After Governor Tom Wolf closed schools to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, many school districts sought to make online instructional resources available to minimize the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, PDE has instructed school districts to cease mandatory online learning because students who would normally receive special assistance or are involved in an Individualized Education Program (IEP) could not get the same support through online assignments. Thus, continuing instruction online could present an equity problem. Any online learning, for now, will have to be voluntary since some students have various needs that cannot be adequately expressed online.

Several school districts have spent the last several days planning how to proceed with online learning. But, without flexibility in addressing compensatory education everything is on hold, since violating IDEA could become a liability for a school district. Therefore, most school districts have no choice but to comply, since they are not able to provide supports remotely for all students.” For more information visit: https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/school-districts-told-to-stop-mandatory-instruction-grading-during-closure/