Temporary Online Program for Students (TOPS)
Littleton Public Schools
Temporary Online Program for Students (TOPS)
2020-21 School Year
LPS will provide a temporary, fully online program for K-12 and Transition Services students during the 2020-21 school year as an alternative to attending in-person. This is a separate virtual program that is not connected to the student’s in-person school of enrollment, but supported by licensed, primarily LPS staff. There will be specific guidelines and timeframes outlining when students can return to their in-person school of enrollment. TOPS is primarily intended for students who are either health-compromised and COVID-vulnerable or who have family members who are. It is also available to families who simply do not feel comfortable sending their students back to in-person school at this time. Families should consider the social and emotional impact to their child, the student’s desire and ability to do online learning and the availability of adults to help and support the student at home.
Important Dates & Registration
TOPS Registration for students K-12 and Transition Services
Those wishing to register their students in the Temporary Online Program for Students (TOPS) or change back to their in-person school of enrollment (where your student would normally attend school) after the 5 p.m. August 7, 2020 deadline may do so, following this process:
From 5 p.m. August 7, 2020 to 3 p.m. August 21, 2020:
- Elementary Families: Email the school principal at your student’s in-person school of enrollment (where your student would normally attend school) to change your student’s enrollment to TOPS or to change your student’s enrollment from TOPS to the school.
- Middle and High School Families: Email the school registrar at your student’s in-person school of enrollment (where your student would normally attend school) to change your student’s enrollment to TOPS or to change your student’s enrollment from TOPS to the school.
Elementary Students: Beginning August 24, 2020:
- Email the principal at your student’s in-person school of enrollment and the TOPS program director requesting your student be transferred to TOPS or be transferred from TOPS back to their in-person school of enrollment.
- Transfer between TOPS and their in-person school of enrollment can only happen once a semester.
Middle School Students: Beginning August 24 through September 4, 2020:
- Email the principal at your student’s in-person school of enrollment and the TOPS program director requesting your student be transferred to TOPS or be transferred from TOPS back to their in-person school of enrollment.
- After September 4, the first opportunity for middle school students to change enrollment between TOPS and their in-person school of enrollment is at the end of the first quarter.
High School Students: Beginning August 24 through September 4, 2020:
- Email the registrar at your student’s in-person school of enrollment and the TOPS program director requesting your student be transferred to TOPS or be transferred from TOPS back to their in-person school of enrollment.
- After September 4, the first opportunity for high school students to change enrollment between TOPS and their in-person school of enrollment is at the end of the first semester.
First Day of School: August 31st, 2020
TOPS Program Overview (K-12 and Transition Services)
This program will be available for students for the 2020-2021 school year only- All instruction will be facilitated online by a certified teacher
- All work will be completed 100% off school campus
- Mix of synchronous and asynchronous learning
- Attendance is taken daily
- Students are accountable for their learning
- Learning tools are limited to support easy access for students and families
- Students and family are committed to the online learning model and understand the requirement for family support.
- Daily schedules for online learning will be released by August 20.
K-5 TOPS Program
Registration/Transition: Initial registration will be done through the July LPS online registration process. Once TOPS online registration is closed, families will contact their in-person school of enrollment registrar to transition to TOPS. (School offices will open in early August.) Students may return, full time, to their in-person elementary school of enrollment at any time during the school year. Transition to the online program will be limited to once per semester.- Programming: Students will be enrolled as a full-time online student-accessing Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies and elective courses. Online courseware will be used as the foundation for the program and, when possible, be sequenced to learning objectives in the district elementary schools. Due to health considerations and concerns, students will not be able to participate in speciality courses at their in-person school of enrollment.
- Family Support: “Family Academies” will be provided to demonstrate technology, explain processes and procedures, and answer questions. Families will need to provide 3-4 hours of daily support for students K-3 and 1-2 hours for students in 4th and 5th grade.
- Technology: Students will be provided with a district-issued Chromebook and options for Internet access.
- SACC: Students in TOPS may not attend School Age Child Care.
- Support: Certified staff will utilize technology to provide small-group and individualized instruction to support the academic and social needs of each student. Students requiring special services, including Special Education, GT, ELD, 504, etc. will continue to receive services aligned in their support plan.
- Schedule: The program will follow the conventional LPS school calendar and progress reports will be given each trimester. The first trimester will be shortened as a result of a later school start date.
- Students may attend extra curricular activities before and after school hours, but not classes during the school day to maintain cohorting.
6-8 TOPS Program
Registration/Transition: Initial registration will be done through the July LPS online registration process. Once TOPS online registration is closed, families will contact their in-person school of enrollment registrar to transition to TOPS. (School offices will open in early August.) Students may return, full time, to their in-person middle school of enrollment at the beginning of a quarter. Transition to the online program will be limited to once per semester. - Programming: Students will be enrolled as a full-time online student-accessing Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies and two online electives. Online courseware will be used as the foundation for the program.
- Family Support: “Family Academies” will be provided to demonstrate technology, explain processes and procedures and answer questions. Family should be available to their students for academic help as well as social and emotional support and encouragement.
- Technology: Students will be provided with a district issued Chromebook and options for internet access.
- Support: Certified staff will utilize technology to provide small-group and individualized instruction to support the academic and social needs of each student. Students requiring special services, including Special Education, GT, ELD, 504, etc. will continue to receive services aligned in their support plan.
- Schedule: The program will follow the conventional calendar with grading periods occurring quarterly. First quarter will be shortened as a result of a later school start date.
- Students may attend extra curricular activities before and after school hours, but not classes during the school day to maintain cohorting.
9-12 (Including Transition Services) TOPS Program
Registration/Transition: Initial registration will be done through the July LPS online registration process. Once TOPS online registration is closed, families will contact their in-person school of enrollment registrar to transition to TOPS. (School offices will open in early August.) Students may return, full time, to their in-person high school of enrollment at the semester. Transition to the online program will be limited to once per year. - Programming: Students will be enrolled as a full-time online student scheduled into courses needed for graduation. Online courseware will be used as the foundation for the program. For some upper level courses, students may need to enroll in Concurrent Enrollment (CE) courses through the district's CE process. Due to health considerations and concerns, students will not be able to participate in speciality courses at their in-person school of enrollment.
- Family Support: “Family Academies” will be provided to demonstrate the technology, explain processes and procedures and answer questions. Families should be available to help progress monitor and for social and emotional support and encouragement.
- Technology: Students will be provided with a district-issued Chromebook and options for internet access.
- Support: Certified staff will leverage technology to provide small-group and individualized instruction and support that meets the academic and social needs of each student. Students requiring special services, including Special Education, GT, ELD, 504, etc. will continue to receive services aligned in their support plan.
- Schedule: The program will follow the conventional calendar with grading periods occurring quarterly. First quarter will be shortened as a result of a later school start date.
- Students may attend extra curricular activities before and after school hours, but not classes during the school day to maintain cohorting.