Boise district to launch online program Monday

The Boise School District will launch its online learning website Monday.

Parents will be able to access the “Learning and Essential Services” website beginning at about noon Monday. It’s the first phase of an effort to reach Boise’s 25,000 students, during the statewide school closure that will run through at least April 20.

“The website will include grade-level materials designed to help students maintain and develop their skills in core subjects,” the district said Thursday. “In mid-April, we will provide additional, more content-specific learning services for students online by offering specific content-based and grade-level online curriculum for each student, with alternative paper materials for students who do not have online access.”

Paper classroom materials will be available at Boise’s grab-and-go meal pickup sites and on several bus routes. (Click here for details on locations.)

In the face of the global coronavirus pandemic, districts and charters across Idaho are  looking to make an abrupt transition into online learning. The West Ada School District will roll out its plan in the coming days, and the Nampa School District plans to go online Tuesday.

In other news from the Boise district, free grab-and-go meals will be available at six elementary schools: Garfield, Grace Jordan, Morley Nelson, Taft, Whitney and Whittier. Breakfasts and lunches will be available from 11 a.m. to noon, and children must be present to pick up the meals. “Meals are not to be eaten on site,” the district said. “Schools and bus stops are not places to socialize or congregate at this time.”

The Boise district also announced several other closures and cancellations:

  • All junior high school music festivals are canceled.
  • All district musical and theater performances are canceled.
  • High school academic assemblies and proms are canceled.
  • Driver’s education classes are canceled.
Kevin Richert

Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 30 years of experience in Idaho journalism. He is a frequent guest on "Idaho Reports" on Idaho Public Television and "Idaho Matters" on Boise State Public Radio. Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KevinRichert. He can be reached at [email protected]

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