- Sponsorship -

Deadline set to determine plans for next marking period at GRPS

Parents and guardians of Grand Rapids Public Schools students were to receive an email today that will ask them to lock in their plans for the district’s next marking period: either completely virtual learning or a hybrid option that includes some in-person instruction and some virtual.

The district, which went completely virtual for the first nine weeks of the school year, set a deadline of Monday, Oct. 19, at 11:59 p.m. for responses. Its approximately 15,000 students will begin in one of the two tracks on Monday, Oct. 26.

In late September, GRPS had asked parents and guardians what their preference would be for instruction going forward. Of the 9,871 forms that were completed — a 65% completion rate — the split was close to even, with 53% choosing the hybrid model and 47% electing to continue with the completely virtual option. 

The roughly one-third of students who did not return a completed commitment form were placed by default in the hybrid model. 

If those numbers hold, on Oct. 26 around two-thirds of GRPS students will be back in classrooms on a part-time basis. 

Though details are still being ironed out, the hybrid model is likely to begin with students in class two days a week and virtual the other three, with the long-term goal of moving to 100% in person as health and safety guidelines allow.

Leadriane Roby

Online Uses GRPS Teachers, Hybrid Would Begin with Two Cohorts

In an extensive online FAQ, GRPS gave more information about its two models.

The virtual learning model will be taught by GRPS teachers. The FAQ noted that “students remaining 100% virtual should have the same or similar schedule as they had for the first marking period which includes synchronous time with teachers.”

The proposed hybrid model begins with two days of all-day, in-person instruction with two cohorts. The other three days would be virtual. One cohort would meet face-to-face on Mondays and Tuesdays and the other would be face-to-face on Thursdays and Fridays. Wednesdays would be a deep-cleaning day at school buildings with remote learning for all.

In a statement from new GRPS Superintendent Leadriane Roby, the district said school leaders used the data from the commitment forms to develop school-based plans for staffing, scheduling and implementing both the hybrid in-person and 100% virtual models. 

In addition, Roby said, in order to provide enough time to finalize and communicate those plans, and allow for parents to change their preference based on those details, GRPS decided to move the start date for the new models from Monday, Oct. 19 to Monday, Oct. 26. 

The district also plans in November to hold listening sessions for students, parents and staff.

- Sponsorship -
Phil de Haan
Phil de Haan
Phil de Haan covers East Grand Rapids and Kelloggsville and is the lead reporter for Grand Rapids. He hails from Exeter, Ontario (but has called Grand Rapids home since 1985) and is the son of a longtime public school teacher who taught both English and machine shop. Phil took both classes at South Huron District High School, but English stuck, and at Calvin College, where he met his wife, Sue, he majored in English and minored in journalism. His background includes both journalism and public relations, including teaching an advertising and PR course at the college level for almost a decade. In the summer of 2019, he began his own writing and communications business, de Haan Communications. In his spare time, Phil plays pick-up hockey and pickleball and tries to keep tabs on his two adult children. Read Phil's full bio

LATEST ARTICLES

Related Articles

- Sponsorship -

Issues in Education

Same family, different major goals

Twins Christian and Xander both have big plans for the future, yet you won’t find them working together. We recently spoke with the pair about their (very individual) dreams and how their school is helping them get there.

Making Headlines

- Sponsorship -

MEDIA PARTNERS

Maranda Where You Live WGVU

SUSTAINING SPONSORS