Our Goals

Our common goal is a safe organized return to school for students, staff and families. Relentless work has and continues to be done to prepare for the September opening of schools according to the State guidelines. Experts anticipate the pandemic will continue throughout the 2020-2021 school year with periods of increased community outbreaks until such time as there is a widely available vaccine. Our plans will be flexible to quickly adjust to guidance updates from health and education departments

CORE VALUES GUIDING OUR PLANNING

Yonkers commitment to equity and excellence drives the work that is grounded in collaboration with all stakeholders which is foundational to our success. The guiding principles include:

• Equity
  • Promote equity and access for students, staff and families
• All Children’s Unique Needs
  • Focus on the most vulnerable population
  • Foster positive relationships and meaningful frequent interactions whereby students receive meaningful feedback on assignments and interactions with peers and adults
• Health, Safety and Well-being for All
  • Students, Staff, Parents/Guardians and Community Partners
  • Provide social emotional supports for all students with special attention on our most vulnerable populations
• Differentiated Approach for Teaching and Learning
  • Focus on interdisciplinary teaching and multiple ways to show mastery (e.g., project-based assessment)
  • Provide instructional experiences that, when considered as a whole, are comparable in rigor, scope and magnitude to a traditionally delivered program of study.
• Quality Standards-Based Culturally Responsive Instruction
• Parents/Guardians as Partners
• Timely Communications in Multiple Languages to All Stakeholders

The plan for the 2020-2021 school year is not the distance learning we launched last school year.

Through our spring and summer experience with remote learning and the survey responses from parents/guardians, students and teachers a wide variety of feedback and needs surfaced. This has informed our preparation to significantly improve teaching and learning moving forward. As we continue to plan, the District will work collaboratively with our educators to create model in-person and distance learning opportunities. Remote learning is expected to include synchronous and asynchronous elements, which allow for students to work together or individually at their own pace and on their own schedule.