What is TOPS?
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.
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. ***In the best interest of students, the deadline to make the transition to in-person learning is March 29, 2021 (request must be received no later than March 15). This will ensure timeliness to support the transition academically, socially, and emotionally. It will also allow for thoughtful planning and coordination between TOPS and in building staff to meet the individual needs of students as they return to in-person and get settled in a new learning environment.- 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.