FAQs – COVID-19 – Taylor Independent School District

Last Updated- 10/12/20

Many of your questions may be addressed in in the Taylor ISD Start of School Plan. After reviewing it, feel free to submit any questions here. We will make every effort to address your questions in this Frequently Asked Questions page. Click the arrows on the right to reveal the responses.

SUBMIT QUESTIONS

When will my family need to make a decision on students attending on campus learning or online learning at home?

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

If I choose one option and want to change later in the year, can I make a switch?

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 based on a documented medical reason. Students attending online learning can switch to on campus classes at the end of the six-week grading period for secondary students and nine weeks grading period for elementary students.

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 an 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.

What should families with health issues or a high risk member of the household choose?

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

Will the district require the use of masks for on-campus instruction?

Yes, all staff members will be required to wear masks when on campus. All students will be required to wear masks where developmentally appropriate. We will also comply with all mandates regarding social distancing, as well as health and hygiene protocols.

What if most families choose the on campus option? Would there have to be changes to accommodate social distancing or will there be a limit of how many students can select the on campus option?

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. State guidelines require us to accommodate all students who request in person instruction in grades PK-8.

How will you address social emotional or mental health concerns?

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.

Will the teachers of online learning and on campus classrooms be the same?

This will be based on several variables to include how many students select remote or in person instruction .

Will there be STAAR testing in the 2020-21 school year?

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.

How will teachers address any potential learning needs from the school closure last spring?

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.

Will Taylor ISD provide technology for students participating in remote learning?

Taylor ISD plans to provide devices specifically for families who do not have access to a device to access online instruction in grades 4-12. Alternative options will be provided for families in grades PK-3. For students in Grades PreK-3, an electronic means, such as a personal mobile phone with a camera, video, and email capability, will be sufficient to return daily assignments to the school.

Upon need and request, the district will issue electronic devices to students in Grades 4-12. Parents and students will be required to sign a lending agreement which may require a deposit. Students who are issued such devices must adhere to the district’s acceptable use policy throughout the period of use.

How will the first four weeks of school be counted?

For our planning purposes our school startup weeks are defined as follows;

Week 1 = August 20-21

Week 2 = August 24-28

Week 3 = August 31- September 4

Week 4 = September 7-11

Week 5 = September 14-18

When will the parent survey be available for parents to choose in person or virtual instruction for the 2020-2021 school year?

We will be sending out an email to each student's parent/guardian on Friday, August 28, 2020 to indicate if their child or children will be returning to school in person on September 14, 2020 or if they will be remaining in remote learning. An email will be sent for each individual child and should be completed for each. Any parent/guardian that does not receive an email should contact their campus for assistance.

How is "close contact" with an infectious individual defined?

This document refers to “close contact” with an individual who is test-confirmed to have COVID-19. The definition of close contact is evolving with our understanding of COVID-19, and individual scenarios should be determined by an appropriate public health agency. In general, close contact is defined as:

being directly exposed to infectious secretions (e.g., being coughed on); or
being within 6 feet for a largely uninterrupted or sustained extended contact period throughout the course of a day of approximately 15 minutes; however, additional factors like case/contact masking (i.e., both the infectious individual and the potential close contact have been consistently and properly masked), ventilation, presence of dividers, and case symptomology may affect this determination.

Either (a) or (b) defines close contact if it occurred during the infectious period of the case, defined as two days prior to symptom onset to 10 days after symptom onset. In the case of asymptomatic individuals who are test-confirmed with COVID-19, the infectious period is defined as two days prior to the confirming test and continuing for 10 days following the confirming test.