School Districts in Texas and Beyond Begin Introducing 2020-2021 Learning Options

            School districts across the state are stuck in a conundrum. While planning for a new school year is normally well underway by now, district leaders are walking an unenviable tightrope. COVID-19-positive numbers are rising dramatically across most of the country, and no one knows when this trend will end. As a result, districts that have developed learning options for the 2020-2021 school year may have to shift gears in the coming weeks.

            Should district leaders develop plans now that may very well need to be changed or should they wait until late July to see what the numbers look like then? To develop or not to develop, that is the question. I honestly don’t think there is a definitive answer on this one. Plans developed now can, obviously, be adjusted. It seems to me that adjusting a plan would be far easier than trying to fully develop one in the final hour.

            I have read plans from a number of districts, and I decided to create an evolving list of these plans. This will allow educators, parents, students, and district leaders to look at other options for comparison and for ideas and inspiration. I will continue to add plans to this list.

            I will also continue posting information coming from Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Morath and from local/state/national leaders, as well as any other information I see that could be beneficial when designing the 2020-2021 school year.

            Teachers and parents—I continue to urge you to reach out to your district leaders NOW to let them know where YOU stand on these options. It’s far better to be proactive than reactive. I also want to encourage you to find time to relax and to have some fun over the summer. Spending the entire summer worrying about what 2020-2021 holds is unhealthy, to say the least.

            I will leave you with a quotation I came across recently that fits perfectly with our current situation:  Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning how to dance in the rain.

Rio Grande Valley

IDEA Public Schools

McAllen ISD

PSJA ISD

Texas - Outside the RGV

Clear Creek ISD

Other States

Arizona

Laveen, AZ (Laveen School District)

Mesa, AZ (Mesa Public Schools)

Illinois

Peoria, IL (District 150)

Iowa

Des Moines, IA (Des Moines Public Schools)

Communication from Mike Morath and Government Officials

COVID-19 - Mike Morath's Calls with Texas Superintendents (Hit the "SUBSCRIBE" button on this page if you want to be notified when new videos post)


Related Information

National Blue Ribbon Schools:  Effective Distance Learning Strategies