Metro Nashville Public Schools Family Decision Survey Deadline Extended To Sept. 18

From the Metro Nashville Public Schools:

September 8, 2020

This blog post has been updated to reflect the new Sept. 18 deadline and to include the proposed phasing in schedule for returning to school.

As Metro Schools continues to monitor COVID-19 trends in Davidson County, the district is preparing for students to return to face-to-face learning by asking parents and guardians to tell us if they want to continue virtually or come to schools in person. Classroom schedules and teacher assignments will be based on whether students will attend virtually or in person, and this may result in your student being assigned a new teacher or teachers to meet their needs.

New Survey Response Deadline: Friday, September 18

We are asking families of students to inform us of your decision by Friday, September 18, 2020. Please note:

• You will need to complete a separate survey for each child enrolled in MNPS, with the exception of charter schools.
• You can fill out the survey on any computer, tablet, or smartphone with Internet access. A link to the survey is below.
• These decisions will be for the remainder of the school year so resources can be properly allocated to ensure fewer interruptions in learning.
• Families will be provided an opportunity in December to change their decision for the second semester, which will start in January of 2021.
• If we do not receive a response to the decision survey from you, we will assume your child will be attending in person. But please know that we are committed to continuing to provide a high-quality virtual curriculum with support for families who choose to remain in the virtual setting.

Phasing in Schedule

MNPS is first inviting a small population of students with exceptional needs back to their schools this month, followed by our youngest learners (starting with grades Pre-K to 2nd grade) in elementary school after the fall break.

Here are the grade levels and proposed return dates:

• Pre-K to 2nd grade - Tuesday, October 13 (October 13-14 will be half-days for all students) 
• 3rd and 4th grades -  Tuesday, October 20 
• 5th and 6th grades - Tuesday, October 27 
• 7th and 8th grades - Wednesday, November 4 
• 9th through 12th grades - January (Start of the second semester)

Survey Link

To respond to the Family Decision Survey, click the link for your language of preference.

Access Code is your student username (all lowercase, same as email address but without @mnpsk12.org):

Family Decision Survey in English

Amharic | Arabic | Burmese | Kurdish | Nepali | Somali | Spanish | Swahili | Vietnamese

Frequently Asked Questions for Parents and Guardians

Translations for the Frequently Asked Questions are available in the following languages:

Amharic | Arabic | Burmese | English | Nepali | Vietnamese

Please also use the website translation tool at the bottom left of this webpage.

Q: How do I submit my family’s decision?

A: Metro Schools is working with our survey partner, Panorama Education, to administer the Family Decision Survey online.

• For primary guardians with a valid email address on file in Infinite Campus, you should have received an email invitation from Panorama Education to complete the survey.
• Alternately, to submit your family’s decision, please visit the Panorama Education webpage and enter your student’s MNPS username in lowercase letters as the “access code” (Student usernames are used to log into MNPS laptops and GlobalProtect. They are similar to email addresses but do not include @mnpsk12.org at the end.)

You can fill out the survey on any computer, tablet, or smartphone with Internet access. If you need help, please contact the Family Information Center at 615-259-INFO (4636) or familyinfo@mnps.org.

Q: I do not know my student’s MNPS username. What should I do?

A: Please contact the Family Information Center at 615-259-INFO (4636) or familyinfo@mnps.org.

Q: When I try to access the survey for my student, it is not there or it was already completed. What should I do?

A: Please contact the Family Information Center at 615-259-INFO (4636) or familyinfo@mnps.org.

Q: Do I have to complete a separate survey for each child?

A: Yes, families must submit one decision survey for each child enrolled in Metro Nashville Public Schools, with the exception of charter schools.

Q: When is my decision due?

A: We have updated the deadline and we are asking families to inform us of your decision by Friday, September 18 so schools can prepare accordingly.

Q: Can I change my decision?

A: Prior to the deadline, you may change your decision by contacting the Family Information Center at 615-259-INFO (4636) or familyinfo@mnps.org.

Once the deadline has passed, these decisions will be for the remainder of the school year so that resources can be properly allocated to ensure fewer interruptions in learning.

Families will be provided an opportunity in December to change their decision for the second semester starting in January of 2021.

Q: The wrong school is listed for my child in Panorama. What should I do?

A: The decision submitted in Panorama will be linked to your student regardless of school. Please complete the survey for your child anyway and MNPS will ensure that this decision moves with the student to the correct school.

Q: Who can complete the Family Decision Survey?

A: The student’s legal guardian should submit your family’s decision. Only one decision can be made for each child.

Q: How can I confirm that my decision was received?

A: When filling out the survey, please provide your email address to request an email confirmation of your decision. If you do not receive email confirmation within 3 business days, please contact the Family Information Center at 615-259-INFO (4636) or familyinfo@mnps.org.

Q: What will in-person learning look like when students return?

A: Here is what you can expect at all MNPS schools:

• Masks over mouth and nose will be required for all students and staff.
• Any student who exhibits symptoms of COVID-19 such as a temperature of 100.4 or above, a cough, shortness of breath, or sudden loss of taste or smell will not be able to attend.
• Classroom sizes will be limited by the maximum requirements set forth by the Tennessee law:

K to 3: Maximum of 25 students, average of 20

4 to 6: Maximum of 30 students, average of 25

7 to 12: Maximum of 35 students, average of 30

Classrooms will be configured to maximize social distancing and prevent the spread of COVID-19, but most will not be able to create 6 feet of distance between students in normal settings.

If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, they will be required to self-isolate for 10 days.

If a student or staff member is determined to be a close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case, that person will be required to quarantine for 14 days.

In-person and virtual learning will be based on the Florida Virtual School curriculum to allow uninterrupted learning if classes or schools must be closed for quarantine.

As schools become aware of positive cases or the need to quarantine, families will be informed. However, we will not be able to share the name(s) of the individual(s) who are positive due to student and health privacy laws.

Some classes may be taught virtually while students are present in the school building due to personnel constraints.

Health officials and the public have learned a lot about COVID-19 since it first emerged late last year; however, they are still learning new information every day. As we learn more and get updated guidance, we will make adjustments accordingly.

Q: Can I complete the Family Decision Survey in a language other than English?

A: Yes, the survey is available online in these additional languages:

Amharic | Arabic | Burmese | Kurdish | Nepali | Somali | Spanish | Swahili | Vietnamese

Access Code is the student username (all lowercase, same as email address but without @mnpsk12.org)

If you need support in other languages, please contact the Family Information Center at 615-259-INFO (4636) or familyinfo@mnps.org.

Q: Can my student still do extracurricular activities, regardless of the choice?

Students will be able to participate in extracurricular activities whether they choose in-person or virtual.

Q: My child is enrolled in a charter school. Do I need to submit my family’s decision to MNPS?

A: No, for students enrolled in charter schools, please contact your child’s school directly.

Q: Where can I find more information about the returning to school plan?

A: For information on guidelines and expectations for returning to school, families can read the Safe Return section of the Back to School webpage.

Updates as of September 9, 2020

Q: If I choose virtual or in-person, will my student stay with their enrolled school?

A: Yes, students who remain in virtual learning or choose the in-person option will be taught by teachers at their school of enrollment and their scheduled classes will remain the same. Students may be assigned a different teacher to match the students with teachers who are either in-person or virtual.

Q: Will teachers simultaneously do virtual and in-person?

A: General Education teachers will be either in-person or virtual. Some teachers with specialized certifications may teach both in-person and virtual. Classroom sizes (student-to-teacher ratios) will comply with state law.

Q: What safety supplies will be provided to teachers and to students?

A: Students will be provided with disposable masks. Teachers and classrooms will be provided with cloth masks, gloves, face shields for teachers who need/request them, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant supplies. Designated staff will be provided with gowns, gloves, and other PPE as needed.

Q: What will classrooms look like?

A: Desks will be spread out to the extent possible in traditional classrooms, but six feet of distance will not be feasible in most circumstances. Desks will face one direction to the greatest extent possible. Students will be required to wear masks to limit the potential spread of COVID-19.

Q: What will lunch and recess look like for students?

A: Meals will be provided in disposable containers for students. Schools may either provide meals in classrooms or in cafeterias at 50% capacity with social distancing and clustering to the extent possible and tables disinfected after each use. Students will be encouraged to social distance at recess and masks will not be required outdoors if students stay 6 feet apart. The number of students will be limited to the greatest extent possible. Masks are required for indoor recess and students must wash their hands before and after.

Q: How will parents be notified if their child is a close contact?

A: Parents will be notified by either a school nurse, school administrator, or Metro Public Health official if their child is determined to be a close contact in need of quarantine.

Q: Will sports and clubs resume after Fall Break?

A: We continue to monitor the COVID-19 metrics and will resume extracurricular activities as soon as conditions allow.

Q: Will students keep their district devices?

A: Students should keep their district issued devices, with the expectation that all students will be issued a district laptop by the end of the calendar year.

Q: How will face masks be enforced among students?

A: Mask enforcement will be considered as a dress code violation (code 107) in the Student-Parent Handbook.

Updates as of September 11, 2020

Q: What do I need to know if my child is in Pre-K and hasn’t even been to school in person yet?

A: For information about what both the in-person and virtual learning environments will look like after school buildings reopen, please see the MNPS Early Childhood Education/Pre-K page.

Q: What are the cleaning protocols at schools?

A: Custodians and staff will be following daily and nightly cleaning routines and using standard, CDC-approved cleaning supplies and disinfectants to ensure that classrooms, common areas, and touch points such as door knobs and light switches are cleaned frequently.

Q: Is there a contingency plan in the event of an outbreak?

A: Determinations about when to shut down will be made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the Metro Public Health Department. In the event a school closes, all students and staff will move to the virtual environment. Students will remain with their assigned teachers from in-person learning. Teachers will be using the same curriculum from the Florida Virtual School in both settings so that students and staff can easily shift from in-person to virtual if the situation calls for it.

Updates as of September 12, 2020

Q: Will air purifiers or ozone machines be provided?

A: No, the HVAC systems that MNPS has in place meet air quality standards.

Q: Will virtual school stay the same? Will there be more assignments?

A: MNPS is committed to providing a high-quality education in both the in-person and virtual learning environments. Those who remain in the virtual setting can expect the same experience that is currently being offered, with teachers dedicated to the virtual learning environment.

Q: Will the virtual school schedule be the same as it is now?

A: There will likely be some adjustments to accommodate both teachers and students as we transition some students back to in-person learning and others remain virtual, but generally student schedule structures will remain consistent.

Q: Will my elementary children be sitting at a desk in the classroom on computers listening to Florida Virtual School? Will there be FVS expectations?

A: Teachers in the classroom will teach face to face, but students can expect a blended approach to learning that will rely on the use of technology. Teachers will continue to follow the Florida Virtual School curriculum regardless of the setting so that it will be easy to move back and forth between in-person and virtual learning if the public health situation changes again.

For more information on what to expect from virtual or in-person learning, visit the Back to School page.

This press release was produced by the Metro Nashville Public Schools. The views expressed are the author's own.