School Related Resources
We will continue to add resources to this page, please check back for further information
Childcare for Essential Workforce
Executive Order 2020-16 (COVID-19)
Resources for Child Care for Essential Workforce
Education Resources:
Educational Resources for the Shift to Online Learning
Free Student Meals
Ottawa area schools free meal locations for all students
Memo from the Deputy Superintendent:
Compliance Requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
MDE News Release:
State Ed Leaders Urge National Waiver of State Assessments
MDE to Request Federal Waiver for Child Nutrition Programs
Online resources for emotional support for students:
Maintaining Your Emotional Immunity During Covid-19
Handling of State Assessment Test Materials
Per Michigan Department of Education:
Dear District and School Colleagues,
As you know Governor Whitmer has ordered all Michigan K-12 buildings to close to students for three weeks beginning Monday, March 16, 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. The health and safety of students, staff, and families are the most important priorities during this time. The Office of Educational Assessment & Accountability (OEAA) fully supports the Governor’s decision to close Michigan K-12 schools. The OEAA is working with our assessment vendors to develop contingency plans for M-STEP, SAT, PSAT, ACT WorkKeys, WIDA, and MI-Access.
As we continue to work to gather and share additional information as it becomes available, at this time we can provide guidance regarding how to handle test materials in your buildings. Please do the following:
- WIDA: Testing was scheduled to end on March 20, 2020.
- Collect all test materials and store securely in a central locked location.
- ACT WorkKeys: Test materials started to arrive in schools this week and deliveries are scheduled to continue next week.
- Store any materials currently in your building securely in a central locked location.
- ACT has placed a hold on future shipments. For shipments that are already in transit, FedEx has been instructed to return any undeliverable items to ACT.
- SAT, PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10: Shipments of test materials were scheduled to begin the week of March 23, 2020. College Board will not ship materials at this time.
- M-STEP and MI-Access: Shipments of test materials were scheduled to begin the week of March 30, 2020. These materials will not ship at this time.
We are here to help. We will communicate with schools as soon as we have any further information regarding statewide assessments. Again, during this time, health and safety are the top priorities.
Thank you for your understanding as we work through this situation.
Andrew J Middlestead
Director
Office of Educational Assessment & Accountability
Michigan Department of Education
Ottawa Area School Leaders Position Statement Regarding Online Learning
School leaders in the Ottawa Area are sensitive to the many challenges facing our students, our staff, our families and our communities during this time of uncertainty. While students are away from school and isolated from normal activities, we believe that educational continuity is important and can lend a sense of calm and stability. We are committed to continuing to offer learning opportunities for students as well as guidance for parents on what they can do to help their child(ren) progress. While we know that we may not be able provide the level of personalized education that each student would normally receive, we intend to provide as much as we can through the channels that are available to us. This is a moral imperative which we hope will be supported politically and financially, but regardless of which, we intend to carry out in good faith.