Dear Parent(s):
We are pleased to share with you the Sheridan School District’s Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI) plan for the 2017-18 school year.
In accordance with Act 862 of 2017, the Arkansas Department of Education recently approved the Sheridan School District’s AMI plan, which will reduce the need to add instructional days onto the month of June. The department granted our district up to five (5) AMI days to be used this school year, on which students will complete activities and assignments at home rather than making up instructional days in the classroom.
Under the district’s AMI plan, the expectation is that AMI days will only be used AFTER the district has missed the number of days covered by the make-up days already accounted for in the board-approved school calendar. The district currently has four (4) make-up days built into the calendar: Feb. 16, April 20, May 29, and May 30. As of today, Jan. 23, 2018, the district has cancelled four (4) days of classes due to inclement weather; therefore, we have exhausted all of our built-in make-up days. If we cancel any more days of school during the 2017-18 school year, our AMI plan will go into effect.
Should an AMI day become necessary during the school year, students will complete a packet of instructional materials and assignments to receive credit for the missed day of regular instruction. If the district knows of the day to be missed in advance, packets may be sent home prior to the event. If an AMI day is unexpected, students will receive the packet upon their return to school.
In an effort to ensure the assignments are relevant and directly connected to what is being taught by the teachers at the time school is cancelled, the district has elected not to use pre-made packets. It is our expectation that these activities will provide practice for skills that have already been taught or serve as enrichment. No new skills will be introduced in the packets. Due dates for completion will be specified in the packets.
With this being the first year AMI days have been offered to districts, we anticipate that the Sheridan School District, like other districts, will be monitoring this process closely and will be gathering feedback from parents, students, and staff. Adjustments and improvements may become necessary in the coming years. At this time, we believe the district’s plan is in the best interest of our students in terms of learning, achievement, and safety.
Should you have additional questions, please contact your child’s principal. Thank you for being a part of the Yellowjacket Nation. It is a privilege to serve our students and community.
Sincerely,
SSD Communications