Board discusses plan to offer remote instruction for Dixon and high school during PSSAs/Keystones

District curriculum staff on March 12 requested board permission to plan remote instruction for non-testing students at Dixon Elementary and for high-school students during upcoming PSSA and Keystone testing windows.

Dr. Wilson introduced the request as a formal item for board approval, noting the goal was to ensure test administration while minimizing classroom disruption. "We seek approval to plan to offer remote instruction to non testers at Dixon for PSSAs and the high school during keystones," Dr. Wilson told the board.

Board members and staff discussed scope and equity. Dr. Wilson and other presenters said the district proposes remote instruction only for sixth through 12th graders because staff found it practicable for older students and for proctoring logistics; she said moving five- and six-year-old elementary students to remote instruction to free proctors would "not feel like it was fair and equitable." The board did not record a formal vote on the item during the meeting; the request was presented for approval and the district indicated it would place the item on a future consent or action agenda for formal adoption.

Administrators said the plan had been discussed twice previously and that the intention was to make procedures official so all schools and families understood expectations during testing. Staff also provided dates for tests on request and said special-education considerations would be handled under existing procedures.

The discussion focused on staffing and fairness rather than on altering testing content or accommodations. District leaders said they would return with formal language for board approval and implementation details, including communications to families and proctoring assignments.