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AISD Reopening 2020-2021

The content below was an initial reopening plan. Its details are not currently managed. For the most updated and accurate information, please visit our Return to School section.

 

 

Amarillo ISD Reopening 2020-2021

*As of July 14, 2020 - information will be updated as more details become available and/or change

We are excited to welcome our students back to school in August, whether we see you in-person or virtually. We are working to provide a safe, productive environment for all.

See the following information regarding plans for reopening the 2020-21 school year. Please note that details are subject to change based on guidelines from local, state, and federal authorities. Information will be updated periodically to meet changing guidelines.



Key Details

Two Learning Options for Students

Amarillo ISD families will select from two options for their children. Parents will choose from the two options during registration; detailed information will be provided to parents.

  • Option 1: Full-time in-person on campuses, with heightened hygiene and disinfection protocols
  • Option 2: Full-time virtual learning with district-provided technology, as needed.

As AISD develops options, we are keeping contingencies in mind. Campuses or classrooms providing in-person instruction may experience intermittent closures.

Priorities

  1. Protect the health of staff and students
  2. Identify and meet the needs of students
  3. Implement high-quality curriculum
  4. Provide mental health and wellness supports
  5. Build for long-term, sustainable change
  6. Assume the need for iteration and improvement

School Year Calendar and School Minutes Change

The school year calendar has not been revised. See the AISD 2020-2021 Calendar page (PDF opens in new window) for details.

However, school hours have been revised to reflect the following:

Level Start Time End Time 2020/2021 Additional Minutes
High School 8:05 a.m. 4:03 p.m. 18 minutes
Middle School 8:00 a.m. 3:50 p.m. 10 minutes
Elementary [A Campuses] 7:55 a.m. 3:35 p.m. 20 minutes
Elementary [B Campuses] 7:50 a.m. 3:30 p.m. 20 minutes

These changes will provide the District approximately 10 days for inclement weather and other crisis related closures.

​School Hours

General school hours for the 2020-21 school year will be:

  • Elementary [A Campuses] School: 7:55 a.m. - 3:35 p.m.
    • Pre-Kindergarten AM: 7:55 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
    • Pre-Kindergarten PM: 12:00 p.m. - 3:35 p.m.
    • "A" Campuses: Avondale, Belmar, Eastridge, George Washington Carver Elementary Academy, Hamlet, Mesa Verde, Oak Dale, Paramount Terrace, Park Hills, Puckett, Ridgecrest, South Georgia, South Lawn, Sunrise, Tradewind, Western Plateau, Whittier, Wolflin and Woodlands
       
  • Elementary [B Campuses] School: 7:50 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
    • Pre-Kindergarten AM: 7:50 a.m. - 11:25 a.m.
    • Pre-Kindergarten PM: 11:55 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
    • "B" Campuses: Bivins, Coronado, Emerson, Forest Hill, George Washington Carver Early Childhood Academy, Glenwood, Humphrey's Highland, Lamar, Landergin, Lawndale, Olsen Park, Pleasant Valley, Rogers, San Jacinto, Sanborn, Sleepy Hollow, Wills, and Windsor
       
  • Middle School: 8:00 a.m. - 3:50 p.m.
  • High School: 8:05 a.m. - 4:03 p.m.
     


Efforts Underway for the New School Year

As a District, we cannot allow this public health crisis to become a generational education catastrophe. Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a major disruption. The District is focused on two major collective challenges:

  1. Keep school safe in the time of COVID by making operational adjustments
  2. Re-engineer the school experience so students reach high academic outcomes, with the same or better proficiency in 2021 as they did pre-COVID

Our goal is to safely maximize learning opportunities for students. By making certain operational adjustments, we will create an environment where students can learn and the risks of viral spread will be reduced. To support these efforts, our district has invested in the following:

  • Providing a tablet or Chromebook for all students in grades 1 – 12
  • Working to provide a temporary solution for broadband internet for those students who do not have internet service at home
  • Developing instructional models that support both in-person and virtual learning
  • Continuing to closely monitor the potential impact of k(COVID-19) in Potter and Randall counties and follow guidance provided by local health organizations
  • Using a preventive, antimicrobial misting system at all facilities and on our buses to thoroughly and widely disinfect. The District has also contracted with an industry leading disinfection and cleaning service to disinfect our high school locker rooms, weight rooms, and equipment cages.


Reopening: Frequently Asked Questions

Attendance Requirements:

Currently, do public schools in Texas have to reopen in August 2020?
Yes. School systems must provide daily on-campus instruction and record attendance for students while following TEA’s public health procedures.

To be awarded credit or be promoted must my child attend 90% of the days either in-person or virtually?
Yes. Per Texas Education Code (TEC), §25.092, students must attend 90% of the days a course is offered (with some exceptions) in order to be awarded credit for the course and/or to be promoted to the next grade. This requirement remains in force during the 2020-21 school year.

 

Prevention Practices upon Entry to the Building:

Will staff be required to answer daily screening questions before entering the school?
Yes, teachers and staff will self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms before coming onto campus each day. The self-screening should include teachers and staff taking their own temperature. Teachers and staff must report to the school system if they themselves have COVID-19 symptoms or are lab confirmed with COVID-19, and, if so, they must remain off campus until they meet the criteria for re-entry. Additionally, they must report to the school system if they have had close contact with an individual who is lab-confirmed with COVID-19, and, if so, must remain off campus until the 14-day incubation period has passed.

Will students be required to answer daily screening questions before entering the school?
Parents must ensure they do not send a child to school on campus if the child has COVID-19 symptoms or is lab-confirmed with COVID-19, and instead should opt to receive remote instruction until the conditions for re-entry are met. Parents may also opt to have their students receive remote instruction if their child has had close contact with an individual who is lab-confirmed with COVID-19 until the 14-day incubation period has passed.

AISD will screen students for COVID-19. Screening will be accomplished by asking questions by phone or other electronic methods and/or in person.

(See COVID-19 symptoms listed below under Definitions & Descriptions.)

Will a student’s temperature regularly be checked by school officials?
No. At this time regularly performing a forehead temperature check of otherwise asymptomatic students in school is not recommended by the CDC.

 

Response Practices to Confirmed Cases:

What happens to a student or individual who is confirmed or suspected with COVID-19?
Any individuals who themselves either:

  1. are lab-confirmed to have COVID-19; or
  2. experience the symptoms of COVID-19

must stay at home throughout the infection period, and cannot return to campus until the school system screens the individual to determine any of the below conditions for campus re-entry have been met:

  1. In the case of an individual who was diagnosed with COVID-19, the individual may return to school when all three of the following criteria are met:
      a. at least three days (72 hours) have passed since recovery (resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications);
      b. the individual has improvement in symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath); and
      c. at least ten days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
  2. In the case of an individual who has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and who is not evaluated by a medical professional or tested for COVID-19, such individual is assumed to have COVID-19, and the individual may not return to the campus until the individual has completed the same three-step set of criteria listed above.
  3. If the individual has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and wants to return to school before completing the above stay at home period, the individual must either
      a. obtain a medical professional’s note clearing the individual for return based on an alternative diagnosis or
      b. receive two separate confirmations at least 24 hours apart that they are free of COVID via acute infection tests at an approved COVID-19 testing location found at https://tdem.texas.gov/covid-19/

What will my child’s school do when they identify a possible COVID-19 case?

  1. The school will immediately separate any student who shows COVID-19 symptoms while at school until the student can be picked up by a parent or guardian
  2. The school will immediately clean the areas used by the individual (student, teacher or staff) who shows COVID-19 symptoms while at school as soon as feasible
  3. Students who report feeling feverish should be given an immediate temperature check to determine if they are symptomatic for COVID-19

How will the school respond to a COVID-19 lab-confirmed case in the school?

  1. If an individual who has been in a school is lab-confirmed to have COVID-19, the school will notify its local health department, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations, including confidentialityrequirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
  2. The school will immediately close off areas that are heavily used by the individual with the lab-confirmed case (student, teacher, or staff) until the non-porous surfaces in those areas can be disinfected, unless more than 3 days have already passed since that person was on campus
  3. Consistent with school notification requirements for other communicable diseases, and consistent with legal confidentiality requirements, schools will notify all teachers, staff, and families of all students in a school if a lab-confirmed COVID-19 case is identified among students, teachers or staff who participate in any on campus activities

Will visitors be allowed on campus?
To minimize spread and maintain social distancing, AISD will discourage and limit visitors on campus. Before visitors are allowed on campuses, AISD will screen all visitors to determine if the visitors, including parents, have COVID-19 symptoms or are lab-confirmed with COVID-19, and, if so, they must remain off campus until they meet the criteria for re-entry.

Additionally, school systems must screen to determine if visitors, including parents, have had close contact with an individual who is lab-confirmed with COVID-19, and, if so, they must remain off campus until the 14-day incubation period has passed. When practical, screening questions could be supplemented with temperature checks of adults.

 

Mitigation Practices Inside Building:

What precautions will be in place on campus?
We will implement increased signage around campuses promoting disease mitigation strategies, increased cleaning and sanitation practices, as well as frequent reminders of hand hygiene and social distancing. Masks will be highly recommended and encouraged for staff and students (and required when State guidelines mandate face coverings.) AISD will comply with all health and safety recommendations established by the health department and Texas Education Agency. Classrooms will be arranged to maximize space between students.

We encourage students and staff to provide their own PPE. However, in an effort to get school started, with the support of the State, AISD has secured the following:

Item Quantity
Small Disposable Face Masks 87,324
Medium Disposable Face Masks 203,756
Small Re-Usable Masks 20,215
Medium Re-Usable Masks 52,554
Gloves 134,266
Thermometers 242
Hand Sanitizer 3,426 gallons
Adult Face Shields 3,949

What will the District, and my child’s school do to help ensure their safety?

  1. AISD will attempt to have hand sanitizer and/or hand washing stations with soap and water at each entrance. In addition, we will attempt to provide hand sanitizer and/or hand washing stations with soap and water in every classroom.
  2. Students, teachers, staff, and campus visitors should be encouraged to sanitize and/or wash hands frequently
      a. AISD will have students engage in supervised handwashing for at least 20 seconds at before meal time, in addition to being encouraged to wash hands after using the restroom. Instructional videos and modeling will be used to teach students good handwashing techniques.
      b. Students, teachers, staff, and campus visitors will be encouraged to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, and if not available, covered in their elbows
      c. Used tissues should be thrown in the trash, hands should be washed immediately with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or hand sanitizer will be used.
  3. The District has instituted more frequent cleaning practices, including additional cleaning by janitorial staff:
      a. The District will provide the opportunity for children to clean their own spaces before and after they are used, in ways that are safe and developmentally appropriate
      b. The District has arranged additional cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces that are touched in common throughout the day. This would include objects such as door handles, common tables/desks, shared supplies such as art supplies, and high touch devices such as shared laptops or tablets.
      c. Schools should arrange for cleaning of commonly-touched surfaces in classrooms between different class groups, if the same room will be used by multiple class groups
      d. The District uses CDC guidance on cleaning campuses to prevent COVID-19 spread
      e. The District takes precaution to ensure products are stored safely, including storing harmful products where children cannot access them, and ensuring that harmful cleaning products are not used near children.
  4. Whenever possible, schools will open windows or otherwise work to improve air flow by allowing outside air to circulate in the building.
  5. The District will provide a range of printed resources such as posters that promote protective measures and can serve as helpful reminders of best practices.
  6. On the first day a student attends school on campus, the campus will provide instruction to students on appropriate hygiene practices and other mitigation practices adopted at individual campuses.

Will students and staff be required to wear masks?
Schools are required to comply with the governor’s executive order regarding the wearing of masks

  • For the purposes of this document, masks include non-medical grade disposable face masks, cloth face coverings (over the nose and mouth), or full-face shields to protect eyes, nose, and mouth. Face shields may be superior to cloth face coverings in many circumstances, given improved ability to see mouth movements and improved air circulation

It may be impractical for students to wear masks or face shields while participating in some UIL athletic or other extracurricular activities. When it is impractical for students to wear masks or face shields during those activities, the District will require students, teachers, staff, and visitors to wear masks or face shields when entering and exiting facilities and practice areas and when not actively engaging in those activities.

  • For example, students who are actively exercising may remove masks or face shields, as long as they maintain at least six feet of distance from other students, teachers, and staff who are not wearing masks or face shields. However, schools must require students, teachers, and staff to wear masks or face shields as they arrange themselves in positions that will allow them to maintain safe distancing.

As the Governor revisits the Executive Order [No. GA-29] relating to the use of face coverings, AISD will reexamine its expectation related to face coverings.

Will social distancing guidelines be observed?
Student-Teacher Groupings; i.e. classrooms:
Where feasible without disrupting the educational experience, AISD will encourage students to practice social distancing.

In classroom spaces that allow it, student desks will be placed a minimum of six feet apart when possible.

  • In classrooms where students are regularly within six feet of one another, teachers will plan for more frequent hand washing and/or hand sanitizing and should consider whether increased airflow from the outdoors is possible.

Use of Non-Classroom Spaces; i.e. auditoriums, gymnasiums:
When feasible and appropriate (for example, in physical education classes as weather permits), it is preferable for students to gather outside, rather than inside, because of the likely reduced risk of virus spread outdoors.

Campuses may continue to offer extracurricular activities, at their discretion and ensure all safety procedures are adhered to at all times.

UIL extracurricular activities will be guided by the University Interscholastic League [UIL].

Facilities open to the public, will be done consistent with the governor’s executive orders for similar activities.

  • For those organizations that rent District facilities, rental cost may increase because of increased need for supervision and disinfecting of the facilities.

Each campus must plan for entry, exit, and transition procedures that reduce large group gatherings (of students and/or adults) in close proximity.

Campuses may stagger school start and end times, assigning students to entries to ensure even distribution of students entering/exiting at each door, providing guidance to students to enter one at a time and wait six feet apart outside the entrance, and, where appropriate, encouraging parents to remain outside during drop-off and pick-up.

At this time, AISD will not have activities that bring large groupings of students and/or teachers and staff together [i.e. assemblies, pep rallies, etc.].

Campuses will develop enhanced practices that reduce the likelihood that students meet the close contact definition (see definition below) at lunch and other non-instructional times [i.e. Have students eat lunch at their desks, use of seats that are spaced at least 6 feet apart, use of dividers on cafeteria tables].

For meal service, cafeterias will continue to use disposable food service items for students who do not bring their own lunch.

All areas of the campus will be monitored frequently to encourage social distancing. Social distancing will be observed encouraging individuals to maximize personal space.

What will staff do if they have to quarantine due to COVID-19? Will the district provide extra sick or personal days for staff?
Requirements to quarantine are determined by the health department. In addition to existing leave balances in effect for employees, Amarillo ISD will follow all provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) which is in effect through December 31, 2020.

Will we still have open house(s), assemblies, or concerts?
No. At this time, large events will occur in a virtual setting or in small in-person gatherings that comply with CDC guidelines.

Will buses run?
Yes. Transportation will continue to be provided for all who qualify. Bus transportation is provided for all ARD approved special education students, homeless students, and eligible general education students who live two or more miles from their designated home campus. For enhanced health safety:

  • Before entering buses, each student will be instructed with specific safety protocols [i.e. seat assignment] to maximize physical distance while on buses
  • The District will require students and staff to use hand sanitizer upon boarding the bus
  • The bus driver and students will be required to wear face coverings on the bus
  • When possible, windows will be open to allow outside air to circulate in the bus
  • Buses will be thoroughly cleaned after each bus trip, focusing on high-touch surfaces such as bus seats, steering wheels, knobs, and door handles. During cleaning, windows will be open to allow for additional ventilation and air flow.
  • If possible, parents may want to consider transporting their own children, carpooling, or walking with their student to school to reduce possible virus exposure on buses.

What precautions will be in place for athletics, fine arts, and other extracurricular activities?
Safety guidelines have been developed for conducting summer workouts, rehearsals, and practices. The district will continue to follow all guidelines provided by UIL, TEA, and the state.

For complete details please see the UIL COVID_19 Info; new updates are briefly summarized below:

  • Face Coverings – Executive Order GA-29
    • All employees, parents, visitors and students ten years of age or older must wear face coverings or face shields upon entry to an area where UIL activities are being conducted and when not actively practicing or exercising, unless an exception applies, as outlined in the full document
  • Students may access locker rooms and engage in drills that involve one or more students on offense against one or more students on defense beginning 7/13/20
  • There is new required protocol for individuals confirmed, suspected or exposed to COVID-19 [see website]
  • Additionally, the previously announced “Period of no Activity” dates of July 20-21, 2020 have been rescinded, allowing schools to open facilities to student-athletes.
  • At this time, UIL plans to begin fall competition seasons as scheduled on the UIL calendar. UIL will continue to work with state officials and monitor CDC and other federal guidance to determine any further modifications to this guidance.

Will students have recess or the ability to play and socialize with other students?
We are awaiting guidance from the Texas Education Agency on recess activities. However, we anticipate elementary students will have recess time with restrictions that reinforce social distancing.

Are immunizations required for virtual school?
Yes. At this time the Texas Department of State Health Services has not waived the vaccine requirements for students.

What happens if you close on-campus instruction for COVID-19?
In the event the District closes a campus(es), instruction will resume virtually. Student attendance requirements can be met if remote virtual instruction is offered while the campus is closed. Additionally, District minutes requirements can be obtained during virtual instruction.

 

Definitions & Descriptions

COVID-19 Symptoms

In evaluating whether an individual has symptoms consistent with COVID-19, consider the following questions:

  • Have they recently begun experiencing any of the following in a way that is not normal for them?
    • Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit
    • Loss of taste or smell
    • Cough
    • Difficulty breathing
    • Shortness of breath
    • Headache
    • Chills
    • Sore throat
    • Shaking or exaggerated shivering
    • Significant muscle pain or ache
    • Diarrhea

Close Contact
This document refers to “close contact” with an individual who is lab-confirmed to have COVID-19. Close contact is determined by an appropriate public health agency.

For clarity, close contact is defined as:

  • being directly exposed to infectious secretions (e.g., being coughed on while not wearing a mask or face shield); or
  • being within 6 feet for a cumulative duration of 15 minutes, while not wearing a mask or face shield;
    • if either occurred at any time in the last 14 days at the same time the infected individual was infectious.
  • Individuals are presumed infectious at least two days prior to symptom onset or, in the case of asymptomatic individuals who are lab-confirmed with COVID-19, two days prior to the confirming lab test.

Screening Questionnaire Information
When asking individuals if they have symptoms for COVID-19:

  • AISD will only require the individual to provide a “Yes” or “No” to the overall statement that they are symptomatic for COVID-19, as opposed to asking the individual for specific symptom confirmation
  • The District will not collect information during screening on the specific health information of an individual beyond that they are symptomatic
  • Once it is determined that individuals who responded “Yes” to screening questions and then ultimately met the criteria for re-entry, the District will destroy the individuals’ response(s).

 

What are the methods for my child to receive instruction for the 2020/2021 school year?
Both instructional delivery formats must cover the required curriculum per TEC, §28.002.

In-Person Option

When schools are open and operating normally, students are scheduled to attend school on campus each day. Traditional in-person campus instruction and attendance monitoring will continue as it was before the COVID-19 pandemic.

In-person instruction must be offered for all grades served by the campus every day for every student who chooses the in-person option. Students may be scheduled into courses, including electives, offered at the campus.

Virtual School Option

AISD will use a combination of Synchronous/Asynchronous instruction for virtual instruction.

  • Synchronous Instruction - Requires all participants to be present at the same time, virtually
    • Examples: Live interactive classes with students and teachers participating real-time, teacher supported work time on video conference calls, scheduled and timed online tests
  • Asynchronous Instruction - Does not require all participants to be virtually present at the same time
    • Examples: Self-paced online courses with intermittent teacher instruction, preassigned work with formative assessments on paper or in LMS, watching pre-recorded videos of instruction with guided support

What are some of the expectations of Virtual Learning?
Students will engage in instruction that is a combination of both synchronous [Live remote instruction] and Asynchronous instruction [self-paced].

  • When a student engages in synchronous learning, it is defined as two-way, real-time, live, instruction between teachers and students, through the computer or other electronic devices or over the phone
  • When a student engages in asynchronous learning, it is defined as a curricular experience where students engage in the learning materials on their own time, interacting intermittently with the teacher via the computer, other electronic devices, or over the phone
  • Learning must address all of the required curriculum per TEC, §28.002
  • School grading policies for virtual student work must mirror on-campus assignments/grading policies. (Unlike the Spring, 2020 where AISD students received a pass/fail/incomplete, AISD students will receive numerical grades for course work.)
  • Students must be scheduled to participate at a minimum of 5 courses per day and demonstrate daily engagement to be counted as “present” for attendance.
  • Staff will check daily for student “engagement.”
    • For students who are engaged for the day, they would be marked as present
    • For students who are not “engaged” that day, they are marked absent
    • “Engaged” means:
      • Progress as defined by the classroom teacher for that day
      • Progress from teacher/student interactions made that day
      • Turn-in of assignment(s) that day
  • Virtual instruction involves far more self-guided student instruction than in-person.
  • TEA requires daily engagement. The following does not meet TEA’s requirements:
    • Example - If a student only turns in assignments on a Friday, the student is only counted present for that Friday. If the student is not engaged on Monday-Thursday, the student will be counted absent each day.
  • Some elective courses may have coursework that can only reasonably be completed in person, even if some components of the course are taught virtually, (i.e. welding). In these courses, the student will be required to come to campus to complete a required assignment or project if the course requires assignments that cannot be reasonably completed remotely. Some courses may require a student to obtain equipment from campus in order to complete coursework virtually
    • The campus will notify parents/students before the start of the course since failure to complete the required on-campus assignments could cause the student to fail the course
    • Students will have options to choose a different elective course that can be satisfied in a fully remote setting
    • Students would need to be screened for COVID-19 and follow any other school requirements consistent with practices for other students.

What happens if a “course” cannot be taught in its entirety in a virtual setting [i.e. welding]?
Students will need to:

  1. Select a course that can be taught in its entirely in a virtual setting; or
  2. Plan to participate in an intentionally designed mix of campus and virtual learning
      a. TBA Course listing that will be taught as a mix

If I choose one option and want to change the choice later in the year, can I make a switch?
Yes, virtual school is a fluid option. It is highly recommended that students only make a change at semester, if possible. AISD will be limiting transitions back to an on-campus setting to coincide with grading periods. Changing options mid-semester may have a negative impact on a student’s ability to receive credit, especially in elective courses.

What if most families choose the in-person option? Would there have to be changes to accommodate social distancing or will there be a limit of how many students can select the in-person option?
We will continue to work closely with TEA and local health authorities to ensure the safety of our students. We believe we will be able to provide instruction to students in whichever format their families choose. Keep in mind, AISD will comply with all mandates regarding social/physical distancing as well as health and hygiene protocols.

How will you address social, emotional, or mental health concerns?
Counselors are available to support students academically, socially, and emotionally and can provide mental health support or resources for families who may be struggling emotionally. During the summer, if a student needs to schedule a counseling session, please contact Tracey Morman at 326-1315. To ensure staff is equipped to address social and mental health concerns, Guidance and Counseling will continue to host training opportunities including trauma informed care, Mental Health First Aid, and social emotional learning. The District also offers DialCare Mental Wellness that is designed to provide your child with a safe, secure and private means of seeking help from a licensed professional counselor. Their counselors aid in depression, anxiety, grief, eating disorders, and more. To access this service: Download DialCare app, member.dialcare.com, or 855-335-2255.

Will teachers get to choose if they want a virtual or in-person schedule?
Staffing decisions will be determined based on student choice of instructional delivery. Principals, in cooperation with teachers, develop work assignments. If a teacher has safety concerns about returning to work on site, they should contact their principal. At this time, planning decisions include the possibility of requiring virtual teachers to report to an AISD facility to utilize AISD internet and instructional materials to lead virtual learning classroom instruction. Employees of the District, like employees of any organization, must continue to meet the work expectations set by their supervisors, subject to any applicable employment contract terms.

Teachers and staff will be trained specifically on the protocols outlined in this document and the practices adopted by the District/Campus.

  • Additionally, while not developed with this exact guidance in mind, Texas Agri-Life Extension offers an online course on Special Considerations for Infection Control During COVID-19 (2hrs). This course is intended for frontline childcare workers, but the principles of the course apply equally to those working in school settings. The course will be housed in the Districts e-learning platform Eduhero.

The District/Campus will reduce in-person staff meetings or other opportunities for adults to congregate in close settings.

  • When those meetings are necessary and cannot be done via electronic means, everyone must follow the mask protocols in this guidance, remain at least 6 feet apart where feasible, consider the use of dividers, and consider whether increased airflow from the outdoors is possible in those settings.

How will we register for in-person or virtual school? Will I be able to make a choice or does the district choose me?
During online registration, parents will choose the instructional option for each child. This decision allows campuses to staff and schedule accordingly. However, two weeks prior to the start of school, parents will be required to make a firm commitment in order for schools to finalize teacher staffing and student schedules.

Can students who select virtual school still participate in athletics and extracurricular activities?
Students who choose to participate in extracurricular activities are encouraged to choose the in-person option.

Will students remain enrolled at their school if they choose virtual school?
Yes. Students will remain enrolled at their home school.

Will meals be provided for students who select virtual school?
Options are being explored for providing meals to qualified students who select virtual school. There are currently no state or federal regulations that allow districts to serve meals to students who are not present on campus, although guidelines are expected in the near future.

Will students enrolled at AACAL, George Washington Carver Elementary Academy, and George Washington Carver ECA specialty programs still have the option to select virtual school and remain in the specialty program?
Yes. Students in specialty programs may select the virtual school option and still retain their specialty seats.

How will virtual school be different from at-home learning during the closure last spring?
Students who select virtual school will be required to attend and participate in class daily during regular school hours, and instruction will be led by a teacher. In the spring last year, students’ assignments were limited. Virtual school this year will be a full course load of instruction and assignments that is equivalent to what students who are attending school in-person will be required to complete. Teachers delivering virtual instruction will receive additional training and support in digital teaching strategies and using online curriculum.

Who will be accountable for State assessments?
Students participating in both in-person and virtual learning will be required to participate in state (STAAR/EOC/TELPAS, etc.) testing.

How will virtual school be staffed?
Schools will continue to be staffed based upon student enrollment and student course selections.

How will technology be distributed?
Technology devices will be distributed from students’ home campuses.

How will we know how to use District issued technology, and instructional platforms?
Training modules for students and parents are coming in the future.