Will Beaufort Co. schools have makeup days for coronavirus? Or will at-home work count?
South Carolina will count out-of-school instruction during the coronavirus closure as instructional time, state Department of Education officials confirmed Wednesday in a move that alleviates many teacher and parent concerns about the possibility of make-up days.
The news comes a day after state superintendent Molly Spearman announced that she would seek a waiver for federally-mandated end-of-year testing, the results of which are used as benchmarks for school report cards and funding.
SCDOE spokesman Ryan Brown said Wednesday that the department is looking at “waiving a variety of requirements as they relate to school closures.”
“We are suspending end of course testing and other state mandated assessments,” he said. “If we can work with test providers for college entrance and credit exams like AP, SAT, and ACT to administer them to college bound students then we will offer those at appropriate time and through appropriate medium.”
It’s still unclear when — or if — students will get to return to South Carolina’s public schools this spring, all of which are closed through the end of March per an executive order from Governor Henry McMaster.
But several programs, including e-learning, free meal delivery and internet installation, have gotten off the ground as state officials ask for waivers on make-up school days and end-of-year testing.
Across Beaufort County, teachers have assembled instructional packets for students for two weeks. The packets are focused on review and growth rather than new material, according to H.E. McCracken Middle School principal Lindsey Skirtich.
Beaufort County superintendent Frank Rodriguez said Wednesday morning that more than 85 percent of students were completing the out-of-school work online, and that about 90 percent of paper packets for offline students had been distributed.
Hargray announced Monday that it would offer free internet for 60 days to households with K-12 and college students that are not subscribers, as well as free speed upgrades to existing customers.
As of Wednesday afternoon, “hundreds” have requested new internet service and 50 households have received speed upgrades, according to chairman and CEO Michael Gottdenker.
Technicians installing new internet services will be equipped with gloves and sanitizer, per Gottdenker. Those interested can request service online or by calling 877-HARGRAY.
Beaufort and Jasper County have both served free breakfast and lunch to students during the closure, with more than 4,000 meals delivered in Beaufort County and nearly 900 in Jasper County as of Tuesday evening.
Both counties are delivering meals along bus routes, and Beaufort County has 12 pick-up sites at schools and one gym across the county.