Many students have experienced learning loss because of the pandemic. Pleasant Valley School District has developed a plan to help students overcome it.

“We know there is learning loss in the district, but we want the students to be successful during their current school year,” said Superintendent James Konrad.

For this reason, the school district has created a program called Learning Recovery Opportunity to help students who are unable to keep up academically with their peers.

Susan Mowrer-Benda, the director of Curriculum and Instruction, said an instructional team determined which students were struggling the most, and then reached out to their parents to tell them about the program. These students are those who would have received a two or lower on their report cards in elementary school, or a 60% or lower in third to 12th grade.

The program will run after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning Nov. 15 at all four district school buildings for children in kindergarten through 12th grade. The students will delve into mathematics on Tuesdays and English language arts on Thursdays. The program is free, and a snack and transportation home is provided.

Konrad said the expenses of the program are being covered through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief fund. ESSR funds are part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act.

Teachers from the school district were asked to offer their time to work with these students after school. Mowrer-Benda said that 16 teachers have stepped forward, five paraprofessionals and some nurses.

The teachers, paraprofessionals and nurses will receive a stipend of $58 per hour for their work. This expense is also covered with ESSR funds, Konrad said.

The program will run quarterly in conjunction with the school district’s quarterly report card grading.

“Student participation will continue to be reviewed by PVSD teachers during the second marking period,” said Mowrer-Benda.

There are 114 students registered for the program. If more students register for the next quarter, then more staff will be added, Mowrer-Benda said.

“Some new students may be invited to join and some participating students may be invited to continue. Participation will be fluid based upon student need,” she said.

If enrollment grows, so will the program.

“We will absolutely add teachers to the sessions as directed by the needs of student enrollment,” Mowrer-Benda said.

For the students who participate in the program, there are some rules to follow.

They include:

1. Attendance is key. Students are not allowed to have more than two unexcused absences per quarter.

2. Any days that are missed due to a medical issue will have to be made up.

3. An excuse has to be provided within three days of an absence.

4. Students who complete the LRO program successfully will receive a passing quarterly grade on their report card. The new grade earned will be reflected on the next quarter report with a notation that the passing grade was earned through the LRO program.

5. Students must adhere to the school district’s Code of Conduct for behavior. If a student does not follow the code of conduct then he or she will be removed from the program.