Flexible Instructional Days (FID)

Quaker Valley School District utilizes Flexible Instruction Days (FIDs), which may be used in place of a school day that has been cancelled because of inclement weather or another emergency situation. These days will be utilized only when all three of the weather/emergency days built into the District calendar have been used.

On a FID, students will complete learning activities and assignments provided by their teachers at home on the day that otherwise would have been cancelled. Students are to receive appropriate remote lessons and/or activities that can be completed independently outside of school.

Flexible Instructional Days FAQ

What is a Flexible Instructional Day (FID)?

A Flexible Instructional Day (FID) is a program available to public school entities through the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to be used as an alternative approach to delivering instruction if a circumstance arises that prevents instruction in the customary manner. PDE stipulates that FID can be used for up to five (5) days per school year. School Districts may apply to PDE for approval of FID days for a three-year period.

On a FID, students will complete learning activities and assignments provided by their teachers at home on the day that otherwise would have been cancelled. Students are to receive appropriate remote lessons and/or activities that can be completed independently outside of school.

Assignments and lessons will be asynchronous (not live) and students will be able to complete them at their own pace and their own schedule that day.

How will parents and students be notified if a Flexible Instructional Day is called?

Students and parents/guardians will be informed of a FID through the District's notification systems in the same way that school closings and delays are announced.

School delays and closings are:

Posted on the district homepage at www.qvsd.org
Sent as a text, email, voice call, and app alert through ParentSquare
Posted on the district's Facebook page
Sent to the following television station websites and apps for posting:
KDKA CBS Channel 2 | WTAE ABC Channel 4 | WPXI NBC Channel 11

How will parents and students find the FID learning activities and assignments?

During an online FID, students will learn asynchronously that day (independently on their own time and at their own pace) and will have access to instructional materials and assignments through Schoology, our online learning management system.

Most teachers at the secondary level as well as upper elementary teachers routinely use Schoology to post assignments and will therefore post FID assignments following their typical procedures. Teachers who do not routinely use Schoology for posting assignments, such as primary elementary teachers, may choose to provide students with hard copies of the FID lessons that are sent home with students prior to the FID. If this option is chosen, these teachers will also post a copy of these lessons and assignments to a “FID” folder on their individual Schoology pages as a backup for those who may have misplaced the hard copy materials.

FID lessons will be available to students by 9:30 A.M. on the day of the FID. Lessons will describe what the student will be learning, activities/assessments to complete, resources needed to complete the assignment, and how to submit the assignment after completion.

The A/B (middle school) and A/B/C/D/E day (elementary) schedule will be maintained on a FID. For example, if the FID occurs on an A-day, the next school day will be a B-day.

Assignments will be made available to students through Schoology, however, it is not required that students submit or complete assignments using technology. Teachers may choose to include assignments that students would access online, but complete on paper and submit upon their return to school.

Teachers will be available during the FID to answer questions, provide assistance, provide feedback and clarify student misconceptions via e-mail during the regular school hours.

How are attendance/grades determined?

To comply with attendance laws on a Flexible Instruction Day where students are not physically in a building, student attendance will be collected using an online process.

Attendance for students in grades K-5: Elementary families will receive an attendance form through ParentSquare. Parents will need to complete the form for each student from their family in grades K-5.
Attendance for students in grades 6-12: Attendance is recorded when the student logs in and completes the FID assignment(s) in the Schoology learning management system.

Students will be instructed to complete and submit assignments on the day of the FID thus recording their attendance at any time between regular school hours but will be permitted to enter attendance until 8:00 p.m. on the day of the FID to allow for extenuating circumstances where children may need to participate during extended hours. Primary elementary students who are completing pencil and paper assignments will be instructed to submit their assignments immediately upon returning to school after the FID. The attendance will then be transferred to the attendance record in the PowerSchool student information system. Students who did not participate during the FID instruction day will be reported as an unexcused absence until a parent excuse is received following the District’s attendance policy.

In instances where technology is not available to access Schoology, attendance will be taken by the teachers within five days of the FID when the FID assignments are due. If a student fails to submit the work assigned during the FID, then the student will be marked absent.

What happens if a student does not complete the FID assignments?

What if my student has an issue with their technology during the FID?

Technology support will be provided to the students on a FID day (unless a major power outage should occur) by the District’s building level Technology Specialists. These support persons monitor the student Tech Help form. This form is an app that is installed on all student devices and is also posted on each school’s webpage. This form asks students for a description of the problem such as forgotten logins, non-functioning equipment, or other technical issues, and a contact phone and email address (both parent and student). 

Once a support request is entered, the Technology Specialist will respond by email or phone to resolve the issue. Any issue that requires a higher level of support is the escalated to our IT Department who will respond. The Tech Help forms are monitored during school hours on FID days.  Tech Help forms are available through the Tech Help app on their iPad.  

What if we have computer/internet issues on the FID?

In the event that a student is not able to access the required resources using the District-provided iPad due to extenuating circumstances such as power outages or technology issues, students may make alternative arrangements with the teacher which may include access to hard-copy materials upon full return to school, and up to five additional days to complete and submit all class assignments.

How much time is my student expected to take to complete the assignments?

What supports are available to students during FID?

Teachers will be available to answer questions, provide assistance, provide feedback and clarify student misconceptions via e-mail during specified hours during the FID. Students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) may have additional time to complete assignments and may receive modifications and supplementary aids as identified in their individual education plans. Following a FID day, General and Special education teachers will review work submitted, check for completion and understanding, and provide any other accommodations noted in a student’s IEP. Any related services scheduled during the FID will be rescheduled according to the frequency requirements of the students’ individualized education plan (IEP). Additional supports available to students are:

English as a Second Language teachers who provide primary ELA instruction for students will provide FID lessons and conduct office hours following the guidelines for teachers described above.
A predetermined set of activities will be prepared for students who participate in Autistic Support, Life Skills, Emotional Support, and Multiple Disabilities programs where appropriate.
Related services (PT, OT, Speech, etc.) scheduled during the FID may be rescheduled by the provider according to the frequency requirements of the students' IEP. These staff members will use the FID to complete tasks associated with their student caseload and serve as a resource, via email, phone, or videoconferencing, to other staff members during the FID.
School Counselors and intervention teachers may schedule appointments (via email, phone, or teleconference) with students if the technology permits.
The High School and Middle School Nurses will be available for students and families who have questions about medical needs.
The Behavior Support Specialist is to be available to support teachers via email, phone, or videoconferencing.

My child has an IEP, will his/her lesson be modified appropriately?

Students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) may have additional time to complete assignments and may receive modifications and supplementary aids as identified in their individual education plans. Following a FID day, General and Special education teachers will review work submitted, check for completion and understanding, and provide any other accommodations noted in a student’s IEP. Any related services scheduled during the FID will be rescheduled according to the frequency requirements of the students’ individualized education plan (IEP).

Additionally, teachers will be available during their FID office hours throughout the day to provide assistance.

Will we still use snow make up days and build snow make up dates into the district calendar?

A Flexible Instructional Day (FID) is used as an alternative approach to delivering instruction if a circumstance arises that prevents instruction in the customary manner. FID can be used for up to five (5) days per school year in place of a school day that has been cancelled because of inclement weather or another emergency situation. These days will be utilized only when all three of the weather/emergency days built into the District calendar have been used.

The first three cancelled days and five FID will not be required to be made up.

How did Quaker Valley School District explore and prepare for the use of a Flexible Instruction Day (FID)?

A Flexible Instructional Day (FID) is a program available to public school entities through the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to be used as an alternative approach to delivering instruction if a circumstance arises that prevents instruction in the customary manner. PDE stipulates that FID can be used for up to five (5) days per school year. School Districts may apply to PDE for approval of FID days for a three-year period.

Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, Quaker Valley School District is approved to utilize Flexible Instruction Days through the 2025-2026 school year. FID may be used in place of a school day that has been cancelled because of inclement weather or another emergency situation.

Additional information about FID provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Education is available HERE.

Will after school activities be canceled on a FID?