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First and foremost, I want to sincerely thank you for your patience as my team and I plan for the upcoming school year. Please know that the health and safety of our students and staff continue to remain our top priority. We know you have many questions: What will the year look like? How will we safely and effectively return to in-classroom learning? When will the school year start? How will the district manage appropriate social distancing? Please know we are working through these questions and many others. 

Families will receive a final reentry plan at the end of July. Please make sure your contact information is up to date by completing your residency verification for the 2020-21 school year. 

Additionally, our communications team has created a Back-to-School hub on our website at www.baschools.org/backtoschool where parents can get information and updates. Please know we will continue communicating changes as they occur. 

First Day of School & Instructional Calendar

Based on current guidance from the Oklahoma State Department of Education, school will begin as originally scheduled. 

• First day for K-12 students: Wednesday, Aug. 19
• First day for Pre-K students: Friday, Aug. 21

Additionally, the Broken Arrow Public Schools Board of Education recently approved the replacement of Late Start Wednesdays with six distance learning days and revised school end times for the 2020-21 school year.

The distance learning days will allow for students to complete coursework from home while teachers report to their classrooms for virtual instruction and collaboration with their colleagues.

The distance learning days will occur on the following:

• Oct. 5
• Nov. 2
• Dec. 7
• Feb. 1
• March 1
• April 5

The new school times are as follows:

• Early Childhood Centers – 8:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
• Elementary – 9:10 a.m. to 3:50 p.m.
• Middle School – 8:30 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.
• Freshman Academy & High School: 7:40 a.m. to 2:25 p.m.

It was determined that we needed to continue practicing distance learning days throughout the year in the event of having to send students home for an extended period of time. The new school ending times come from the time left over from the deletion of Late Start Wednesdays, so we were able to shave some time off at the end of the day to still meet state requirements.

The updated 2020-21 instructional calendar can be found on the front page of our website on the left hand side.

Safety and Procedures 

Broken Arrow Public Schools will continue to follow the guidance and expertise of state and local officials in order to protect our students and staff. The district’s leadership team is actively working to update Broken Arrow Public Schools’ health and safety action plan. This document will outline safeguards and guidance from the district for the upcoming school year. These safeguards will include self-monitoring health screenings at home, enhanced cleaning/disinfectant procedures, social distancing procedures within the buildings and work stations, requirements for handwashing, mask guidance, etc. 

Our team continues to take proactive measures to reduce germs in its office buildings and schools. In addition to thoroughly sanitizing high-touch surfaces, the district’s operations team utilizes the Clorox® Total 360® System at its school sites and district offices. This equipment uses a patented electrostatic delivery system that helps cleaning solutions “cling” to surfaces like desks, locker rooms or door handles. Custodians using the system can cover up to 18,000 square feet per hour, working up to four times faster than traditional cleaning methods and using up to 65 percent less solution.

The district also periodically conducts Infectious Disease Drills at each of our buildings, which allows custodians to review the response time of disinfecting surfaces should a student or employee become infected with the virus.

In-person Learning Versus Distance/Virtual Learning

Broken Arrow Public Schools WILL return to in-person learning as much as we can based on the most up-to-date guidance from the Oklahoma State Department of Education and Tulsa Health Department. If guidance requires periodic shifts to distance learning, we will be prepared to support our teachers and families in a virtual format. This pandemic is a complex situation with a number of unknowns, and there isn’t one deciding factor that would determine whether BA utilizes in-person instruction or distance learning. All changes throughout the school year will be communicated to families.

If your child enjoyed distance learning last semester, we recently expanded our full-time virtual education program to our elementary and middle school students, in addition to high school students.

This program allows students to enroll in multiple ways:

• Full-time: Students in grades Pre-K through 12 can complete 100 percent of their coursework online.
• Blended Enrollment: High school students in grades 9-12 can enroll in the Virtual Academy and still participate in an elective course at their school site, which may include fine arts or athletics. (NOTE: Virtual courses may meet NCAA requirements if certain criteria is met. Student athletes are encouraged to check with their school counselor when considering a virtual course.)
• Summer classes: High school students can participate in credit recovery or credit advancement during the summer months.

More info can be found at www.baschools.org/virtualacademy or by completing this form.  

Again, thanks for your support as we navigate these unprecedented times. I’ll be in touch in late July.

Best regards,

Janet C. Dunlop, Ph. D.
Superintendent
Broken Arrow Public Schools

The Broken Arrow Public Schools Board of Education recently approved the replacement of Late Start Wednesdays with six distance learning days and revised school times for the 2020-21 school year.

The distance learning days will allow for students to complete coursework from home while teachers report to their classrooms for virtual instruction and collaboration with their colleagues.

The distance learning days will occur on the following:

• Oct. 5
• Nov. 2
• Dec. 7
• Feb. 1
• March 1
• April 5

The new school times are as follows:

• Early Childhood Centers – 8:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
• Elementary – 9:10 a.m. to 3:50 p.m.
• Middle School – 8:30 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.
• Freshman Academy & High School: 7:40 a.m. to 2:25 p.m.

“In an effort to continue practicing distance learning days in the event of having to send students home for an extended period of time, we determined it would be best to cancel Late Start Wednesdays and replace them with six virtual days for the 2020-21 school year. This still gives our teachers the opportunity to collaborate and share expertise with one another while also providing virtual instruction to their students, ” Associate Superintendent Karla Dyess said. “The school time change comes from the time left over from the deletion of Late Start Wednesdays, so we were able to shave some time off at the end of the day to still meet state requirements.”

New for the 2020-21 school year, the Broken Arrow Public Schools Virtual Academy is expanding its full-time virtual education program to its elementary and middle school students. 

“We’ve had incredible success with our Virtual Academy curriculum for our high school students,” Broken Arrow Public Schools Associate Superintendent of Instruction Karla Dyess said. “Upon the conclusion of distance learning during the global pandemic, we realized many of our younger students truly enjoyed receiving their education in a virtual format. So our team has tirelessly worked to be able to provide an additional option of learning for our students.”

The Virtual Academy at Broken Arrow Public Schools is an ideal option for students who prefer a smaller learning environment, one-on-one communication with teachers, and the ability to choose when and where they work on their courses.

This program allows students to enroll in multiple ways:

• Full-time: Students in grades PreK-12 can complete 100 percent of their coursework online.
• Blended Enrollment: High school students in grades 9-12 can enroll in the Virtual Academy and still participate in an elective course at their school site, which may include fine arts or athletics. (NOTE: Virtual courses may meet NCAA requirements if certain criteria is met. Student athletes are encouraged to check with their school counselor when considering a virtual course.)
• Summer classes: High school students can participate in credit recovery or credit advancement during the summer months.

Online elementary curriculum includes English, social studies, math, science, and interactive courses like art and physical education. Middle school curriculum includes English, social studies, math, science, Spanish, art appreciation, study skills and health. Middle school students may also be able to participate in unique electives such as band or orchestra. High school students in grades 9-12 can complete 100% of their classes online or can take advantage of the blended enrollment option.

The Virtual Academy meets all graduation requirements.

“We know all students have different learning styles, and we have a commitment to meet them where they are,” Dyess said. “I’m excited to see how our revamped virtual program transforms the face of public education.”

Even though most instruction will be virtual, every student is assigned a certified teacher who will track their progress, help as needed and will be the point of contact between the student and parent. Students will be required to take state assessments in-person at the Virtual Academy, located at 412 S. 9th St. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. 

Parents or students interested in this program can meet with their school site counselor for more information or complete the online enrollment form at www.baschools.org/virtualacademy 

Broken Arrow Public Schools is in the process of verifying proof of residency for the 2020-21 school year. This verification is required in order to be re-enrolled for next school year. 

All parents with correct email addresses in our system received an email from noreplyregistration containing a “snapcode” and directions to begin the online verification process. If you are unable to locate your email containing residency verification instructions please try using the search keyword "snapcode". If for any reason you did not receive an email, please contact Enrollment Services by email at enrollment@baschools.org.

• ENGLISH
• SPANISH

Just a quick note, please use the direct link above. Opening it up in a browser, and then copying the URL from there will create a “Secondary” link and will cause issues for families trying to access the form.

In order for students to attend Broken Arrow Public Schools,

• They must reside within district boundaries. No out-of-district transfers will be granted, except for district employees.
• All addresses used for student enrollment must belong to the parent or legal guardian.

Proof of residency/address must include any one of the following documentation:

• A copy of a current gas, water or electric bill issued within the last 30 calendar days (disconnect/final notices are not accepted).
• Apartment and home renters may bring a current signed lease along with a copy of a current gas, water or electric bill that has been issued within the last 30 calendar days (disconnect/final notices are not accepted).
• Families who have recently purchased a home in the district, but have not yet taken residence, may provide a signed contract on the home. 

Please note: Address must belong to the parent or legal guardian.

For questions, please contact the enrollment office by email at enrollment@baschools.org or 918-259-7400.

Broken Arrow Public Schools is continuing to provide free grab-and-go meals for students 18 and under Monday through Friday until Friday, July 24 (closed July 3) at the following locations:

9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

• ​Varsity Training Facility (​2200 N. 23^rd Street) 

Noon to 1 p.m.

• Sequoyah Middle School in the back (2701 S. Elm Place)

1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

• Indian Springs Apartments (2177 W. Jasper Street)

Please note that Liberty and Timber Ridge are no longer on this list.

The district encourages all families to remain in their cars, if possible. Meals will include lunch for the day and breakfast for the next morning and will be safely prepared by the district's child nutrition managers.