Whether you’re a parent with kids in Pre-K through 12th grade, a teacher preparing to welcome pupils, or a college student headed back to one of our local universities — we know “back to school” is looking very different this year.

And with less than three weeks remaining until school starts, we know you’ve probably got a lot on your to-do list. As always, our goal here at RALtoday is to help you prepare for and engage with whatever’s happening in our city, so today we’re sharing our comprehensive back to school guide + resources to help you hit the ground running this fall.

Some high-level, need-to-know stuff:

Wake County schools on a traditional schedule will begin the fall semester Monday, August 17. The first two weeks of instruction will be completely remote, with plans to transition to a hybrid rotation of online and at-home learning by September 8.
You can view modified calendars for year-round schools and early colleges by clicking here.
NC State, Shaw University, and UNC will begin their 2020-21 academic year during the week of August 10. Fall break is cancelled this semester in order to complete all coursework before Thanksgiving.
You can view updates to the academic calendars for other area colleges by clicking the following links: Campbell University, Duke, Durham Tech, Meredith College, NCCU, St. Augustine University, Wake Tech, William Peace University.

Did you know?

Roughly 50% of Wake County students have been enrolled in the Virtual Academy — which will instruct students on a fully remote basis for the fall and spring terms.
The county has reopened registration for this option through tomorrow, July 29.
You can learn more + attend the virtual open house by clicking here.

School supplies list:

Back to school spending is expected to increase significantly this year due to technology requirements for at-home learning. If you need assistance financing school supplies for your kids this year — or if you’re interested in making a donation — visit this list of local resources for families in need.
The most important thing students will need access to this year is an at-home computer and reliable internet connection. State education officials have allocated millions of dollars to help provide mobile internet and hotspot access + devices for students to work on and attend virtual classes.
The locally-owned Teach Me store — located at 3520 Spring Forest Road in Raleigh — stocks 18,000+ items for students and teachers, and is currently offering options to browse online, in-store, or pick up curbside. Shop everything from at-home learning stations and desk setups to subject-based learning supplements.

Pro-tips for at-home learning:

Have kids get dressed like they usually would for school. This helps to establish routine and expectations for productivity during the day.
Structure is just as important as ever. It is recommended that students have a dedicated work space away from televisions and other distractions.
Create a schedule that works for the whole family — and stick to that schedule for consistency. For parents: establish your own schedule and communicate with other family members so they understand how to respect your time.
Take breaks. A good rule of thumb is 10 minutes for every 60 minutes of work completed. Additionally, use the National PTA’s guidelines for homework — 10 minutes per grade level, e.g. a 3rd grader might be assigned ~30 minutes of supplemental work outside of regular school instruction.
Help maintain children’s social connections by connecting them virtually with classmates for study groups, fun activities, or simply to chat during lunchtime. Find out more here.

Additional reading:

What is micro-schooling? (WRAL)
How are NC parents responding to instruction changes? (The Charlotte Observer)
Educators weigh in on COVID-19 lesson plans (Carolina Public Press)
Tip and guidelines if you’re planning to homeschool (Triangle on the Cheap)
Conversation: Equity in education (EdNC)
Good to know: UNC will waive SAT and ACT score requirements in 2021 (The News & Observer)
Point of view: Wake County teacher on returning to school (RALtoday)

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