Horry County Schools details its distance learning plan during coronavirus closure
Horry County Schools is implementing an “eLearning” plan to give students assignments in place of lost instructional time during the two-week coronavirus closure.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster ordered all public schools to close in response to COVID-19 until at least the end of March.
“While we cannot replace the value of the teacher student interaction in the classroom we are working to provide resources and activities that will help students remain engaged in learning while schools are closed,” HCS wrote on its website.
Assignments for students 8th grade and under will be posted on the district website for the first 10 days and print versions will be available for pickup at schools during designated times.
Students in grades 9-12 will receive assignments from teachers via email, virtual classroom and/or hard copy. All assignments made during the closure will count in the lowest weighted category, the district stated.
Students are expected to complete and submit assignments daily online or when they return to school, and teachers will be available during regular work hours via email.
Students with an Individual Education Program, Section 504 Plan and English Language Learners will receive support and accommodations as feasible through eLearning.
“Because specialized instruction or related services may not be delivered during the school closure for students with IEPs, the District will ensure that each student’s IEP team convenes within a reasonable time after the school closure ends to discuss services as needed,” the website states.
All students in grades 3-12 have the option to take a Personalized Digital Learning device home (laptop for high school students, Chromebook for middle school and iPad for elementary). Child development and K-2 will be given paper packets, according to Boone Myrick, HCS chief officer of education.
A deployment plan for those devices was posted on the district’s website with times posted for parents to pick up the devices at schools, and the district is offering an optional technology fee, which would insure the device if broken, for a reduced price of $12.
Parents do no have to get a device if they don’t want it because all district web-based learning programs can be accessed on any home device with internet, according to the district.
HCS Nutrition Services is also offering free breakfast and lunch for students Monday-Thursday for pickup at various schools, with an additional lunch provided on Thursday for Friday, according to Daryl Brown, chief officer of support services. Brown noted they also have permission to use Transportation staff to deliver food if needed.
Food pickup will be available at Homewood Elementary, Loris Elementary, Socastee Elementary, Myrtle Beach Middle, Myrtle Beach Elementary, Palmetto Bays Elementary, Whittemore Park Middle, Green Sea Floyd’s Elementary, North Myrtle Beach Middle, Aynor Elementary and Waccamaw Elementary.
This story was originally published March 17, 2020 at 6:14 PM.
