How Do Iowa Schools Make Up Lost Learning Time?

Iowa schools continue to sit empty as the state continues to deal with the coronavirus outbreak. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds last week order Iowa schools closed through the end of April. How are districts planning on making up for lost learning time?

KCRG TV reports that districts have three options for the remainder of the year. No continuous learning, voluntary continuous learning, or mandatory continuous learning. With no continuous learning in place, teachers don't assign work, so schools would need to make up time that they lost. Work is given in both voluntary and mandatory continuous learning, the difference is whether the work is voluntary, optional, or required.

The Cedar Rapids School District is participating in voluntary continuous learning. Officials say they want to provide as many options as possible, but yet not penalize kids for the ongoing pandemic.

School districts have until April 10th to submit their plans to the Iowa Department of Education for approval. They can begin implementing them on April 13th.