Learning From Home FAQ

Please check for the latest updates on the administration of IB and AP exams at the following link:

HCSD Testing Information for Students and Parents

Updated information is available from the following organizations:

• College Board - AP Updates for Schools Impacted by CoronaVirus
• College Board - SAT Updates for CoronaVirus
• International Baccalaureate (IB) - CoronaVirus Updates

The New York State Education Department has cancelled all exams for 2020 school year.  

Please check for additional updates about NYS exams at the following link:

HCSD Testing Information for Students and Parents

The District has developed a comprehensive plan for continuity of learning during the closure of schools resulting from the Coronavirus. The plan has been published to the district's website and disseminated to every parent in the community through a series of BlackBoard Connect email and phone communications. The Superintendent has personally communicated the continuity of learning plan to all parents, students and community members. The District has also made use of traditional communication channels (e.g. PTA) to ensure that every parent is notified of the plan. Through reporting tools built into our communication system, surveys and phone calls to home, we are confident in the effectiveness of our outreach efforts. 

• School counselors will be available through email and can set-up “virtual” appointments with parents and/or students for course selection and academic and/or social-emotional needs.  As needed, your school counselor will communicate directly with you on how these appointments will be conducted. For our seniors, counselors will continue with their work on the college process and will use Naviance remotely.  

• School psychologists and social workers will be available via email for any social-emotional needs and will operate similarly to school counselors in setting-up and conducting “virtual” appointments.  All mandated counseling will occur through a “virtual” appointment.

Depending on the ENL student's level of language proficiency and grade level, the following approaches to instruction will be used:

• For Entering and Emerging students, ENL teachers of standalone classes will provide instructional resources through the District's online platforms in addition to more traditional paper resources, as appropriate.  They will have a special section with their names within the platforms for each of their instructional groups. In addition, they will partner with their general education co-teachers to tailor instruction  in other subjects to the level of need of the students.
• For Transitioning and Expanding students, ENL co-teachers will partner with general education teachers to provide instructional resources through the District's online platforms in addition to more traditional paper resources, as appropriate. They will also modify assignments for English language learners, as per their level of English language proficiency.  

All teachers will communicate directly with parents about how to support students’ learning needs from home.

To ensure equitable continuity of learning, special education and related services as well as ENL and RTI services will continue to be provided to students.

• Special education co-teachers will partner with general education teachers to provide instructional resources through the district's online platforms supplemented by traditional paper resources as appropriate. Assignments will be modified for special education students as per their IEPs.  

• Special education teachers in self-contained classes will provide instructional resources through the district's online learning platforms. supplemented by traditional paper resources as appropriate. Assignments will be modified as per the individual students’ IEPs.

• Students will continue to receive related services, such as speech and language therapy, counseling, occupational and/or physical therapy, through "virtual" appointments.

Contact your child's teacher for specific questions about modifications and accommodations. 

NYSED Frequency Asked Questions - Providing Services to SWD during the Coronavirus Outbreak

Depending on the RTI/AIS student's grade level and services identified through the District's RTI Plan, the instruction will continue as follows:

• For students in Tier 2, general education classroom teachers will provide differentiated instructional resources through the District's online platforms, monitor student learning progress utilizing RTI assessment tools and consult with building level experts and administrators on a regular basis. Online instructional learning systems (e.g. I-Ready for ELA and Dreambox Learning for math) will be utilized to ensure supplemental support is maintained. 
• For students in Tier 3, higher intensity services will continue to be provided by reading specialists, interventionists and math AIS teachers on a regular schedule through instruction and assignments provided through the District's online platforms. This instruction will be further supplemented by the use of online instructional learning systems (e.g. I-Ready for ELA and Dreambox Learning for math). 

The district provides internet-connected devices and Internet access if families do not have those resources at home.  Students without devices or high speed Internet have been provided a Chromebook or tablet by the District. The existing system for identifying needs, issuing loaners and accounting for equipment facilitated the District's ability to ramp up and expedite distribution of more than 200 devices for those families K-12 who required access.

If your child needs a device, if there is a problem with your equipment, or if your family does not have internet access, the District will provide a device and/or a mobile hotspot to deliver internet access. If you require technology support please complete this form. If you have questions contact Brian Seligman (914-630-3389) or (seligmanb@harrisoncsd.org).

The amount of support required will depend on the age of the child.  For elementary students, parents will need to supervise and support the learning activities that are provided by the classroom teacher.  For secondary students, parents will need to ensure that students are logging in to Google classroom everyday and completing assignments provided by their teachers.  Establishing a quiet space and a schedule for completing assignments will help your child(ren) to remain focused and productive while learning from home.  

Yes, teachers will be available via email to communicate with parents about the assignments provided to students and to discuss students’ progress while learning from home.  To access email directories by school, click on the following links:

• Harrison High School
• Louis M. Klein Middle School
• Harrison Avenue Elementary School
• Parsons Memorial Elementary School
• Purchase Elementary School
• Samuel J. Preston Elementary School