remainder of the infection.

In summary, if a student or staff tests positive for COVID-19 the CUSD Health Services Department will: 1) confirm the positive test; 2) identify if the person was on a CUSD campus during their infectious period; 3) if the person meets both of those criteria they will be added to the COVID-19 Dashboard.  ONLY students and staff who are “confirmed active cases” will be indicated on the CUSD COVID-19 Dashboard which is updated each school day by 10 a.m.

We understand there has been confusion about this criteria.  It is important to note that if a student or staff who have a confirmed positive COVID-19 test but did not participate in any on-campus activities during their infectious period are currently NOT reported on the dashboard.  As stated above, the intent of the dashboard is to communicate the active confirmed cases on CUSD campuses.  In an effort to further clarify the data, however, we are currently developing a process to communicate confirmed non-campus exposure cases on the dashboard starting after the winter break.  Although these cases will not be used in determining temporary school closures, the confirmed cases that have no campus exposure will be visible to the public. 

In regards to quarantining protocols, we are continuing to follow the Maricopa County guidelines and quarantining any student that is determined to have been in “close contact” with a staff member or student during their infectious period while on a CUSD campus or at a CUSD-sponsored event.  The CUSD Health Services department is conducting the contact tracing and is limited to only tracing incidents of “close contact” that happen on CUSD campuses. The CUSD Health Services Department is actively monitoring the CDC and Maricopa County quarantine guidelines and additional information will be forthcoming on any changes recommended to the quarantine procedures.

Thank you in advance for your help to ensure accurate information is shared with our community.  We appreciate your continued support as we refine our COVID-19 Dashboard.

November 19, 2020

Dear Staff and Families,

We are continuously monitoring the COVID-19 activity at the county, city, and school levels, responding to new information, and working closely with the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.

On November 18th, the administration provided an update on COVID-19 in a public meeting.  Please take a few minutes to view the presentation (PowerPoint PDF or YouTube video) which provides in-depth information on the following:

1. Though COVID-19 activity at the state, county, and city is on the rise, the incidence of positive cases for CUSD staff and students since the return to school on September 14, 2020 is less than 1%.  In fact, 10 schools have no reported cases at all, and 32 schools have no active cases as of November 17, 2020.
    
2. Data indicates that our mitigation strategies are making a difference.  By and large, students and staff are not spreading the virus at school.
    
3. The benefits of keeping schools open are many:
   
   
   • In-person learning is optimum for most students.
   • Access to resources and technology from home is limited or non-existent for a portion of our students.
   • Students’ presence in school helps educators better identify and meet their unique physical, social and emotional needs.
   • Parents depend on trained educators to provide a quality education for their children.
   • Many parents depend on schools to provide a safe educational and social environment while they are at work.
     
     

4. Although we do not believe a change in instructional model is warranted at this time, the administration remains vigilant and prepared for change.  A school-by-school contingency plan will guide a decision to move to temporary virtual learning, if necessary.  Should a school meet a specific benchmark, then we would institute a temporary school closure and shift to virtual learning.  See guidelines below.
    

Families will be notified 48 hours in advance of temporary school closure and a shift to virtual learning.  Computers will be distributed to students who do not have access.  The school will be evacuated for 24 hours to allow for the fogging and disinfection process.  The school campus will be closed for students for five (5) school days. 

As we enter the Thanksgiving season, we want to express our gratitude for all you are doing to support your children and our schools.  There is hope for an end to this pandemic in the months ahead.  In the meantime, please continue to adhere to the strategies that will keep your family and our schools safe.

In your service,

Chandler Unified School District

CUSD is offering students on quarantine an opportunity to view and listen to instruction via a live Google Meets during normal class time.  This connection to instruction will be provided by the student’s elementary classroom teacher.  At the junior high and high school levels this connection will be provided by the student’s teachers in the core content areas, including world language.  Students that are placed in quarantine will be allowed the opportunity to view live instruction in their normally scheduled classes and complete assignments electronically until their quarantine is lifted.  Only students required to quarantine may access the live Google Meets.

Dear Chandler Unified School District Families,

The purpose of this letter is to provide you an update with respect to the reopening of schools, the District’s response to COVID-19 cases, and, most importantly, a plea for you to help us avoid school closure.

REOPENING OF SCHOOL FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING

Students return to school for in-person learning has gone well.   There was noticeable excitement among students when their virtual teachers came to life and they were able to reconnect with old friends and meet new friends.   Although in-person teaching and learning is optimum for most students, more than 9,000 CUSD parents decided that an online option best meets the needs of their children.  It is our intent to continue to offer two quality learning options.

DISTRICT’S RESPONSE TO COVID-19 CASES

Under the guidance of CUSD Health Services Director Lyndsay Hartley, MSN, RN, the District administration, teachers and staff are doing everything in their power to keep students and staff safe, healthy, and keep our schools open for in-person learning.  Mitigation procedures are in place.  Staff are documenting students’ whereabouts so that contact tracing is effective in the event of a positive case on campus.  Exposed students are being quarantined to contain virus spread.  

Beginning next week in an effort to increase transparency to staff, students and families, the District is enhancing the COVID-19 dashboard located on the CUSD website.  Information is updated daily with active cases by school.  An active case indicates that a student or staff member participating in on-campus activities has tested positive for an active COVID-19 infection.  Individuals who test positive are excluded from participation in any in-person/on-campus activity until the registered nurse verifies that the individual meets the return criteria set by state and local health authorities.  Once the individual is cleared to return, they are no longer considered an active case and their case is removed from the dashboard count and labeled “resolved”.  See a sample of the revised dashboard below.

As the case numbers increase, the District administration is not only monitoring the benchmarks from the Maricopa County Health department, but also our individual school and district data.  Although the number of cases in Chandler and the surrounding areas are increasing, we are monitoring our active cases in relationship to 50,000 students and staff in the entire school district. 

PLEA FOR YOUR HELP

Although our individual school data is positive overall, we cannot let our guard down as the trends change quickly and exponentially.  Students and parents understand and are committed to comply with the mitigation strategies.  There are exceptions where individuals have overlooked mitigation strategies thereby placing at risk the health of students, staff and community members as well as continued in-person learning.  Students have been sent to school with symptoms or while awaiting test results.  Students have attended gatherings outside of school, contracted the virus, and then returned to school exposing their classmates.   These situations are avoidable.  The pandemic has presented us with so many factors outside of our control.  We need 100% cooperation to influence what we can control.

As pandemic fatigue sets in, I ask you to join us in a renewed commitment to adhere to mitigation strategies as we enter the next few months of high risk. 

1. Encourage your children and family members to adhere to the recommended CDC mitigation strategies – masks, social distance, hand washing – both at school and at home.  Many of the coronavirus infections are a result of student gatherings outside of the school setting where attendees relax their guard. 
2. Please keep your child at home if they are exhibiting symptoms.  As we enter the flu season, it will be hard to determine if symptoms are COVID.  Keeping your child home is the best course of action to protect staff and other students.  Let the school know if you have questions or need support.
3. If you have had your child tested for COVID-19, please wait until you receive results before sending them back to school.
4. Notify the school if your child or a family member is COVID positive. 
5. Call your school if you have any questions.

We remain committed to providing a quality educational experience for all CUSD students, but we cannot do this alone.    I respectfully request your help to keep our schools open and safe. 

Sincerely,

Camille Casteel, Ed.D

CUSD Staff and Families,

Dr. Camille Casteel, Superintendent of Chandler Unified School District, provides some information for parents as we approach the reopening of schools in the next few weeks. Please see her video message below.  A link to the CUSD Safety and Mitigation Protocols video is found at the end of the video (starting at 3 minutes, 18 seconds).

After a comprehensive review of options to reopen schools in-person, the Chandler Unified School District Governing Board voted to welcome students back to campus in the following manner:
 

Elementary students (preschool to sixth grade) will begin in a staggered start.

• Preschool to second grade and self-contained special education classes will begin fully in-person September 14, 2020.
• Third to sixth grade classes will begin fully in-person on September 21, 2020.
• Sixth graders at ACP-Oakland, Andersen Junior High, and Basha AMS will follow the secondary schedule. 

Secondary students (7 – 12) will begin fully in-person on October 13, 2020.

Chandler Online Academy and Elementary Connect students will remain in their current instructional setting and may choose to 1) change to in-person learning effective October 13, 2020 or 2) remain in Chandler Online Academy.

The health pandemic is a complex issue. In recent weeks, there have been two noteworthy changes in the data that led the Governing Board to revisit in-person instruction. First, the numbers of cases in Arizona and the City of Chandler have significantly decreased over the last several weeks. Secondly, the Maricopa County Health Department benchmarks for Chandler Unified School District have steadily improved. The reopening plan approved by the Governing Board is contingent upon the benchmarks remaining stable or improving. Safety and mitigation practices will be a priority including, but not limited to, the requirement for staff and students to wear face coverings when on campus. Schools will be providing further information over the next week.

We look forward to greeting our elementary students in person in the next few weeks joined by our secondary students as well as the Chandler Online Academy students who choose to move to in-person learning on October 13th.

Thank you for your input, your patience and your continued support. Please refer to the district website for more information.

IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION:

Optional limited on-site supervision and support does NOT refer to to the resumption of in-person instruction.  In-person instruction is scheduled to begin after fall break.

Dear Chandler Unified School District parents and families,

In accordance with Governor Ducey’s Executive Order 2020-51, Chandler Unified School District will provide all families with an opportunity for on-site learning and support starting August 17th.  Detailed information is provided on your home school’s website.

General Information:

• All CUSD school sites will be open for on-site learning and support Monday - Friday during standard school hours.
• Supervision and support will be provided for online coursework; no direct instruction will be provided.
• Students may access CUSD guest Wifi and are encouraged to bring a CUSD issued device or personal device.
• Enrollment at each site is capped when capacity is reached.
• Transportation is not provided.
• Face coverings are required and social distancing is enforced.
• Enhanced sanitation procedures will be implemented.
• Chandler Online Academy students may attend their home school for on-site learning opportunities.
• All families will receive detailed information and registration instructions from their currently enrolled school.

Parent Acknowledgement Form:

Click here for the CUSD COVID-19 Parent Acknowledgement Form | Reconocimiento y Divulgación Parental de COVID-19.  Parents are asked to print, sign and present the COVID-19 parent acknowledgment form on their first day on-site.  CUSD COVID-19 Parent Acknowledgment Forms will also be available in-person at your school site upon request. 

#MaskUpAZ

To ensure that every Arizonan does their part to stop the spread of COVID-19, the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) and the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) expanded their #MaskUpAZ program to students and school staff. All students and school staff in Arizona can order 5 washable, reusable cloth face masks today.  Click here to request your free cloth face masks. 

CUSD Google (GSE) Account Password Updates for Junior High and High School Students

Beginning tomorrow, when junior high or high school students log in to their CUSD Google (GSE) accounts, Google will prompt students to create a new password to log in. This is to increase the safety and security of student accounts and information. When prompted, please create a strong password that is at least 8 characters long. We recommend a combination of letters and numbers. This Google Support Page includes more information about password requirements. It should not be a password you have used in the past with this Google account and it should not include any personal information that might be easy to guess. Once you have chosen a password, be sure to write it down and keep it in a safe place. The instructions and videos below may be helpful.

• Password Change Instructions (PDF) - English | Español
• Password Change Tutorial Video - English | Español

Dear parents and guardians,

Tonight, the Governing Board approved the return to in-person, teacher-led classroom instruction beginning second quarter if the District can do so in a manner consistent with the Maricopa County Health Department/Arizona Department of Health Services public health benchmarks in effect at that time.  The board will re-evaluate at its September 23rd meeting if the criteria has not been previously met.   Updates and letters from the District will continue to be posted on our website at www.cusd80.com/SaferStrongerTogether.

We look forward to safely welcoming students back to in-person instruction, and until then will be working hard to provide a quality learning experience for students in our online and virtual learning environments. 

Dear CUSD parents and guardians,

Tomorrow marks the first day of school for 2020-21 and we are excited to have students back in our virtual classrooms across the district.  In accordance with Governor Doug Ducey’s Executive Order on July 23 (Arizona: Open for Learning, 2020-51), our Distance Learning and Mitigation plans have been posted online for your review at www.cusd80.com/ReopeningPlans.  For your convenience, any updates to these plans will also be posted to this address and linked from the front page of our district website at www.cusd80.com.
 

Starting the school year in a virtual instructional model will require students to be academically engaged on a daily basis.  We encourage students to participate in virtual learning during normally scheduled class time.  Regular class attendance is essential for success in school. As required by state law, student attendance must be taken every day.  Students will be marked present if they have been academically engaged in class that day.  Academic engagement can include, but is not limited to:

• Attempted and completed assignments
• Participation in Google Meets live instruction
• Documented access of pre-recorded instructional videos
• Email, phone or other communication with the teacher constituting virtual instruction
• Minutes logged on online learning platforms such as BUZZ, Google Classroom or other online applications
   

Students will be marked absent if they have not demonstrated academic engagement for the day.  Parents/guardians will receive a phone call to notify them of the absence.  PreK-6th grade teachers will be reporting attendance by 11 a.m.  Junior high and high school teachers will be reporting attendance each period.  The Chandler Online Academy registrar will be reporting attendance in grades 7-12 by 3 p.m.  In the event that a student is marked absent but did engage in class instruction after attendance was reported, the student's attendance will be adjusted the next school day and he/she will be marked present. 
 

Parents or guardians may call a student “out” as an excused absence by contacting the school's attendance line if they are unable to academically engage in class that day.  All normal school policies regarding make-up work and grading apply.  Reasons for excused absences may include:

• Lack of computer access or internet connectivity
• Illness
• Bereavement
• Family emergencies
• Observance of religious holidays of the family's faith
   

If your student is unable to engage in remote learning due to a lack of computer access or internet connectivity, please contact your school site to request technology assistance. 

Tech Support Help for Students and Parents 

Starting August 4th, Virtual Learning Help for students and parents will be available 7 am - 6 pm weekdays at the web address, email and phone below:

Website: familyresources.gse.cusd80.com
Email: helpdesk@cusd80.com
Phone: (480) 812-7697

CUSD FAMILIES,

We are writing to let you know that the CUSD Governing Board has moved the August 12th meeting to August 5th to discuss the first day of in-person instruction. Also note, Arizona Health Services are expected to provide benchmarks next week to help guide our in-person reopening plans.

 A number of families have requested a change in preference for virtual/in-person vs. Chandler Online Academy.  The schools are maintaining a list of these requests.  Please understand that we cannot accommodate these changes at this time. Continuous adjustments are making it extremely difficult for us to solidify class schedules, rosters and staffing.  However, we are working hard to provide you a quality experience in both models. 

Thank you for your patience as we continue our Safer Stronger Together reopening plans. 

We are providing two updates regarding our Safer Stronger Together school reopening plans:

1. Governor Doug Ducey and Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman announced Thursday afternoon that by August 7th the Arizona Department of Health Services will develop and release public health benchmarks for the safe return of in-person, teacher-led classroom instruction. We continue to communicate with state and county health officials and the Governor’s office as we prepare for the return of in-person instruction.
2. Starting August 5th, when virtual learning begins, our Curbside Meal Program will transition to the traditional National School Lunch Program.  Enrolled CUSD students will still be able to pick up meals curbside at select sites.  Students who have qualified for Free or Reduced meals will continue to eat FREE. Paying students will receive a 5-day meal bundle for a discounted price of $23.  To qualify your child for Free or Reduced Meals, please complete an application at www.myschoolapps.com.  Please click here for more information on the changes to our meal program. 

Dear CUSD Families,

The Chandler Unified School District Governing Board has approved a plan to reopen our schools for the 2020-21 school year that provides parents with flexible in-person and online options. We will welcome all students back on August 5th. Until we can open schools for in-person services, all instruction will be delivered through our Chandler Online Academy (COA) or a virtual format that will transition to in-person.

Before detailed instructional decisions can be made and course offerings can be solidified, all families are being asked to indicate their intent to return and select which instructional model they would like their child(ren) enrolled in for the start of the 2020-21 school year. Families have until July 14th to indicate their intent to return.

• To complete the CUSD Intent to Return, please login to the parent portal.
• If you are new to CUSD and don’t have a parent portal account, please click here to create your account.
• If you need help logging into your parent portal, please contact your child’s school. After you login to the parent portal, click on “More” from the left hand column and then click on “CUSD Intent to Return.”

We appreciate your ongoing support and patience as we address the challenges of these unprecedented times. The teachers and staff of the Chandler Unified School District are eager to get back to serving our community and providing the first-class education that has made CUSD the Premier District of Choice and the No. 1-rated school district (Niche.com) in Maricopa County.

Safer. Stronger. Together.

Dear CUSD Families and Staff,

The circumstances surrounding COVID-19 continues to be fluid. On Monday, June 29, 2020, Governor Doug Ducey announced that all schools shall delay the start for in-person instruction until August 17, 2020.

We have reviewed the latest Executive Order and how it applies to our proposed reopening plan. At this time, we want to share that we will still welcome our students back for their first day of instruction on Wednesday, August 5th. Until we can open schools for in-person services, all instruction will be delivered through our Chandler Online Academy (COA) or a virtual format.

In order to plan and staff appropriately, we will be asking you to select your student(s) preferred delivery system when schools can reopen.

1. Online Only (for those who plan to attend Chandler Online Academy for a minimum of one quarter). Kindergarten-6 will enroll in Elementary Connect @ COA; Grades 7-12 will enroll in COA. Florida Virtual Curriculum or customized courses will be offered for a number of areas. Both of these programs will have increased teacher interaction compared to a typical online course.
   
   
2. The in-person option for grades K-12, will begin the school year through a virtual learning experience using Google Classroom. The student will be assigned to a teacher(s) from their enrolled school with an established schedule in order to cover all areas of the curriculum. The teacher and students will transition to in-person at the school site when allowed to do so.
   
   NOTE: Grades 7-12 The in-person and online option (concurrent enrollment) will be available for grades 7-12 when schools are allowed to open for in-person instruction. In the meantime, this option will be delivered virtually.

We believe it is important to begin teaching and learning as soon as possible to help address a potential achievement gap. We will always prioritize student learning and understand that the community relies on various services including counseling, social work, food services, childcare, etc. and prefer not to delay these services.

Please be on the lookout for additional communication in the next few days, beginning with a Question and Answer document, followed by enrollment forms in which you will be asked to choose the preferred learning model for your child(ren).

Safer Stronger Together

June 25, 2020

Dear CUSD Families,

As we prepare for the reopening of schools for 2020-21, we have been thoughtful and deliberate trying to determine what is best of students, families, and staff. We have involved a Task Force that looked at issues and concerns in a solution-oriented way. We have surveyed parents and staff and consulted with state health leaders.

Our Governing Board met tonight, June 24, 2020, to discuss options and made three key decisions:

• Delay the start of the school year two weeks and make up the required days by eliminating the first week of the October and March Intersessions. The first day for students will be August 5, 2020;
• Offer families with an In-person Model of Instruction and a K-12 Online Model of Instruction through the Chandler Online Academy; and
• Comply with Maricopa County, City and Town guidelines that all students (kindergarten and above) and patrons are required to wear face coverings on school grounds where persons are unable to maintain continuous physical distancing of 6 feet or more.

Our task force has developed guidelines that stress increased safety, cleaning and disinfecting, communication, and services to provide counseling and social emotional learning during this transition period.

We will be communicating more details with you in the next several days. In the meantime, more detailed information will be posted on our website dedicated to information on reopening schools, www.cusd80.com/SaferStrongerTogether. You will find our school reopening guidelines, parent and staff survey results, the newly approved calendar for 2020-21, 7-12 Chandler Online Catalog, and much more in the coming days.

Next week, we will be asking you to choose the Online or In-person Instructional Model and request your response no later than July 10, 2020.

In closing, please know how much we have appreciated your patience. We are preparing to provide your student with the quality educational experience that you have come to expect from CUSD in the setting that is right for your family.

We will continue to pray for the health and safety of our students, staff, and families while we respond to ever-changing information regarding COVID-19.

Respectfully,

Camille Casteel. Ed.D

Dr. Camille Casteel
webmaster@cusd80.com
480-812-7000