The Regional Educational Laboratory Appalachia, in partnership with the Kentucky Department of Education, will present a webinar March 15 that will give an overview of the research on learning loss during extended absences, followed by information on strategies for continuing instruction outside of school and key features of Kentucky’s Non-Traditional Instruction Program for continuing instruction during emergency school cancellations.

Research shows that extended or frequent absences from school, such as for weather-related school cancellations, disrupt student learning. In Kentucky, where districts average more than eight snow days per year and easternmost districts average more than 10 days, a program of nontraditional instruction allows instruction to continue remotely during cancellations.

KDE staff will present key features of and promising practices for planning and implementing nontraditional instruction programs. Administrators from Kentucky school districts that have implemented these programs also will share promising practices and insights on program implementation.

The webinar, which will be from1-2:30 p.m. ET, is designed for superintendents, central office instructional staff, principals, teachers and other practitioners at the district and school levels interested in nontraditional instruction. Click here to register.