How will Houston begin the 2020-2021 school year?
School districts in the greater Houston area have started developing back-to-school plans for the coming fall. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, much has to change. The newest guidelines for reopening have come from the Texas Education Agency. A majority of schools will be starting with virtual and remote learning only, while some others are simply pushing start dates back.
FOX26 has compiled a breakdown of reopeing plans for select Houston-area districts:
-ALIEF ISD will be starting school on Thursday, August 6. Their classes are all virtual, and they will be sending over 30,000 electronic devices to students, with over 17,000 4G hotspots so that each student has internet access. After the virtual start is over, families can individually choose in-person or remain with virtual learning, and are allowed to switch between grading periods.
-ALVIN ISD will begin on August 24 and will start with a virtual online format. Families that do not have internet access for any reason may request help from the school so that the student can partricipate. A phased return to school will start on August 31, and until September 14, students who selected in-person learning will be on-campus on designated days, and continue online for other days.
-FORT BEND ISD will begin school on August 17 fully online for a minimum of 4 weeks, and until local health authorities say that it's safe for students and staff to be on-campus together. Devices will also be given to families who have requested loaner devices.
-GALVESTON ISD will begin on August 24, and each family could choose fully remote or on-campus learning for their student. On-campus learning will start with a 4 week transition period, which includes a small group of students using classrooms following COVID-19 hygeine practices.
-HOUSTON ISD will start on September 8 with 6 weeks of fully remote learning. Then, on October 19, students will have the option to continue online or attend on-campus learning. The district has said the date is tentative barring COVID-19 conditions and recommendations from state, local, and federal health officials.
Many other school districts have detailed opening plans on FOX26, and have all given the families and students the option to participate in fully online, in-person, or hybrid learning for the 2020-2021 school year.
SOURCES: FOX26