Frequently Asked Questions
1. How will students in Drivers’ Education be impacted by the closure?
We have been in contact with the State Department which oversees the Driver’s Education program in order to address concerns and to provide accurate information. The District completed a survey that was sent to us indicating our questions and concerns which include potential make-up time, overlap sessions, potentially waived hours, and online lecture.
We are working with the Department of Motor Vehicles, council’s office, and New York State Education Department (NYSED) administration to resolve these policy questions and provide you with the answers you need. As soon as we have information to share, we will let you know.
2. How will lab requirements for Regents science courses be met?
Last guidance received from NYSED is below:
“In cases where the COVID-19 virus has caused either an extended absence of individual students, or an extended closure of an entire school or program, thus preventing either the school’s ability to provide or student’s ability to meet the mandatory laboratory requirement for admission to a science Regents examination, the superintendent may admit students enrolled in such courses to the culminating Regents examination.”
3. What’s the status on Spring Break and snow days?
School will be in session on the previously scheduled spring break from April 3 through April 10. There will be no “give back” snow days.
4. How much longer is school closed?
Currently, Governor Cuomo has closed all schools in New York State until midnight on March 31, 2020. Although we hope to return on Wednesday, April 1, 2020, it is uncertain if the closure will be extended.
5. How can we ensure all parents and students are receiving up-to-date information?
Parents can sign into the Powerschool Parent Portal to update their email and phone numbers. School Messenger takes contact information from PowerSchool in order to generate District calls. There are directions on our website on accessing your Parent Portal account. For up-to-date information, families can check our website
www.portjeffschools.org, or follow our social media platforms; Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
6. Are there assignments tailored for students with special needs? How are IEPs and 504 instructional accommodations being met?
The Special Education Director, Dr. Jodi Cahill is in continuous contact with staff providing updates as they become available from NYSED. During this unprecedented time of prolonged school closure, the distance learning plans implemented by the special education teachers will be appropriately individualized in order to meet the needs stated on each student’s Individualized Education Plan. Please email your child’s special education teacher, or call the Special Education office at (631) 791-4241 regarding any questions or concerns specific to your child.
7. Will High School class specific activities, ie. prom, be held?
Building administration is in the process of discussing options should there be a need for alternate plans. At this time, the Junior Prom has been rescheduled for Friday, June 19th. This was the date that the venue and DJ were available. We will keep parents and students updated about any changes to the calendar events in the upcoming weeks.
8. What is the status of the High School musical performance?
At this point the spring musical is cancelled. Unfortunately, the licensing for the show prevents us from postponing or live streaming the performance.
9. How will AP exams be given?
Students will receive a 45-minute online free-response exam (exact timing to be announced). There will be no multiple-choice questions. Students will complete the exam at home, online, on a specified day and time. To minimize conflicts, students will be able to choose from two different test dates, one earlier or one later.
Like a college exam, these exams will be “open book/open note.” They won’t test simple factual recall; instead they’ll be focused on skills and thematic understandings. Students will not be tested on content typically taught in the last 25% of an AP course, as laid out in the unit structure shown in the AP Course and Exam Description. Visit
collegeboard.org/ap-covid19-updates for a list of which units will be included in each AP Exam this year.
Each student response will be monitored by plagiarism detection software, and students whose responses mirror content from the web or other students’ submissions will be disqualified.
Student responses will be submitted digitally and scored by remote readers. This is a similar process to the one we have used for years in scoring AP at-home work for college credit in courses like AP Seminar, AP Research, and AP Computer Science Principles.
By April 3, we’ll publish the full exam schedule including the specific free-response question types that will comprise each AP exam.
10. What if a student needs a device?
Device pick-up is currently scheduled for Thursday, March 26, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Families are asked to drive through the elementary school bus circle in order to pick up devices by the crayon entrance. Drivers and students should remain in their car; staff members will approach your vehicle in order to assist with the delivery of the devices.
11. What if a family doesn’t have internet access?
Many of the learning platforms including Google are accessible through a smartphone using cellular data. Some local wifi providers have options for free internet access during the health crisis, but may charge a fee after the initial trial period. Individuals without access should contact their classroom teacher or support service personnel for alternate assignments.
12. How will students complete the required community service hours?
Adjustments will be made to the required community service hours based on the length of the school closure. Members of the Class of 2020 will have the requirement waived should the closure continue past the May 1st deadline to hand in the forms documenting their hours. Underclassmen will have their hours prorated according to their year of graduation.
13. What if my family and I are in need of meals?
The Port Jefferson School DIstrict is prepared to offer lunch to any child, aged 18 or younger, during the school closure. The bag lunches may be picked up each day between the hours of 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the High School cafeteria, located at 350 Old Post Road. Please be advised that beginning on Monday, March 30th, the District will be adjusting the meal program to an alternate day schedule as follows: Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Students will receive two lunches on Mondays and Wednesdays and three lunches on Fridays, for a total of seven lunches per week.
14. What if I am a healthcare worker or first responder and I need childcare?
The District is working with local agencies to provide access to childcare programs during typical school hours without cost to essential personnel during this health crisis. In their March 19 memo, NYSED defined professionals that are eligible for prioritized childcare as health care workers, first responders, support clinicians, food manufacturing, transportation, trucking, construction and social service agencies. If you believe you are defined by the aforementioned professions, please contact your principal directly.
15. How will personal/instructional items be retrieved from buildings?
At this time, our buildings have been closed to the public with very few staff members permitted inside. If you have a specific need, please reach out to the building principal who will assess the priority of the items needed (medicine, etc). If deemed a necessity, we can make arrangements for pick up.
16. Why are the fields and playgrounds closed?
In compliance with the directives issued by County Executive Bellone and Governor Cuomo, we have closed all of our fields, the high school track, and the elementary school playground to discourage gatherings, encourage social distancing practices and minimize the spread of COVID-19.
17. How will third quarter grades be calculated for high school and middle school students due to the closure?
We are evaluating different grading options with our teaching staff and administration at this time to ensure that students are not negatively impacted by the school closure. We will share our recommendation with high school and middle school parents and students before the third quarter ends on April 3rd.
18. What is happening with the New York State Assessments usually administered in March and April?
President Trump announced Friday morning that the Federal Government is going to waive all testing requirements. The New York State Education Department followed by announcing, "The administrations of the 2020 elementary- and intermediate-level State assessments have been suspended for the remainder of this school year." The NYSED press release can be read here:
http://www.nysed.gov/news/2020/statement-board-regents-chancellor-betty-rosa-and-interim-state-education-commissioner-2
19. How will elementary students receive their second trimester report cards?
Elementary second trimester report cards are now posted in the Parent Portal. Visit the links below for information regarding the Parent Portal.
Creating Account in Parent Portal
How to Access the Parent Portal
20. How will students be able to take a Regents exam after the closure?
NYSED released the following guidance on March 13:
Admission to Regents Examinations
“Commissioner’s Regulation 8.2(a) states that all pupils who have studied a subject at an approved school for a period of time not less than that prescribed by the commissioner shall have the right to be admitted to the Regents examination at such school. In such instances where the COVID-19 virus has caused either an extended absence of individual students, or an extended closure of an entire school or program, thus preventing either the school’s ability to provide or student’s ability to meet the unit of study requirements, the superintendent amay admit students enrolled in such courses to the culminating Regents examination. In cases where the COVID-19 virus has caused either an extended absence of individual students, or an extended closure of an entire school or program, thus preventing either the school’s ability to provide or student’s ability to meet the mandatory laboratory requirement for admission to a science Regents examination, the superintendent may admit students enrolled in such courses to the culminating Regents examination.”