School Reopening FAQ's and Resources

Attendance FAQ's

Attendance FAQ's - Spanish

It will cover Google classroom as well as a couple of common programs. In addition, it will take parents through the parent support page created for them. There will be a live Q & A session with translation available.

Google Classroom is the only platform that teachers will be using. They may be using other programs, but they run them through the Google classroom, which will also contain all of the student assignments.

Live virtual interaction may include whole class teacher reinforcement of lessons; teacher monitoring and responding to questions; and, the teacher supporting individual students or small groups with class work, homework, projects, and other activities.

The teacher does not need to provide direct instruction to the whole class for the whole session. That time may include whole group and small group teaching, as well as supporting individual students and monitoring students as they complete work.

Yes, but it will not be the same as the current model that your student is participating in. Students may be reassigned to a new teacher.

The fall semester will begin online. Unless we get a return to school okay from the DPH early in the semester, the district will remain online with distance learning the full semester. We anticipate it would take at least four weeks to make a transition back to the classroom.

The district will provide more information as it becomes available.

The district is investigating virtual options.

According to the UC website, the status of our courses will not be affected by a distance learning model.

We may be able to test students in the spring. If not, we will make sure that students' schedules are not affected.

That is one possibility. It may also be a small group of students getting extra help.

Every attempt would be made to notify the students before the start of the school year.

We are still exploring options for Open House nights.

The State requirement is to take daily attendance in both the in-class and at-home portions of instruction. The student will have to check-in daily, but can access the content at another time as directed by the teacher.

Synchronous instruction is live virtual instruction with teacher-directed lessons on platforms like Google Meet and Zoom from Monday through Thursday. For TK/K, at least 80 minutes per day of live instruction is provided by the teacher. For grades 1-5, at least 120 minutes per day of live instruction is provided by the teacher. For grades 6-8, 135 minutes per day of live instruction is provided by the teacher. For grades 9-12 at JBHS, BHS, Monterey, Magnolia, and CDS, 150 minutes per day of live instruction is provided by the teacher.

Teachers prepare their own curriculum/lessons based on State standards. Daily lesson delivery, assessments, and instructional methodologies used are at the discretion of the classroom teacher and may include direct instruction, teacher generated lessons, recorded video, samples, embedded videos, lessons found online, or contained in textbooks. These can be either digital or paper packets. Instruction may also include teacher monitoring and supporting of individual students or small groups with class work, homework, projects, and other activities.

Online asynchronous instruction may include, but is not limited to, self-guided assignments and projects, streaming video content, virtual libraries, posted lecture notes, pre-recorded lessons and videos, and exchanges across educational discussion boards. Lessons may be provided by teachers, instructional assistants, intervention specialists, or other staff members as appropriate.

Students can work with their teachers to determine the textbooks, instructional materials, or supplies needed for Distance Learning.

Live virtual instruction of whole classes may be recorded and posted upon request by a student or parent on Google Classroom for at least seventy-two (72) hours. Other student interaction, such as small groups or individual guidance shall not be recorded. If teachers choose not to record live virtual instruction, they shall create a method to deliver class instructions and information, or provide an alternative assignment without penalty to students who are absent, or who are having technological issues and are unable to attend live virtual instruction.

Yes. Teachers will provide their students with a schedule of their office hours.

Yes. Dual immersion will be provided in a distance learning setting.

The Dual Immersion program will continue to be offered by certificated teachers in Grades K-8. Instruction will be provided in Spanish. We will continue to work with our Dual Immersion teachers in further designing the distance learning program. Each day, Monday through Thursday, students will be provided Reading/Language Arts and Mathematics instruction in Spanish. Social Studies and Science will be incorporated into that learning, as appropriate. Small group instruction will also be scheduled to support students learning of State standards, skills, and concepts in Spanish. When the District shifts back to hybrid including in-school teaching with a possible distance learning option, new information will be provided.

Live instruction and interaction will occur at least 80 minutes daily from Monday through Thursday. Students will also be provided about 100 minutes per day of at-home assignments/asynchronous learning. Teachers will provide information about their schedule and instruction to families.  

Live instruction and interaction will occur at least 120 minutes daily from Monday through Thursday. Students will also be provided about 110 minutes per day of at-home assignments/asynchronous learning. Teachers will provide information about their schedule and instruction to families.

Live instruction and interaction will occur at least 120 minutes daily from Monday through Thursday. Students will also be provided about 120 minutes per day of at-home assignments/asynchronous learning. Teachers will provide information about their schedule and instruction to families.

Live instruction and interaction will occur 135 minutes per day from Monday through Thursday. This will be three 45 minute classes per day from Monday through Thursday. In addition, students will be provided 105 minutes per day from Monday through Thursday at-home assignments with teacher support and monitoring.

Live instruction and interaction will occur 150 minutes per day from Monday through Thursday. This will be three 50 minute classes per day from Monday through Thursday. In addition, students will be provided 90 minutes per day from Monday through Thursday at-home assignments with teacher support and monitoring.

Activities may include, but are not limited to, conferring with students, providing support to individuals or small groups, responding to assignment questions, responding to emails, assessments, etc. If teachers want to schedule a small group at that time, they may. However, if it is a regular small group, families should be notified ahead of time, so they know to log back into the teacher's Google Meet.

Holding it after lunch gives students who are starting their at-home assignments a chance to ask questions about that work. It also gives a set time period for communication, away from the morning teaching time, that teachers may direct families to use. In addition, as it is the shortest required time period, it makes time in the afternoons for special services to create their complex schedules of multiple student appointments.

TK/K classes must schedule 180 minutes, grades 1-3 must schedule 230 minutes, and grades 4-5 must schedule 240 minutes of at-home learning assignments on Fridays. The required live virtual interaction of at least one hour on Fridays is included in that time. These numbers are minimums and teachers may exceed the required number of minutes.

Grades 6-12 must schedule 240 minutes of at-home assignments on Fridays. Students will be assigned work for each class. The required live virtual interaction of at least one hour on Fridays is included in that time. These numbers are minimums and teachers may exceed the required number of minutes.

Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten teachers may have a virtual “meet n greet” time before the first day of school at the teacher’s discretion. “Meet and Greet” is at the teacher’s discretion.

Elementary teachers will provide standards-based grading. Report card comments are optional. Grading of classroom assignments will also occur as appropriate.

School activities will be governed by the requirements from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH). For now, all activities should be remote.

This decision will be made at a later time based on guidance by the LACDPH.

Students will be required to attend live virtual instructional sessions where attendance will be taken.

If you are interested in ILA, please contact johnparamo@burbankusd.org Staff will review the option of ILA with you. The number of available spots will be determined by the number of available teachers and the interest of students.

You are still eligible for athletics if you choose either the hybrid model or 100% distance learning, unless we receive new notification from CIF indicating otherwise.

ILA is open to students in grades 7 through 12.

A middle/high school student can take up to 2 elective classes at their home school. The rest of their classes have to be done through the ILA.

No, there are no fees.

The curriculum is all online with some virtual components for PE and labs.

Every effort will be made to accommodate 7 periods, but we will not know for sure until we see the enrollment numbers by course.

Yes. If a student passes the AP exam, colleges will recognize the score and offer units even if the AP class was taken virtually.

No. Classes have been formed taking into account several variables such as, gender, academic levels, special needs, behavior issues and English language proficiency to ensure groups are well balanced. Also, non-virtual learning pods go against “Safer at Home” guidelines issued by the LACDPH, as well as the district's guidelines.

Students who participate in the GATE program will continue to receive differentiated instruction provided by their teachers. Most gifted students will be clustered together within a class, but some may be grouped as a whole class of gifted students.

Yes. The minimum number of instructional minutes per day is 240 for secondary, which is 80 minutes per class period. Middle school has a 45 minute live virtual whole class instructional period, and then a minimum of 35 minutes of asynchronous assignments. High school has a 50 minute live virtual whole class instructional period, and then a minimum of 30 minutes of asynchronous assignments. Asynchronous assignments can include watching videos, readings, practice problems, online lessons, essays, long-term projects, etc. Many teachers may find it necessary to assign more than the minimum amount of work to sufficiently cover their curriculum.

For secondary, all live interaction takes place before lunch. Teachers are not expected to hold Google Meets or Zoom meetings after lunch. 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. is teacher work time for planning, grading, and communicating with parents and students.

Friday is a teacher work day. Teachers will work from 8:00 to 3:00. Students will be assigned a minimum of 240 minutes of asynchronous instruction (40 minutes per period) on Fridays. Teachers are expected to hold a 60 minute live virtual office hour for students who have questions. Each site will organize the scheduling of office hours to avoid conflicts. Teachers will also collaborate with peers, attend staff meetings, prepare lessons, grade assignments, and respond to parent and student communications.

Immediately following each 45 or 50 minute live virtual whole class instruction period is a 30 or 35-minute monitoring period. Teachers can use this time as they see fit, as long as they make themselves available to their students. The expectation is that teachers keep their Google Meet or Zoom meeting open until the end of the monitoring period. This time can be used to work with individual students or small groups, to help students complete assignments, or simply be an open office hour. Teachers could also choose to assign work that is due at the end of the monitoring period. The live virtual whole class instruction and monitoring period together total 80 minutes, which is the minimum number of instructional minutes required for each class period.

Each class period (1-6) meets a total of 160 minutes per week, including live virtual whole class instruction and teacher monitoring. In order to have the same number of total minutes, zero period is scheduled for 40 minutes, 4 times a week. It is up to the teacher how they want to schedule the live virtual whole class instruction and teacher monitoring within those 4 class periods.

Designated ELD will include 15 minutes of live interactive instruction Monday through Thursday. ELD instruction will be provided by the teacher and/or the ELD instructional assistants under the direction of the teacher. ELD instruction on Friday will be an assignment or recorded lesson. Staff will reach out to families/students to schedule that time.

Special Education Related Services will try to be covered in the afternoons, as much as possible, as appropriate for instruction and as IEPs dictate. This is one reason why the afternoon live virtual interaction is only 45 minutes. It gives special services staff some time to be able to accomplish their complex schedules. Due to the number of students receiving these services, some students will need to be pulled from their classroom live instruction time.

In elementary schools, PE will be provided remotely with activities and skill development taught. These will be recorded activities and skill development. Schedules will be posted in the teacher’s Google classroom.

Students will need a device to connect to the remote classrooms. Cell phones are not the best device to connect to the classroom.

Yes. The ASES staff will be contacting ASES families about placing a hold on the child’s seat in ASES.

Yes, students are expected to have video and “appear” during live instructions so teachers can facilitate student engagement.

In the hybrid model, students with specialized academic instruction (SAI) will be receiving much of their SAI in person, not distance. All of their related services will also be in person. For general education classes, all relevant accommodations will remain in place for distance learning.

Additionally, under the guidance of the California Department of Education (CDE) and the U.S.
Department of Education, the District is collaborating with our teachers and support staff as wework to meet the needs of students with IEPs. CDE has established a workgroup of special education practitioners and other experts to help brainstorm best practices that they plan to share in the coming weeks. We’ll continue to keep our families informed and continually review how we can best support our students with special needs. For questions or concerns, please contact your child’s teacher(s) and/or principal.

For the distance only model, the district is researching appropriate online curriculum and distance models. It may vary based on grade level and needs.

More details will be provided once they are determined pending negotiations.

Students with IEPs are being considered as schedules are being developed and proposed.  We are continually monitoring county, state and federal guidelines to ensure that we follow best practices in reopening and meeting the needs of students with disabilities, in light of the current pandemic and safety concerns. 

The specific schedules for students with Specialized Academic Instruction can't be proposed until the District determines what the overall school schedules will look like.  We are planning to have students receive the their SAI in person and not remotely to the extent possible, within the context of the model for school schedules the district implements.

 Additionally, for those students planning to attend in person school, all related services will be provided in person.

We have been researching platforms and strategies to ensure students are provided with a quality education to meet their individual, unique needs. Students will receive live special education support remotely from their teachers and/or instructional assistants, depending on their IEPs and their unique needs. IEPs will be implemented to the extent possible in a distance learning model.  Related services will be also be provided remotely.

In person assessments will commence in August when school opens. Safety protocol will be put into place, including masks and face shields for assessors and clear desk partitions (“sneeze guards”) will be between the assessor and the student. Tables and assessment tools will be disinfected between students. IEPs will continue to be held remotely for the safety of all as long as social distancing orders are in place. The IEP computer program, SEIS, now has a component for digital signatures.

School 504 teams will work with parents and students to provide accommodations during hybrid and online-only models of instruction. District and school staff will continue to explore best practices and keep our families informed as we review how we can best support our students on 504 plans.

Grades will be determined based on the student’s mastery of the content standards, as shown
through their performance on assessments, projects, and assignments. Students can earn grades
of A, B, C, D, or F. More details will be provided once they are determined pending
negotiations.

All classes, including electives, will be conducted with safety measures in mind. Choir will utilize remote options, larger spaces and be strategic in the directions that students face as they sing. Band will also use larger spaces and will not be sharing any musical instruments. Students in culinary arts will not be sharing equipment when they cook.

If the student is dual enrolled in ILA (online-only model) and their regular school, then yes, they would be eligible for extracurricular activities. This is not the same for sports, as athletic leagues and CIF have different rules for participation. We are still waiting for guidelines related to athletics. Students interested in dual enrollment would sign-up for dual enrollment when enrolled in ILA.

Each person between the age of 6 and 18 is subject to compulsory full-time education. Parents who opt to privately educate or homeschool their children must first properly file a Private School Affidavit (PSA) with the CDE (California Department of Education) Ed Code 33190. Parents should send a copy of the approved affidavit to the school site before disenrollment. For more information, parents/guardians may access the CDE’s “Schooling at Home” web page located at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/ps/homeschool.asp which includes information about filing the PSA as well as educational resources.

BUSD is sending email updates and information via email. Please be sure your email is updated in the Aeries Parent Portal. Secondary students can also include their email in “Student Email” to receive updates. BUSD will continue to update our website at www.burbankusd.org and school sites are also providing information on their websites. School sites and the District will also be using Facebook and other digital methods of communication.

ACCESSING MEETINGS: Board of Education Meetings can be streamed using this link: www.burbankusd.org/boemeetings 

The recordings are posted typically the next day and all recent meetings are archived for public viewing.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: A new system has been implemented to allow Public Speakers to provide their comments live. Please note that Public Comments will no longer be accepted via email or voicemail.

Listed below are the new instructions for public comment during Board of Education meetings:

1. Public Speakers please email Kimberley Clark at kimberleyclark@burbankusd.org no later than 45 minutes prior to the start of the public meeting (before 5:45 pm) stating your full name and the topic you wish to speak about.

2. Speakers are asked to log into the Board meeting virtually through the Zoom invitation no later than 6.45 p.m. The meeting will open at 6:00 p.m. and will be locked at 6:45 promptly. Please note that only those individuals who have emailed Kimberley Clark prior to 5:45 p.m. will be allowed to enter the Zoom meeting. Upon receipt of an email request, the Zoom meeting login details will be emailed to each individual speaker.

3. Speakers should rename their Zoom profile to indicate their real name to expedite this process.

4. When it is time for a speaker to address the Board, the speaker’s name will be called and the microphone on the Zoom account will be activated. Speakers must be present in the Zoom meeting when their name is called in order to be given an opportunity to address the Board. Speakers are also requested to state their name prior to addressing the Board.

5. After a speaker completes their public comment or if the five-minute (5) time limit has been reached, the microphone for the speaker’s Zoom profile will be muted.

6. The Zoom meeting will be closed following the Public Communications portion of the meeting.

If you have questions or need assistance regarding the process, please email Kimberley Clark at kimberleyclark@burbankusd.org or Rose Garcia at rosegarcia@burbankusd.org.

While the District is under the current health conditions and subsequent guidelines, visitors to school should be limited. When possible, contact should be made over the phone and by email. The Health Department has asked that all schools limit contact with the public.

Each school has a Covid-19 Compliance Team who is responsible for establishing and enforcing all Covid-19 safety protocols and helps ensure that all staff, students, and parents receive education about Covid-19. The team is a point of contact to resolve concerns regarding Covid-19 in collaboration with the District Team. The team helps to ensure workplace safety protocols, cleaning protocols, PPE supplies, and updating information regarding Covid-19. In addition, the District has a district-level team responsible for implementing health and safety guidelines as directed by Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and other governmental agencies.

The school district will continue to provide school-based counseling through the Family Services Agency - Burbank  (FSA). https://familyserviceagencyofburbank.org/. The referral forms will be made available online via the district and school websites starting in the fall of 2020. 

The outbreak of COVID-19 can result in various forms of stress, especially for students who may be struggling to process all of the implications of this health challenge and the impact of physical and social distancing. BUSD’s Student Services team has identified resources that may be helpful for students and families. This includes information about available BUSD supports, how
to talk with children and teens about COVID-19, community mental health providers and resources, maintaining a sense of connection, and other healthy practices. Our staff will continue to be actively engaged with students both academically and in support of social-emotional wellness. Please visit this resource at https://www.burbankusd.org/COVID-19.

Yes, if your child is already seeing a therapist, services will continue.

The California Interscholastic Federation has delayed Fall sports until second semester due to the rise of Covid-19 cases in California. Please click here for the CIF statement and schedule of sports:

https://cifstate.org/mediacenter/releases/2019-20/PR-34_7.20.20_CIF_Statement_2020-21_Sports_Calendar_Final.pdf

No. The Distance Learning program allows students to meet the eligibility requirements for NCAA. However, please note that students enrolled in the Independent Learning Academy (ILA) will not have an opportunity to meet eligibility requirements.

BUSD and school staff all want to return students to activities as soon as it is safe to do so, but we are required to follow health and legal guidelines. This is not a decision that BUSD can make alone. At this time, we do not have clearance from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and league officials to reopen sports.

Meal Benefits for 2020/2021: The application for meal benefits is now available online. It is important that all families, who believe they qualify for these benefits, fill out an application for their student/s every year. One application per family. Please click here to fill out your application online https://www.busdfoodservices.com/index.php?sid=1101131625567654&page=lunchapps

Yes, every Friday each school will have a drive through/walk-up distribution pick-up opportunity where families will receive 5 days worth of nutrition and lunch meals for their student/s. Distribution times will be from 8:30am – 12:30pm. Our first day of distribution would be Friday, August 14, the first Friday before school starts.

Families who qualify for Free benefits will not have to pay for these meals. Families who qualify for Reduced benefits will pay .30 cents for each nutrition meal and .40 cents for each lunch meal. Families who do not qualify for benefits will need to pay full price for each meal. Elementary is $2.25 for each nutrition meal and $3.50 for each lunch meal. Middle and High School is $2.50 for each nutrition meal and $3.75 for each lunch meal.

Not at this time. This type of service is bulk distribution.

Not at this time. Meals must be picked up from the school site the student attends.

Families can send another person to pick up meals if they cannot pick up meals during the distribution pick up time. Students do not need to be present to collect their meals on the distribution day.

Each school will be communicating to the families where the distribution location will be. If you miss this communication then look for a black and white sign that says Food Distribution and lime green parking cones.

Priority is given to special populations such as special education students, English learners, foster youth, homeless students and Title I students.

Families who are in need should contact the school principal to request a Chromebook.    

Families who are in need should contact the school principal to request a hotspot.  

Contact the Technology Helpdesk at 818-729-3041.

Contact your child's school directly.

All families are placed on a waitlist for childcare services. The waitlist is based on a “first come, first served” basis. There is a $100 non-refundable waitlist fee. 

When contacted by the Child Development Department regarding an available spot in the program you must create an account in Eleyo AND request a contract for your child. If you do not complete both during the registration times, your child is not enrolled in the program.

ALL FAMILIES who would like to return for the upcoming school year must re-register.

The initial registration process began in March and continues throughout the summer. Throughout the school year parents may be contacted if space becomes available.

Eleyo will send you an email when you create your new account AND when you have successfully registered your child. Your contract will be marked as PENDING APPROVAL until the Child Development office staff have approved your contract and charged your payment method for the $100 registration fee. You may log into your account in Eleyo at any time to check the status of your account.

All subsidized childcare programs are available to families who meet the state’s income requirements. Families must qualify for services based on income and family need. Services are provided at Washington Children's Center (Preschool- School-age) and Bret Harte Children's Center (School-age only). 

Families interested in subsidized childcare can contact the Site Supervisor, Antonia Pallares at 818-558-5545 or call the Child Development Office at 818-729-4424

Boys and Girls Club - (818) 842-9333 or visit their website: www.bgcburbank.org

After School Enrichment Studies (A.S.E.S.) at Disney, Providencia, Washington and Luther - (818) 729-4424

Afterschool Daze (ASD) - (818) 238-5435

Burbank YMCA -  (818) 562-5461

Is BUSD coordinating with other agencies?

BUSD continues to monitor the situation and closely work with expert health agencies and other local and state agencies. In addition, Los Angeles County TK-12 schools, private schools, universities, colleges, municipalities, and other local agencies are participating in weekly conference calls led by the Los Angeles County Office of Education to ensure all have the same accurate information.

Armenian Relief Society
517 W Glenoaks
Glendale, CA 91202
818-241-7533

Boys and Girls Club of Burbank and Greater East Valley
2244 N. Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91504
818-842-9333

Burbank Community Assistance
275 E. Olive Ave.
Burbank, CA 91506
818-238-5795

Burbank Community YMCA
321 E. Magnolia Blvd
Burbank, CA 91502
818-845-8551

Burbank Coordinating Council
P.O. Box 10126
Burbank, CA 91510
818-843-3699

Burbank Housing Corporation
1819 Grismer Ave.
Burbank, CA 91504
818-559-2336

Burbank Police Department - Mental Health Clinician
818-238-3000

Burbank Temporary Aid Center (BTAC)
1304 W. Burbank Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91506
818-848-2822

Family Promise of East San Fernando Valley
2406 Naomi St. Apt A
Burbank, Ca 91504
818-847-1547

Family Service Agency of Burbank (student and family counseling)
2721 Burbank Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91505
818-845-7671

Kids Community Dental Clinic
400 W. Elmwood
Burbank, CA 91506
818-841-8010

Salvation Army
300 E. Angeleno Ave.
Burbank, Ca 91506
818-845-7214

Workforce Connection
301 E. Olive Ave. #101
Burbank, CA 91502
818-238-5627

LA CO Schools 2020-21 Planning Framework.pdf

Stronger Together - Coronavirus (COVID-19) (CA Dept of Education)

Who is making health and policy decisions related to COVID-19 for our County?

A:  The executive order issued by Governor Gavin Newsom, calling for California residents to stay at home, with exceptions for attending to essential needs, is a statewide order. A presidential Major Disaster Declaration also acknowledged the scope of this crisis and bolstered California’s emergency response efforts.

In line with these orders and measures, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) recently tightened restrictions on public and private gatherings. LACDPH is required by California law to take measures necessary to prevent the spread or occurrence of additional cases of specific diseases or any other contagious, infectious, or communicable disease. As part of this mandate, LACDPH is responsible for health and related policy decisions.

LACDPH is working with and taking guidance from the Governor, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to inform and support our state and county, including BUSD. For questions about COVID-19, County health guidelines, travel advisories, quarantines and other government agency related questions, visit or call:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• California Department of Public Health (CDPH)

Roadmap to Recovery

• http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/docs/hoo/roadmaptorecovery-powerpoint.pdf

Learn More About COVID-19

• http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/

LA County Road to Recovery Most Current Health Officer Order: See What It Means for You

• http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/guidances.htm

Communication related to the COVID-19 school closure and updates may be found through the link below.

https://www.burbankusd.org/COVID-19