Students in the Roaring Fork School District will begin online learning April 20. District officials said they are working with students, their families and teachers to assess their needs until then.
Beginning next week, students can start online activities to get familiar with the new online system. The schools will work with students to make sure they have internet access and a computer. On April 20, district officials said students and teachers will start online learning until the end of the coronavirus outbreak or until the end of the school year, whichever comes first.
Rob Stein, the district’s superintendent, said in a press release their plan to wait until the end of the month to begin online learning is intentional.
“We wanted to make sure we had adequate time to prepare for this shift in how we are delivering school, which is a major departure for our students and teachers alike,” Stein said. “After watching other schools around the country quickly jump to implementing distance learning without great success, we are taking time to plan thoughtfully.”
District officials said they want to ensure every student has the resources to be successful. Outside of learning, the district is also offering students free breakfast and lunch every weekday throughout the school closure.
“Our plan is rooted in equity. Many students face barriers such as language, disability, or access to the internet which must be addressed before we attach any consequences to academic work or participation,” Stein said. “We need time to work through all of these issues before launching a formal distance learning program.”
Aspen School District began online learning April 1.
