Mississauga students cannot switch from distance to in-person learning at random during the school year: PDSB

 

The Peel District School Board (PDSB), which operates schools in Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon, says it cannot provide quite as much flexibility to students who might have hoped to toggle between in-person and distance learning throughout the school year. 

"Although we had hoped to provide families with as much flexibility as possible, upon further exploration, taking into account assessment and reporting timelines, we have determined that we are not able to allow for switching between learning options at any time throughout the school year," the board said in a letter to families. 

The board says elementary students may switch from distance learning to in-person learning at key dates throughout the school year. Families will have until Sept. 10, 2020, at 3 p.m. to inform their principal of their plans. After that, students might have to wait until mid-November to switch models. 

Elementary students who opt for distance learning will be enrolled in the PDSB Online School, where they will be taught remotely by a Peel board educator. This educator may not be a teacher at a student's physical school.

"After the key entry deadline passes, students will remain in the PDSB Online School until the next key entry time. A process will be developed to facilitate this transition," the board said.

That said, the board says families will have the option to transition their child(ren) from in-person learning to distance learning throughout the school year, adding that schools will work with families to determine the least disruptive timing for a transition to distance learning. 

The board says secondary students may switch from distance learning to the adaptive learning model up until the end of the first week of school. After that, if students have selected full distance learning, they will remain in the PDSB Online School for the duration of the quadmester.

If students choose to attend school in-person and would like to switch to the PDSB Online School, they may be able to do so as long as the course is offered online. 

"We know these changes may impact families’ pre-registration decisions. Families who wish to change their decision can update their Intention to Return to School Form by Noon on Aug. 17, 2020," the board said. 

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