Harris County School District releases reopening plan with 3 options for students, parents
The Harris County School District has given students and their parents or guardians the choice among three options for how to attend classes during the 2020-21 academic year as the coronavirus pandemic continues.
The Ledger-Enquirer reported last month the Muscogee County School District’s plan, which also gives families a choice.
In Harris County, the deadline to choose among these three options is July 15:
In-person school
- Anyone displaying COVID-19 symptoms should stay home. While students will be responsible for any missed work, they will not be penalized for missing class.
- Face coverings must be used on buses. That’s the only place on HCSD property that masks will be required, according to the plan and confirmed to the Ledger-Enquirer by district spokeswoman Rachel Crumbley.
- At roll call, students will have daily temperatures checks. If further screening is needed, the student will be sent to the nurse.
- Assigned Chromebook devices will be relied on inside and outside of the classroom to minimize sharing of devices.
Virtual or digital school
- To choose either of the digital options, parents should ensure that students have a reliable internet connection and will be able to log in during regularly scheduled school hours Monday through Friday.
- For grades K-6, virtual face-to-face instruction with an HCSD teacher will occur five days per week. Parents can expect daily logins, with instruction and assignments. There is a nine-week commitment to remain with this choice during the first grading period.
- For grades 7-12, there are two programs to choose from: Georgia Virtual School and Edgenuity. For both options, students will be assigned an HCSD teacher to check on progress and help with any questions. There is an 18-week (first semester) commitment for these options.
Homeschool
- Choosing this option means students must be withdrawn from HCSD.
- Families must identify and enroll their children in a homeschool program of their choice.
Choose the learning option on your Infinite Campus account. Those without an account should email their school’s data clerk.
HCSD also released Friday an online reopening guide that details the school district’s protocols for safety, health, transportation and learning choices.
“During the spring semester experience, we all learned a lot including that children need to see their teacher every school day,” HCSD superintendent Roger Couch said in the news release. “While there is no right or wrong answer, we realize that everyone is trying to make the best decision they can. What we do know is that we are going to do our best to create a safe environment for everyone so that we can teach, feed and care for our students.”
This story was originally published July 10, 2020 at 12:22 PM.
