On Tuesday, July 7, 2020, Texas Education Agency announced comprehensive guidelines for the 2020-21 school year and published the SY 20-23 Public Health Guidance document. The TEA guidelines contain a number of requirements. Three requirements are worth noting. First, Texas public school districts must open their school buildings this fall for on campus instruction. Second, we are required to offer a full day, five day week traditional school day option. Third, we may not limit the number of students who choose to attend in-person. Local school boards and superintendents may not choose, independently or locally, to open with a 100% remote learning option for students. As a result, NISD has determined that two options will be available to students this next year: on campus learning (full day, five days a week), and remote learning. Another consideration was to offer an or week option. However, the TEA guidelines provide for a possible loss of funding for school districts that do not provide on-campus instruction every day or if students must be on a part-time schedule to limit the number of students in a classroom at one time. In addition, this option was less favorable for much of our staff and our community as it posed additional challenges for scheduling, childcare, etc.

We are in the process of considering many different safeguards and precautions to mitigate the spread of illness within our schools. We will follow TEA requirements and strive to do so in a way that will keep our students and staff as safe as possible.

According to Texas Education Agency, parents will have until two weeks before the first day of school to change their minds about placement.

Yes. There will be defined opportunities built into the school year where changes can be made to the educational setting.

After the school year begins, a parent who chooses online instruction for their child and later wants to switch to on campus instruction may do so at the end of a grading period. A parent who chooses on campus instruction for their child and later wants to switch to online instruction may do so at any time. Students attending online learning can switch to on campus classes at the end of the six-week grading period.

Please note that if a student switches between on campus learning and online learning, then that student may not have the same teacher(s) or course schedule, as teachers may or may not be teaching both a online and an on campus class.

While the district is asking you to make a decision during the summer regarding how your child will start the new school year, please know that we understand that you are having to make this decision based on the current situation with COVID-19.

Each family must consider their unique situation to make a personal determination. We are providing as much information as is possible at the time, so families can make informed decisions.

We will be able to provide instruction to all students in whichever format their families choose. We will also comply with all mandates regarding social distancing, as well as health and hygiene protocols.

NISD will ask each parent to choose either the on campus option or the online learning option. If parents select the on campus option, NISD will schedule your student into the course requests made earlier in the year, to the extent reasonably possible. If you select the online option, that process will be communicated at a later date depending on secondary course availability and options.

While NISD understands that many questions remain regarding the new school year and that family sentiments may change as COVID-19 conditions evolve, timely feedback is critical in preparing for the first day of school. The District must have data to work with when planning for master schedules, classroom space, online learning and how we can best meet the social-emotional needs of our students when they return. The District wants to provide all staff with the strongest foundation possible to prepare for the needs of all students.

Counselors and social workers are available to support students academically, socially, and emotionally and can provide mental health support or resources for families who may be struggling emotionally. Contact information for your student’s NISD counselor and local mental health resources can be found on the District website. NISD Counseling Resources

All NISD students will be taught by NISD teachers. If an online learning student switches to on campus, they may not have the same teachers, as teachers may or may not be teaching both an online and on campus class. Remote courses will be taught by NISD teachers but not necessarily a teacher from your student’s home campus.

No. According to TEA guidelines, the grading policies for online learning must be consistent with the District’s grading policies for on campus learning. Regardless of which learning option you choose for your child, the expectations for coursework and the grading system will be the same for both on campus and online learning. NISD believes this is the most fair and equitable solution for all of our students. Applicable courses in 9th-12th grade will be included in calculating GPA and class rank for both on campus and online learning students.

Overall progress on learning outcomes will be communicated in a “traditional” format. Assignments and grades will be entered into Gradebook. The expectations for coursework and guidelines for grading for on campus learning and online learning will be the same.

Yes. Texas Education Agency has indicated that STAAR testing will still take place during the 2020-2021 school year, in compliance with state and federal legislation.

To support all students, teachers will utilize a variety of formative assessments and supplemental resources to personalize student learning to address identified areas of need.

NISD plans to provide devices specifically for families who do not have access to a device to access online instruction. Guidelines for eligibility and distribution of iPads, Chromebooks, and hotspots are still being developed.

The District is working under the latest guidance provided by the Texas Education Agency, Gov. Greg Abbott, and various health agencies and organizations. In a recent communication with the Texas Education Agency, Commissioner Mike Morath stated that the District could not mandate parents keep their children at home for remote learning. Remote learning can only be an option. The District is therefore required to provide on campus instruction and does not believe a hybrid model is sustainable for our parents and staff.

That may change as the situation with COVID-19 evolves. The District will continue to look for updated guidance from the state as to the most appropriate way to educate students, while also prioritizing the needs of the whole child and the health and safety of students, staff and the community. Until the District hears otherwise, NISD is moving forward with planning and preparation to serve students under the guidelines we have been given.

Those decisions will be determined based on employee and District need. Teachers with qualifying medical conditions will be given priority to teach remotely. All medical-related requests will require documentation from the individual employee's physician and approval by Human Resources. At this time, other planning decisions, including non-medical related assignments to online learning and the possibility of requiring teachers to report onsite to an NISD facility to utilize NISD internet and instructional materials to lead online learning, are still under consideration.

Requirements to quarantine are determined by the Texas Department of State Health Services. In addition to existing leave balances in effect for employees, NISD will follow all provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) which is in effect through December 31, 2020.

We also have a pool of substitute teachers who have committed to working for the 2020-2021 school year. We will continue to recruit and train substitute teachers.