Collier County public schools remain closed through April 15, move to online March 23

Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify that state-issued performance grades for schools will be waived.

Collier County's public school system will remain closed at least through April 15, the school district announced Tuesday.

All 67 school districts in Florida will move to online learning by March 30, Superintendent Kamela Patton said. 

Collier educators will begin to teach students through online learning by March 30, she said.

Starting March 23, students can work "independently" online as teachers prepare for the new model.

The Florida Department of Education plans to evaluate school closures through the end of the school year after April 15.

Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier Tuesday canceled all K-12 state testing for the school year. 

"Requirements for graduations, promotion and final course grades will be evaluated as though those assessments did not exist," DeSantis said at a press conference in Tallahassee.

As a result, parents can choose to not to move their child to the next grade for the 2020-21 school year, DeSantis said.

All state-issued grades for schools, will also be waived, Patton said. Grades are used to measure a school’s performance based on statewide tests and learning gains.

The district will continue to provide two meals for children 18 years old or younger at 27 school sites Monday through Friday, Patton said.

More:Collier nutrition workers 'make sure that kids get a meal' while coronavirus keeps school closed

The school district is waiting to hear if the school year will be extended. Patton said they are “hoping that answer is no.” 

Principals will be in school buildings from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day, she said. They are setting times when to have meetings with staff, she said.

Over the last few days, teachers learned more about plans for virtual learning through Canvas, the district’s learning management system. 

“The teachers are already not returning to buildings,” Patton said. 

Patton said teachers were directed to use their time “utilizing Canvas and getting ready for the launch on March 30” as students handle their own work online next week. 

Through Canvas, teachers will be able to upload video clips and post homework while off campus, Patton said.

“Our greatest concern now is getting the internet connection into the homes that don’t have it,” Patton said.

A survey was sent to parents last week asking about their households' computer usage and internet access. More than 9,000 responses were received by the district, she said.

The school district will start calling homes Wednesday to hear from parents on both questions. Patton said they want all surveys back to determine who needs a device.

The school district, which has more than 26,000 devices, is providing computers and internet cards for students who have a need for one, Patton said. 

Rachel Fradette is an education reporter for the Naples Daily News. Follow her on Twitter: @Rachel_Fradette, email her at rfradette@gannett.com. Please consider subscribing to support journalism in your own backyard.