Updated information regarding school reopening! Learn more about what to expect.

KIPP Newark Remote Learning Experience

The earliest possible return date for KIPP Newark students who choose in-person instruction has been revised to April 19th, 2021. We will still offer 100% remote instruction for families who choose that option. You can learn more about this decision and our remote, hybrid, and in-person plans in this letter to Newark families.

This plan was developed in light of the information and guidance we have received from the NJ Department of Education, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and health experts as well as with input from our staff, students and families. We will continue to amend, adjust and improve these recommendations as new information emerges and with continued feedback from you.

As we navigate the 2020-21 school year with safety top of mind, we couldn’t be more grateful for your flexibility, persistence, and partnership! Please continue to visit our website for regular updates and click here to see our Smart Start Family Handbook which provides clarity on the most critical components of the start of this new school year. Click here to visit our Remote Learning site.

Our guiding principles:

We will protect the health and safety of students, staff, and families.

We will provide a safe environment for our students to learn and thrive.

We will make sure our students’ and families’ needs are met.

We will create a supportive environment for staff to excel in their work and feel safe.

  • Remote Learning Experience
  • Health, Safety, and Operations
  • Nutrition and Resources
  • COVID-19 Vaccine Resources
  • Technology
  • FAQ’s
  • Communications

Remote Learning Experience

KIPP Newark will operate schools FULLY REMOTE through April 19, 2021. Our school buildings will stay open for food and technology distribution, but all classes will be remote. This means that if you chose the hybrid option when you submitted your return to school survey, your child will now also learn remotely up through at least May 3rd.

We believe this shift is in the best interest of the health and safety of our students, families, and staff members. We appreciate your patience and understanding as our plans evolve.

Important Dates: 

  • Week of 4/5: Spring Break
  • Week of 4/12: Teacher PD/Asynchronous Learning for Students
  • Week of 4/19: Teacher In Person PD/Homecoming Week A (students return in smaller groups)
  • Week of 4/26: Homecoming Week B (students return in smaller groups)
  • Week of 5/3: Regular hybrid schedule begins for students choosing the hybrid model; students choosing fully remote continue with remote instruction
  • KIPP NJ/KIPP Miami Remote Learning Site
  • KIPP Newark Academic Calendar 2020-21

Check out our School Resource Pages for more information on events and resources from your child’s school.

Health, Safety, and Operations

The health and safety of our students, families, and staff are a top priority as we enter this school year. Below are our guidelines for when we reopen our school buildings: 

  • Enhanced cleaning protocols, signage reminders and a number of other measures have been put in place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. We will adjust these as needed according to local health and government guidelines. 
  • All students and staff will be required to wear masks while on campus except for during mealtimes. 
  • All teachers, staff, and students will receive a simple daily wellness screening as they arrive at school or board busses. This will include temperature and symptom checks.Anyone with a temperature of 100.4 or higher will be sent home.
  • We will minimize the number of students sharing space at a given time. Classroom layouts and arrival/dismissal processes will be modified to maintain social distancing.
  • Students will practice regular handwashing and hand sanitation including during arrival, before/after meals, and after bathroom breaks.
  • The number of students on each school bus will be limited and everyone will be required to wear masks while on the bus.
  • We will minimize the sharing of classroom materials, like art supplies, and wipe down supplies after each class. Students will keep personal items at their desk throughout the day. 
  • We will limit adults in the building and restrict access to the main office. Needs like medication drop-off should be handled during arrival, and digital parent meetings can be scheduled in place of in-person meetings. 
  • Students will continue to have gym and recess, however, social distancing will be practiced. We will not be hosting field trips, school events or extracurriculars at this time.

Classroom set up will ensure that everyone is maintaining a distance of 6 feet from one another whenever possible. If 6 feet in the classroom is impossible then we will separate students by at least 5 feet with plexiglass partitions.

Nutrition and Resources

Nutrition

For meal and grocery distribution updates, please click here.

When our schools reopen, students will eat all meals in classrooms and be required to wash hands before and after eating.

Additional Resources

Family Health Resources

We remain committed to providing community resources that will help our students continue their education remotely—and keep our families safe. 

  • KIPP families who have questions about our school closures, are in need of services or food, or have been in close contact with someone affected by COVID-19 should call 973-679-7199.

The New Jersey Department of Health has established a hotline (800-222-1222) to answer questions about COVID-19. Operated by the Poison Information and Education System, the 24-hour public hotline is staffed with trained healthcare professionals and can accommodate callers in multiple languages. The New Jersey Department of Health Local Public Health Directory lists all local health departments in the state.

COVID-19 Vaccine Resources

As the state of New Jersey, healthcare providers, and national pharmacies roll out the COVID-19 vaccine, we are committed to providing families with access to the most accurate information on vaccine safety and availability, so that you can make informed decisions. 

If you are interested in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, click here to pre-register with the state of New Jersey’s Vaccine Scheduling System and find vaccine sites here.

KIPP New Jersey recently hosted a panel in partnership with Project Ready, where local medical professionals fielded questions on the vaccine’s development, safety, distribution, and much more. Head here to watch the panel. 

Additionally we wanted to highlight these resources available to the public:

  • 5 Facts to know about the COVID-19 Vaccines.
  • Click here to learn more about getting vaccinated without health insurance. You do not need to have health insurance to get the vaccine.
  • Johns Hopkins Medicine’s breakdown of myths/facts surrounding the vaccines, for example, the myth that their development was rushed and therefore they are unsafe.
  • COVID-19 and the Vaccine for Communities of Color Webinar: An in-depth panel discussion with audience questions addressing concerns related to the vaccine options available to the public. Hosted by ABC’s Darla Miles, the panel includes Dr. Karma Warren, Dr. Pierre Vigilance, and Dr. Wayne Riley.

Technology

KIPP is offering access to devices to help support remote learning. We also have a robust tech section on our Remote Learning site that offers support and information on connecting to classrooms as well as answers to common tech questions. Our remote learning programming will have significant online components. To request a device or wifi, learn tips for connecting to Google Classroom, and more, please click here. 

Students who already have their technology device from last school year are encouraged to contact our Family Support Team in case they are having any issues with their current device. The technology team will follow up directly and students can pick up a replacement Chromebook.

Tech Support Hours and Hotline:

Tech Support for KIPP Newark is available Monday – Friday from 10AM to 4PM. The established hotline for tech support is 973-679-7939.

FAQ’s

Frequently Asked Questions

Our goal is to provide you and your family with as much information and resources as possible to support the health and safety of our team and family. Below, you’ll find the answers to a number of questions you may have related to the 2020-21 school year and our virtual launch. We will be updating these FAQs throughout the year and in advance of reopening in-person instruction. 

What is the timeframe for re-opening in-person instruction?

​Students will not return to school for in-person learning until Monday, February 1 at the earliest. Our school buildings will stay open for food and technology distribution, but all classes will be remote. This means that if you chose the hybrid option when you submitted your return to school survey, your child will now also learn remotely up through at least February 1st (an additional couple of weeks).

When in-person instruction becomes an option, can our family still choose virtual instruction?

When it is safe to return to the classroom, we will provide a virtual option for families who do not feel comfortable with in-person instruction. 

What will remote learning look like this fall?

In consideration of all that we have learned from the spring, we will be deeply student and community-centered in our approach to virtual learning. The educational experience for all students will focus on relationship-building and live interactive learning. 

We will provide:

  • Live virtual instruction through Zoom in both small and larger groups, with opportunities to ask teachers questions and participate in discussions with their peers. 
  • The opportunity to complete some work independently each day, including reading time and watching video lessons from teachers. 
  • Strong supports for students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).

To learn more about our virtual instruction plan, please visit our Remote Learning site.  

Will technology be provided for students? 

KIPP Newark is offering access to devices to help support remote learning. We also have a robust tech section on our Remote Learning site that offers support and information on connecting to classrooms as well as answers to common tech questions. 

Are KIPP Newark facilities open during virtual learning?

All KIPP Newark buildings are closed to students, except for meal pick-up, until further notice. We are currently preparing each school for when we can safely welcome students back to the building by updating our health and safety protocols, cleaning procedures, and operational procedures. 

Will my school continue to provide meals to students?

Yes, we are committed to providing students with meals. Please head to our Newark nutrition pages to learn more about locations for food distribution and what we offer.

What do families need to do to prepare for virtual learning?

  • Make sure your child’s computer is working and is connected to WiFi. If this is problematic or you need access to WiFi or other services, please contact your school. 
  • Log into Google Classroom and other online learning platforms. You will receive information from your child’s school on the platforms they will need to join and how to log in.
  • Try to find a quiet place for your child to work. If possible, have a set area in your home where your child can work every day. The area should be quiet and distraction free. 

What are the general behavioral expectations of students for virtual learning?

  • Uniforms: Uniforms are not required during remote instruction, but students must be fully dressed with appropriate clothing for all virtual classes. 
  • Learning: Students must be logged into Zoom before class starts, have their headphones plugged in, and be ready to learn! 
  • Behavior: Students are required to uphold our school’s values and meet expectations even while we are remote – this includes treating other students and staff members with respect and following all directions for participating in class and completing assignments.
  • Technology: Keep student Chromebooks safe when they are not in use, protect screens from scratches and cracks and only use them for appropriate instructional purposes. Students should not do anything on the Chromebooks that they wouldn’t be doing at school.  

Will extra-curricular activities continue virtually?

Many school clubs or interest groups may continue virtually—so be in touch with your school to learn more about options.

Communications