Irvine Unified School District has its plans in place for the 2020-21 academic models, but as of July 22, the district is ready to begin classes online in August.

In a tweet on July 20, Irvine Unified School District reminded families that Wednesday, July 22 at 5:00 pm was the deadline to select the desired academic model. IUSD also offered up a flowchart in which approved academic models would be phased in, once in-person instruction is able to begin.

On July 17, the Irvine Unified School District Board Of Education presented its approved academic models for the 2020-21 school year.

Irvine Unified School District Board Of Education

Irvine Unified School District Board Of Education at the July 17 meeting.

However, new orders from the California Department of Public Health will require schools within counties on the state’s monitoring list to begin classes online this fall.

“We are now putting forth guidelines that say based on the data, based upon the background spread, the community spread of the virus, that if you are not on that monitoring list, you can move forward as a county, if you choose, and physically open your campus,” Newsom said during a July 17 press conference.

Irvine Unified plans on maintaining flexibility in the event that in-person education becomes an option for students.

Set to begin the 2020-21 academic year on August 20, Irvine Unified has asked families to select the academic model best suited for them.

While Irvine is prepared to deliver virtual learning for the entire district, asking families to select a model is multilayered, but based on utilizing limited resources.

In a statement, Irvine Unified School District Public Information Officer Annie Brown explained that allowing families to choose an academic model will allow the district to distribute resources effectively, when shifting back to in-person education:

“Your selection will enable IUSD to allocate resources and staffing for each academic model. Additionally, when health conditions change and Orange County is removed from California’s COVID-19 watch list, IUSD will be able to pivot quickly and re-open our classrooms and campuses to students, whose families selected in-person options. Absent this process, IUSD would have to disband existing classes and establish new classes with different teachers and students upon return to in-person learning.”

In the event that an academic model is not selected, the students will be automatically enrolled into a pre-selected model, depending on grade level, per the IUSD website.

“Please note, if a model is not selected, students in elementary will be enrolled in the traditional model and students in middle and high school will be enrolled in the hybrid model.”

If and when instruction begins, the district has already confirmed that face masks and social distancing will be a requirement on campus.

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