By Jim Hagerty
Reporter

ROCKFORD – Rockford Public School District 205 launched its “Distance Learning” website Wednesday, March 25.

The site aims to keep students working while they’re out of the classroom because of the COVID-19 outbreak. And it marks a significant milestone, as RPS, unlike some districts, is not set up for e-learning.

The Distance Learning site will give students and parents five days worth of work–lesson plans provided by teachers at each school in the district.

While the site will launch Wednesday, lessons plans won’t be available until April.

Meanwhile, per an executive order by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Illinois public schools are closed until April 8. That date could be extended depending on the severity of the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the governor’s stay-at-home order that began statewide Saturday, all nonessential businesses have been ordered to close through April 7. All schools–public and private–are closed to students.

The Rockford Board of Education held a virtual meeting Tuesday to discuss the new site. More information about the Distance Learning project is available on the RPS 205 website.