Plan for Remote Learning (5Nov2020 Rev)

If NYISE is closed due to COVID-19 or if a parent selects remote learning for their child the following plan will be used:

• Each student will have a schedule of classes that they will attend while in-person or if they are learning remotely. When classes are remote, the curriculum and IEP educational services will be delivered through a variety of platforms based on the needs of the student, his or her technology and ability to complete tasks with or without support.
• Students in the Readiness, Schermerhorn and Van Cleve programs will be provided with iPads and assistive technology to meet their needs during remote instruction.
•  If school is open and a student is remaining at home, the teacher will use Google Classroom and Google Meets to interact from the classroom. In this plan, students in the classroom and at home will be following the same schedule. The teacher will work with the parent of the student working remotely to give breaks from the on-line platform.
•  All teachers in the Readiness Program will have access to an iPad to conduct remote learning. Teachers in the Schermerhorn and Van Cleve programs will have access to an iPad, desk top with webcam or laptop to conduct remote learning.
•  Staff in the Readiness/Pre-School Program will use Google Meets to share information with the students. Teachers will send home specific assignments, activities avnd resources on a regular basis. Staff and student iPads will have the SeeSaw app to review work that the student in doing at home.
•  Staff in the Schermerhorn program (grades K-4) will send home specific assignments and activities on a regular basis. Students in these grades may not always be able to complete their work using technology. Staff will use Google Meets to interact with the students and parents.
•  Staff in the Schermerhorn program will provide materials in print and braille to those who need the materials to complete their assignments.
•  Related services (OT, PT, Speech, Counseling, Orientation and Mobility) will be provided through Google Meets or phone and mailing work packets to each student and family. Related service staff will maintain documentation of the sessions in EasyTrac. To the extent possible, related services objectives will be implemented as stated in the IEP.
•  The residential staff will provide afternoon and evening activities on a daily basis. The residential staff will be available to assist residential students with homework assignments.

Plan for Testing

In the event a student or employee reports testing positive for COVID-19 or is exposed to a person who tests positive for COVID-19:

• The student or employee should immediately notify the Institute by contacting:
    ○ The human resource office at the Institute 718-519-7000 ext. 316 or [email protected]
•  If a student or staff tests positive for COVID-19, the Institute will immediately notify state and local health departments and cooperate with contact tracing efforts, including notification of potential contacts, such as workers or visitors who had close contact with the individual, while maintaining confidentiality required by state and federal law and regulations.
•  Parents will be contacted and informed if their child came into close contact with a person infected by
  COVID-19.
•  Staff members will be contacted and informed if they came into close contact with a person infected with COVID-19
•  The New York State Department of Health considers a “close contact” to be someone who was within six feet of an infected person with COVID-19 for at least ten minutes starting from 48 hours before the illness onset until the person was isolated.

In the event that the school is notified that an employee or student has been exposed to COVID-19 and are quarantined or if a family member has been diagnosed with or presumed to have COVID-19 and/or is being isolated, the following procedure will be followed:

• Staff and students with known exposure to someone with diagnosed or presumed COVID-19 will be instructed to self-quarantine at home for 14 days
•  If a student is excluded from school due to COVID-19 symptoms or has had a positive COVID-19 test, his or her siblings or other students living in the same household will be questioned, and if they exhibit symptoms, they will also be excluded from school. If they do not exhibit symptoms, they may still be excluded from school and asked to self-quarantine.

In the event a person becomes ill with COVID-like symptoms while at school, the following procedure will be followed:

• The person will be evaluated in treatment room 1 in the Health Services Office. If the nurse determines that the student or staff member should be in isolation, they will go to Wait House. The student’s parent will be called to come and pick up the student. If a parent does not respond to the need to pick up their child, the nurse will call 911. If the staff member is too ill to return home, they will wait for a family member/friend to pick them up. The parent or family member coming to transport the ill student or staff member will enter at the Astor Avenue Gate and go to the rear door of Wait House to pick up the student or staff member. In an unusual situation to be determined by the Executive Director and the program supervisor transportation arrangements will be made to transport the sick person home or to a healthcare facility.
•  Persons who had close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 will be advised to contact their healthcare provider and follow the healthcare provider directions or the directions from the Department of Health before returning to the Institute.
• Sick staff members and children will be advised not to return until they have met CDC criteria to discontinue home isolation.

In the event that the school is notified that an employee or student has been exposed to COVID-19 and are quarantined or if a family member has been diagnosed with or presumed to have COVID-19 and/or is being isolated, the following procedure will be followed:

• Staff and students with known exposure to someone with diagnosed or presumed COVID-19 will be instructed to contact their healthcare provider and be tested. The staff and students should follow the directions of their healthcare provider or the directions from the Department of Health before returning to the Institute.
• If a student is excluded from school due to COVID-19 symptoms or has had a positive COVID-19 test, his or her siblings or other students living in the same household will be questioned, and if they exhibit symptoms, they will also be excluded from school. If they do not exhibit symptoms, they may still be excluded from school and asked to self-quarantine.
• The following procedure will be followed for allowing persons to return to school following quarantino Once a student or employee is excluded from the school environment, they may return if they satisfy the recommendations of the CDC. Currently, those guidelines are:
•  

• Untested:Persons who have not received a test proving or disproving the presence of COVID-19 but experience symptoms may return if the following three conditions are met:

1. 1.  They have not had a fever for at least 72 hours (that is three full days of no fever without the use of medicine that reduces fevers); and
   2. Other symptoms have improved (for example, when your cough or shortness of breath have improved); and
   3. At least ten (10) calendar days have passed since your symptoms first appeared.

• Tested: Persons who experienced symptoms and have been tested positive for COVID-19 may return to school if the following three conditions are met: 

1. 1. They no longer have a fever (without the use of medicine that reduces fevers); and
   2. Other symptoms have improved (for example, when your cough or shortness of breath have improved); and
   3. They have received two negative tests in a row, at least 24 hours apart.

• Tested with no symptoms: Persons who have not had symptoms but test positive for COVID- 19 may return when they have gone ten (10) calendar days without symptoms and have been released by a healthcare provider.

Students may also return if they are approved to do so in writing by the student’s health care provider.

Plan for Contact Tracing

NYISE will assist with contact tracing in the event of a positive COVID-19 case by:

• Keeping accurate attendance records of students and staff
• Ensuring that student schedules are up to date
• Keeping a log of any visitors which includes date, time and where in the school they visited.
• Work with the local department of health to receive guidance and direction