We hope you are healthy, well-rested, and ready for the opening of the 2020-2021 school year. We know that you have been anticipating MCISD’s plans for the 2020-21 School Year. Despite the changing circumstances and challenges presented by continued public health uncertainty, MCISD remains committed to providing the best possible learning environment and outstanding educational learning experiences for every student in our care.

In this update:

• Choose MCISD Online or MCISD On-Campus by July 30, 2020

• MCISD Online and MCISD On-Campus Experience Highlights

• Health and Safety Expectations for MCISD On-Campus

• Questions & Support

Our Learning Plan for the 2020-21 School Year for MCISD prioritizes both the safety of students and staff, as well as the delivery of high-quality teaching and learning experiences focused on excellent and equitable outcomes for all students.

Choose MCISD Online or MCISD On-Campus by July 30, 2020

After listening and gathering feedback from our students, families, and employees and carefully examining current and ever-evolving guidance from local health officials and the Texas Education Agency, MCISD has determined it best to offer our MCISD families a choice of two learning options for the 2020-2021 school year: MCISD On-Campus and MCISD Online.

The American Academy of Pediatrics “strongly advocates that all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school.” In listening to feedback from our families, we know there are many families in MCISD who are very much looking forward to their children physically returning to school on-campus when school resumes on August 13, 2020. We also know that there are families who have concerns about their children physically returning to school due to preexisting health conditions or other reasons, which is why online learning that is facilitated by a certified, MCISD teacher is an important option and will be available. MCISD will support all families in whatever decision is best for their children.

Community health data continues to change in our MCISD community, and we are continuously monitoring this information and adjusting our plans accordingly. We are sharing these preliminary plans with the understanding that as we get closer to August 13, 2020, plans could change based on conditions. We are committed to keeping all MCISD families updated and informed of any potential changes to our 2020-2021 school year plans.

MCISD Online

Students attend school five days a week at home in a virtual learning environment.

Students must have access to the Internet at home. Students must have a device for their online learning.

• MCISD Online is fundamentally different in design from the MCISD Learning At-Home experience that returning MCISD students experienced at the end of the 2019-2020 school year.

• As is the case for MCISD On-campus, parents/caregivers are expected to be engaged with their children’s education but are not expected to serve as their children’s primary teacher of the academic curriculum.

• Students will have digital access through Google Classroom to all their courses, as well as the option to participate in extracurricular activities on campus.

• Students will engage daily in 100% virtual, online learning with MCISD certified teachers facilitating students’ learning and coursework.

• Students may have periods of daily, recorded and/or live instruction with certified teachers, as well as periods of self-paced, independent learning.

• A designated daily schedule for online instruction will be provided to all MCISD Online students that they will be expected to follow. Attendance will be taken for all students every school day.

• Grading guidelines will be similar for MCISD On-campus and MCISD Online.

• Secondary students (grades 9-12) will have access to Career & Technical Education and Dual Credit coursework through MCISD Online as appropriate. Some courses/programs may require admission and on-campus activities throughout the semester.

• MCISD Online will follow all updated UIL guidelines for before and after school activities, including all fine arts and athletics.

• Students who require additional support and interventions will receive those via video/phone conferencing based on the expectations and assessment of MCISD certified educators.

• Students who receive services or accommodations through special education, gifted and talented, 504, or multilingual services will continue to receive the support and services.

In order for MCISD to plan effectively for the start of the 2020-2021 school year, both new and returning families should declare their choice for how each of their students will participate in school— MCISD On-Campus or MCISD Online. This choice is a commitment for students for the first grading period of school (August 13-October 16).

Both new and returning families should indicate their choice for each of their students in the Annual Student Information Update in the Parent Portal system, between July 14 and July 30, 2020, in order to ensure every student has a schedule ready for the first day of school. Families will indicate their availability of internet access at home for all students and availability of devices for their student(s), so that the district may plan appropriate support for MCISD Online.

Families of returning MCISD students who do not select an option for each of their students by July 30, 2020, will be automatically enrolled in MCISD On-Campus Learning. Please help us appropriately staff and plan for a successful start of the 20-21 school year by prioritizing the completion of the Annual Student Information Update by July 30, 2020.

MCISD On-Campus

Students attend school five days a week in person at their campus.

• In-person teaching and learning are available for students on campuses following a student’s traditional schedule.

• Students will follow their daily schedule, including all courses selected and/or assigned, as well as extracurricular activities, if applicable.

• Students who require support and interventions will receive them in person.

• Grading guidelines will be similar for MCISD On-campus and MCISD Online.

• Students will be required to adhere to ever-evolving MCISD health and safety expectations established for the safety of students and staff within our schools.

• Per TEA Guidelines: Students will wear face coverings on buses, hallways, common areas, and when social distancing is not feasible, including in classrooms, to the extent it is developmentally appropriate. This applies to both school (indoor and outdoor) and bus settings.

• Students who receive services or accommodations through special education, gifted and talented, 504, or multilingual services will continue to receive the support and services.

*If COVID-19-related disruptions arise throughout the year, school buildings may be closed for intermittent periods of time. If a campus is closed to in-person instruction, students at the impacted school will transition to Madisonville CISD Online during the time of closure.

Health and Safety Expectations for MCISD On-Campus

As we prioritize the well-being of students and staff, we have developed health & safety expectations. As conditions change, these health guidelines may be modified as advised by local, state, and national officials.

Questions & Support

We know you may have many questions about the upcoming school year. As we continue to gather information from state and local authorities for the return to school, we will continue to send updates to families with all new information.

You can access our comprehensive FAQs. Please contact your campus if you need assistance.

MCISD is committed to clearly communicating information from our state and local officials that determine how a school or the district will support the health and safety of all students and staff in our care. Regardless of changing circumstances and with a focus on the health and wellness of students and staff, MCISD will continue to provide an excellent learning experience for every student.