COVID-19

After multiple rounds of community and staff feedback, we are excited to share our 2020-21 Re-opening Plan:

Re-opening Plan/Covid Safety Plan and Checklist (Eng) Re-opening Plan/Covid Safety Plan (Spa)

California Assembly Bill 104 -- Mitigating Covid-19 Hardship (July 31, 2021)

On Thursday, July 1, 2021, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 104 into law, which contained three major provisions: retention, grading, and graduation policies.

Grade Level Retention: Students enrolled in grades kinder-11th in 2020-21 will be eligible for a retention consultation if they received deficient grades for at least one-half of their coursework in 2020-21 and their parents are interested in holding them back a grade level. Deficient grades include grades of D, F, or No Pass. Students who were in 12th grade in 2020-21 are not eligible. Parents/guardians of eligible students must request the retention consultation through this form by August 17th. EBIA then has 30 calendar days to hold the consultation and 10 calendar days after that meeting to issue a final decision.

Grade Change Request: AB 104 permits parents of students who were in high school in 2020-21 (or the student, if they have turned 18) to request letter grades for last year be changed to Pass/No Pass on transcripts. The new law requires the California State University (CSU), and encourages UC and private postsecondary institutions, to accept those grade designations without prejudice. Please be aware that this is a permanent change to the transcript. This change cannot be reversed. This permanent change may affect the eligibility for financial aid and admission to institutions NOT on this list. https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/gs/ps/ab104surveyresults.asp

If you are interested in obtaining a grade change, please fill out this form (LINK HERE). The deadline for this is Aug 17, 2021.

COVID-19 EBIA Grading Policy

Overview

Recognizing the tremendous range of responses by the education community to the COVID-19 pandemic, and most importantly, the potentially inequitable impact on students across each community and the state, the CDE has released grading and graduation requirement guidance for K-12 distance learning. These are aligned with the accommodations that post-secondary institutions are providing (i.e., temporary suspension of letter grades in A-G courses in pending admission review) to recognize this unprecedented challenge thrust upon our students. The collective goal of educators is to provide a stable and supportive environment for students as they adjust to forces outside of their control, including distance learning.

As such, EBIA adopted the following principles in our approach to grading Trimester 3 of 2019-20 school year for all students and graduation requirements applied to 12th graders:

Hold students harmless; grading should not be punitive
Keep equity in mind (especially when it comes to students with specialized learning needs and IEPs)
Grades will be used only to inform instruction
Do our best to educate students in distance learning
Provide opportunities to demonstrate understanding in multiple ways

Instructional Model

EBIA employed a synchronous distance learning model that included the following components:

Technology and meals available to load to any family who needed them
3 “zoom” classes per week for every course
2 “advisory” classes per week
1:1 check in’s with student advisors for every student each week
Office hours held in Zoom every day
Work completed both in zoom classes and independently
Assignments delivered, accepted, and graded through our unified online Learning Management System (ECHO, which students and staff have used continuously for the past 2 years).
Curriculum adjustments focused on core content and tasks appropriate for completion in a distance learning environment.
Educational supports for students with IEPs were replicated as closely as possible in a distance learning environment.

Temporary Grading Policy applied to COVID-19 Distance Learning (Trimester 3, SY 19.20)

In alignment with CDE guidelines, grades should be used to inform instruction and be non-punitive.
Focus on working with students to find a solution that works for them and gets at the core of what is needed.
Final Trimester 3 Grades
- In order to align with the “non punitive” approach put forth by the CDE, as well as reward students who have earned high marks, EBIA will use the following grade marks:
  - 69 or below = Pass (P*)
  - 70-79.5 = C*
  - 79.5 - 89.5 = B*
  - 89.5 - 100 = A*

* Indicates temporary COVID-19 shelter in place grading policy in effect during synchronous distance learning during Trimester 3 of the 2019.2020 SY. These marks are not included in GPA calculation.

Credit/GPA

The above marks appear on transcripts
In alignment with guidance from the CDE, CSU, and UC system, trimester 3 marks will not count toward cumulative GPA for any students.

Food Service

East Bay Innovation Academy Nutrition Services will provide an opportunity for families to pick up lunch for the week in a mobile walk up meal service for children 18 and under. This will occur every Tuesday starting 7:30AM-10:30AM at the following sites:

EBIA Lower School- 3400 Malcolm Ave. Oakland

This program will be solely for the pick up of meals, and meals will not be consumed on-site. We encourage families to continue to be proactive in reducing the risk of COVID-19 by not congregating at the school site and utilizing social distancing once meals have been distributed. For more information regarding meals available for students within our community please contact us via email at info@eastbayia.org or 510-577-9557.

Los Servicios de Nutrición de East Bay Innovation Academy estará ofreciendo una oportunidad para que familias recogen el almuerzo de la semana para niños menores de 18 aos. Esto ocurrirá todos los martes a partir de 7:30 a.m. a 10:30 a.m.en los siguientes sitios:

EBIA Lower School- 3400 Malcolm Ave. Oakland

Este programa será únicamente para recoger comidas, y las comidas no se consumirá en el sitio. Alentamos a las familias a continuar siendo proactivos para reducir el riesgo de COVID-19 al no congregarse en el sitio escolar y utilizar el distanciamiento social una vez que se hayan distribuido las comidas. Para más información sobre comidas disponibles para estudiantes dentro nuestra comunidad favor de contactarnos por correo electrónico info@eastbayia.org o 510-577-9557.

Testing

Spring SAT Administration

East Bay Innovation Academy normally administers the SAT School Day Program during the spring trimester of a student’s junior year. Given the circumstances around quarantine, the College Board has suspended the March and May administrationof the exam. We will update families as soon as possible when we hear the most recent news about the effect of changes on our rising seniors.

SAT and AP Exams

AP ExamsBeginning on Wednesday, March 25, students and schools will have access to free, live AP review lessons, delivered by AP teachers from across the country. The lessons will focus on reviewing the skills and concepts from the first 75% of the course. These mobile-friendly classes are:

Designed to be used alongside work that may be given by schools.
Recorded and will be available on-demand so teachers and students can access them any time.
Not dependent on current AP teachers continuing instruction. We know many AP teachers now face challenges that would make that impossible.

Information about the reduced scope of content that will be covered on each 2020 AP Exam is currently posted on AP Central®. The specific test dates and the free-response question types will all be posted by April 3. We'll also unlock any relevant free-response questions in AP Classroom for digital use so students can access all practice questions of the type that will appear on the exam. Also, please keep in mind that: AP Exams have been modified for testing at home, as per the College Board. The content that each exam has been modified and abridged; here are the details on exam administration as per the College Board Website:

Developing secure 45-minute online free-response exams for each course.
The exam content will focus on what most schools were able to complete by early March.
You’ll be able to take your exams on any device you have access to—computer, tablet, or smartphone. You’ll also have the option to write your responses by hand and submit a photo.
Colleges support this solution and are committed to ensuring that AP students receive the credit they have worked to earn. For decades, colleges have accepted a shortened AP Exam for college credit when groups of students have experienced emergencies.
We know that not all students have access to the internet or a device. We’re working on solutions to help students get what they need to show their best work. If you need mobile tools or connectivity or know someone who does, you can reach the College Board Directly to inform them.
The testing schedule can be found here.

Community Resources

In this extraordinary time, everyone of us needs extra support. Below are links to resources to support you and your family. We will update this document continuously, so please feel free to check back. You may also reach out to us via info@eastbayia.org, or 510-577-9557, and we will do our best to help you.

Thank you! Please reach out to us with any questions at info@eastbayia.org. East Bay Innovation Academy