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August 5, 2020 | Chief Operating Officer Message
August 5, 2020
Dear Families,
Plano ISD would like to thank you for your patience and understanding as we prepare for the first day of school on August 12. Staff members are excited about receiving students for a new school year and are working tirelessly to ensure that we are providing a robust virtual experience based on feedback and input from our families.Plano ISD has prepared a comprehensive Parent’s Guide to the First Four Weeks of School to assist families with navigating the start of school in a fully remote environment. Please take a moment to review this guide to learn about student expectations, attendance requirements and to view sample daily schedules.
Looking ahead, we are working diligently to safely reopen schools for daily, in-person instruction on September 9. At that time, students will transition to their selected environment, either continuing with remote learning through PISD School@Home or attending face-to-face.
With large enrollments at each of our high schools and senior high schools, social distancing becomes a challenge. As such, these campuses will implement a hybrid schedule to reduce the number of students on campus at one time. This hybrid design creates smaller student teams, or cohorts, coming to school each day while also supporting social distancing efforts, which addresses our biggest health obstacles at the high school and senior high levels.
In the hybrid design, all high school and senior high school students who selected either the face-to-face environment or PISD School@Home will be able to attend classes in smaller cohorts of students, decreasing the number of students in each class.
Over the next few weeks as the school year gets underway, we will continue to refine plans and keep you informed. Thank you again for your support and patience during this time.
Sincerely,
Dr. Theresa Williams
Chief Operating Officer -
July 31, 2020
July 31, 2020
Chromebook Distribution Information
All students in grades K-12 will be expected to use a district issued Chromebook. This is required by the district as an essential resource in both face-to-face and School@Home environments for attendance, assignment submissions, synchronous participation and taking assessments. Students are responsible for the device issued to them. Replacement fees may be assessed for lost or broken devices and chargers. Due to the 1:1 nature of the district’s Chromebook program, whether students will be engaging in face-to-face learning or PISD School@Home, all students should pick up their assigned Chromebooks from their schools. Students enrolled in face-to-face learning will carry this device back and forth when learning commences on campuses September 9.
Details regarding picking up Chromebooks and other supplies will be provided by each campus. Look for an email from your child’s school with more information.
Reminder: New School Hours for Elementary and Middle Schools
This school year, there will be new school-day start times for Plano ISD elementary and middle schools. School hours for all levels are available on the website via the School Hours webpage.
Back-to-School Resources
For a one-stop shop of back-to-school resources and information, visit the Plano ISD School Resources web page. Find the following information (and more):
- Annual registration for existing and newly enrolled students
- School supplies for grades K-5 (school supplies for secondary schools are available from the campuses)
- Sales Tax Holiday (Tax Free Weekend) August 7-9
- Plano ISD back-to-school fairs
- Student technology equipment checkout guidelines
Free and Reduced Meal Applications
Free and reduced meal applications are now available at the School Cafe website. If you have never filled out a meal application, just click on “Create a New Account.” Student eligibility status from the 2019-20 school year will roll over only for the first 30 operating days of school unless a new application has been processed. It is important that households complete an application for the 2020-21 school year as soon as possible. Households should allow 10 business days for application processing.
Summer Grab-and-Go Meals Extended
Summer grab-and-go meals have been extended until August 11. School year curbside meal information can be found here.
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July 23, 2020
July 23, 2020
Revised 2020-2021 Return to School Plan
The Return-to-School Parent Manual initially released on July 9, 2020, continues to be revised based on feedback we have received from our parent and staff advisory groups, as well as new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and other state and local officials.
In light of the most recent announcement that all Plano ISD students will start the year for the first four weeks in a virtual environment, please refer to the PISD School@Home sections of the manual for information and expectations on learning in a remote environment for all students.
We are working on more details about implementing remote learning for all students for the first four weeks of school, including a plan to provide Chromebooks and internet support for those in need. We will be updating the website and sending frequent communications to you as plans develop in coordination with our campus principals. We appreciate your understanding as we continue to make plans for this ever-changing environment. Use the links below to view the updated plan and other back-to-school information.
We have continued to revise the Face-to-Face Learning sections of the manual with safety information and protocols that will be implemented once we are able to welcome students who selected the face-to-face environment to our campuses.
Changes to Instructional Environment Selection ACTION MAY BE NEEDED
All students will be starting the school year in the remote setting from August 12 to September 8. On September 9 students will transition into their selected learning environment: Face to Face or PISD School@Home. The initial selection period for choosing PISD School@ Home ended on July 16. Families now have another opportunity to opt in to the PISD School@Home learning environment if a selection was not made by the original deadline. The extended window for selection is July 24-August 6. Students will be scheduled in the selected instructional environment, which will go into effect on September 9. The instructional environment that families previously selected or newly selected will be valid through the end of the first 9-week period.
- Read more on how to make changes to your instructional environment selection
- Read parent letter regarding the School@Home and face-to-face learning environments
Curbside Meal Pickup Information
The Plano ISD Food and Nutritional Services Department has established curbside meal pickup locations to provide PISD School@Home students with meals for offsite consumption on instructional learning days. Beginning August 12 through September 4, meals will be served Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Students purchasing meals will receive a lunch for the day and a breakfast for the following day. Meals will no longer be free of charge for all students as provided during the spring remote learning and the summer feeding program. Free and reduced priced meals are available for qualifying students. Learn more here about curbside meal procedures, locations, etc.
2020-2021 Return to School Guide to Special Education Services
The following parent letter and guidance provides details for families receiving special education services regarding support for students and staff as we launch school for the new school year: 2020-2021 Parent/Guardian: Special Education Guidance Document
Section 504 Return to School Plan
Plano ISD acknowledges that many students with medically-associated disabilities served through Section 504 are among our most vulnerable learners during the COVID-19 pandemic. 504 Return to School Plan
University Interscholastic League (UIL) COVID-19 Update
The UIL provided a COVID-19 Update on July 21. Guidance is now available in a variety of areas related to the activities that occur during the fall semester. Planning efforts are already underway as we prepare for the upcoming fall sports seasons as well as the marching band and color guard activities; cheerleading; drill team; and JROTC. Additional communication will occur in the near future regarding safety protocols, game schedules, spectator seating, ticketing, concessions, and other game day related information. In addition to internal discussions, we will also rely on information and decisions of the District Executive Committee for District 6-6A.
What is the immediate impact of the UIL updated guidelines? There is no immediate impact to the activities currently taking place across the district.
Marching bands will continue the allowable 20 hours of supervised marching and drill fundamentals through July 31. Beginning August 1, marching bands will begin game preparations, as well as continue marching and drill activities.
Cheerleading and drill teams will continue supervised camps or practices through August 4. Beginning August 12, cheer and drill will resume practices in before- or after-school practice sessions.
Athletics will continue summer strength and conditioning activities, as well as sport-specific skill work through July 31. Beginning August 3, voluntary participation in strength/conditioning and skill work for grades 9-12 will occur at the senior high campuses. Senior high athletic coordinators will be sharing more information with these groups.
Listed below are some important UIL links for reference:
- University Interscholastic League (UIL) Website
- UIL Risk Mitigation Guidelines
- UIL - Music 2020-21
- UIL Athletics Fall Update
- Football Calendar 2020-21 School Year
- Volleyball Calendar 2020-21 School Year
- Team Tennis Calendar 2020-21 School Year
- Cross Country Calendar 2020-21 School Year
- Basketball Calendar 2020-21 School Year
Extracurricular Information for Participating Students in Grades 7-12
Students in grades 7-12 choosing PISD School@Home will be able to participate in on-campus practice sessions for certain extracurricular activities that contain a regular and consistent performance or competition component (marching band, color guard, JROTC, cheerleading, drill team and athletics), and whose corresponding class occurs 1st or 7th period. Students must attend practice and rehearsal sessions in order to participate in the performances or competitions. During district-wide virtual learning for all students, campus staff will schedule activity sessions before or after school in order to minimize conflicts with the virtual school day. When face-to-face instruction is available to students, PISD@Home students will be allowed to attend practice sessions that occur on campus. It will be the responsibility of the parent to transport their student to/from practice sessions, rehearsals and on-campus contests or performances.
All UIL eligibility requirements will continue to be in place and followed for all programs and participants. Parents and students choosing the PISD School@Home learning environment will need to communicate with the appropriate campus staff (music director, athletic coach, cheerleading coach, drill team instructor, etc.) of their intention to participate. Extracurricular activities will only be offered on campus in a face-to-face environment. There will be no middle school extracurricular activities from August 12-September 9. Extracurricular activities will continue to follow guidelines established by the UIL and the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
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July 21, 2020
July 21, 2020
Get the Latest Information on Plano ISD’s 2020-2021 Return to School Plan
Update on the 2020-2021 Marching Band Season
The safety and well-being of students and staff remain our highest priority in Plano ISD. We appreciate your patience as we have considered many options for starting school and marching band this fall. With the decision to begin the school year in a virtual setting and then transition to the student’s selected learning environment, face-to-face or remote, the Plano ISD Fine Arts Department and marching band directors are preparing for new challenges in unique ways. Students and families can expect a somewhat different, but always fun, exciting, entertaining and heartfelt marching band experience.
The Fine Arts Department has developed specific safety protocols for marching band camps, which include students and staff wearing face coverings except when actively practicing. Students and staff will practice social distancing of 6-feet at all times and 10-feet when actively practicing their instrument. Every effort to minimize social contact will be made throughout our camps. Camp schedules and regular season rehearsal schedules are currently being revamped to allow for smaller groups to rehearse at a time.
In the interest of student safety, marching bands will not issue uniforms this season. Each band program will require students to wear a prescribed “summer/fall” uniform that will include a band shirt and other required apparel. Our directors are making every effort to reduce the costs associated with marching band this year to help our individual families.
Our marching band directors are committed to offering Plano ISD students the very best marching band experience possible this season.
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July 20, 2020
July 20, 2020
Family & Social Services/Back-to-School Fairs
Plano ISD is offering Back-to-School Feeder Fairs, scheduled for the following dates and locations:
- East Feeder Schools at Williams High School
- Tuesday, July 28 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
- Central Feeder Schools at Carpenter Middle School
- Friday, July 31 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
- West Feeder Schools at Renner Middle School
- Tuesday, August 4 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
These free community events provide Plano ISD students and their families with back-to-school resources and essentials necessary to be equipped for a successful school year such as: school supplies, district/community support information, as well as physical and mental health assistance programs.
Mobile Drive-Thru "Contactless" Distribution (while supplies last)
- Families will receive:
- backpacks filled with schools supplies for each student present and/or with proof of enrollment (while supplies last)
- vendor bag full of coupons, vouchers and information from community agencies and District departments
*Immunizations and vision tests will also be available (limited availability while adhering to all safety guidelines).
For more information, please go to 2020 Plano ISD Back-to-School Fairs.
Incoming Sixth-Grade Student Instrument Fittings (Band and Orchestra)
Instrument fittings and placements for incoming sixth-grade band and orchestra students will take place via a virtual process facilitated by the directors at each middle school campus. Middle school band and orchestra directors will be contacting parents very soon to request that parents complete an online survey with their student regarding instrument interest and physical attributes. The goal is to have all students placed on the appropriate instrument by July 31.
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July 17, 2020 | Superintendent Message
July 17, 2020
Dear Plano ISD Families,
With the rapidly changing situation with COVID-19 in Collin and Dallas counties, Plano ISD has made the decision to start the 2020-21 school year in a completely virtual environment for all students. Please know that this decision was not made lightly, but out of concern for the safety and health of all students and staff.
The first day of school will remain Wednesday, August 12. At this time, remote learning will be in effect through Labor Day. Teachers will have a work day on September 8 and barring no additional health and safety concerns, families who did not select PISD School@Home (remote learning) will then transition to the face-to-face learning environments at their assigned campus on September 9. Instruction will continue online for those students who have selected School@Home.
Full remote learning will include synchronous and asynchronous instruction from Plano ISD teachers using Plano ISD curriculum in a consistent Google Classroom learning platform. This same model will then be continued for students who choose to participate in School@Home beyond September 9. Plano ISD is waiting for further guidance from the University Interscholastic League (UIL) before making a determination regarding the continuation of on-campus athletic and fine arts activities.
While the selection period to choose PISD School@Home closed on July 16, we will reopen the window to submit changes prior to July 29 (two weeks prior to start of school as required by the Texas Education Agency) to allow for the greatest degree of flexibility possible. The procedure for submitting a change to your selection will be communicated in an upcoming family update early next week. After school reopens, your family selection (face-to-face or PISD School@Home) made for your student’s instructional environment will be honored for the remainder of the first nine weeks.
Please visit our website at 2021 Planning for continuously updated information. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we plan for the safe reopening of the 2020-2021 school year.
Sincerely,
Sara Bonser
Superintendent -
July 14, 2020
July 14, 2020
Return to School Plan Update
As of July 14, 2020, the table below provides the number of families from each campus who have selected PISD School@Home as the instructional setting for their child(ren). We have also included the projected enrollment for each campus so you can see the percentage of enrollment the School@Home number represents. As previously communicated, parents will be able to change their choices so that we are allowing for maximum flexibility as the public health situation evolves. The window for making your initial selection closes on July 16 and after that date, you may contact your school counselor to make an instructional setting change.
As the status of the virus in our community and region evolves, Plano ISD will continue to consider the safety of staff and students as our first priority. We must be realistic about the limitations of space and our ability to socially distance inside classrooms based on the capacity of our school buildings. We will communicate any changes to the plan for reopening as soon as the initial selection process closes and as refinements to our plans develop.
You can find our 2020-2021 school year reopening information at: 2021 Planning. If you have questions or concerns, please refer them to AskPISD@pisd.edu.
Minnie’s Food Pantry Family Distribution, Thursday July 16
In partnership with Minnie’s Food Pantry, Plano ISD will hold a food distribution for families on Thursday, July 16, at Williams High School, from noon until 2:00 p.m., or as long as supplies last. This distribution will be held in the back parking lot of Williams, facing 18th Street, and is available to any family in need of food.
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July 13, 2020
July 13, 2020
Return to School Plan Update
As parents are making selections regarding their students’ preferred learning environment for next school year, we want you to know the following:
- If you select PISD School@Home, you have the ability to change your selection up until two weeks before the start of school by contacting your child’s campus.
- Remote learners who start the year at home will have an opportunity to change their selection to face-to-face learning for the second nine weeks.
As a reminder, have extended the date to select the PISD School@Home remote learning option to Thursday, July 16 in order to provide you additional time to consider your choices. Your selection can be made through the Plano ISD Parent Portal, Gradebook.
Instructions on how to make your selection through Parent Portal can be viewed online.
View the Return to School Plan online at Return Plan. More information to assist with your selections will be added to the plan, as well as to the online FAQ, as we continue to receive feedback from our advisory groups. If you have questions or concerns, please refer them to AskPISD@pisd.edu.
Minnie’s Food Pantry Family Distribution, Thursday July 16
In partnership with Minnie’s Food Pantry, Plano ISD will hold a food distribution for families on Thursday, July 16, at Williams High School, from noon until 2:00 p.m., or as long as supplies last. This distribution will be held in the back parking lot of Williams, facing 18th Street, and is available to any family in need of food.
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July 9, 2020
July 9, 2020
Return to School Plan - Draft Available Online
As shared in yesterday’s update, a draft of the Plano ISD Return to School Plan for the 2020-2021 school year is now available on the district website at Return Plan. We hope that having this draft plan will be helpful as parents make decisions regarding their students’ learning environment for next school year.
This draft will continue to be revised and updates will be posted on our website to keep you as up-to-date as possible as we refine reopening plans.
As a reminder, we are extending the date to select the PISD School@Home remote learning option to Thursday, July 16 in order to provide you additional time to consider your choices. Your selection can be made through the Plano ISD Parent Portal, Gradebook. Instructions on how to make your selection through Parent Portal can be viewed online at online.
If you have questions or concerns, please refer them to AskPISD@pisd.edu.
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July 8, 2020
July 8, 2020
Return to School Plan, 2020-2021
We recognize that parents are currently making a selection about the type of learning environment they would like their child(ren) to participate in for the new school year and are eager to have health and safety guidelines for reopening school in order to make more informed decisions. Therefore, we will share a draft of the Plano ISD Return to School Plan on Thursday, July 9. The Return to School Plan will also be available on the Plano ISD website at 2021 Planning, where information, including an FAQ, will be regularly updated.
On Tuesday, July 7, Texas school districts received guidance from the Texas Education Agency on health and safety guidelines for opening schools in August. Now that TEA has released the state guidance, we want to get our Plano ISD-specific plans out to parents as soon as possible.
Please note that we are also extending the date to select the PISD School@Home remote learning option to Thursday, July 16 to give you additional time to consider your choices. Your selection can be made through the Plano ISD Parent Portal. Get instructions on how to make your selection through Parent Portal.
We will continue gathering parent input through our Advisory Groups, which will help us refine our plan in the areas where the state’s guidance has left the school district flexibility for implementation. If you have questions or concerns, please refer them to AskPISD@pisd.edu.
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July 6, 2020
July 6, 2020
School Year 2020-2021 Learning Environment Options
Despite the challenges with COVID-19, Plano ISD will continue to provide the excellent education that our community expects, which will include both in-person and virtual learning environments. As the public health crisis continues, we have been planning for the opening of the 2020-21 school year with a focus on the health, safety and well-being of our staff, students and community. Visit the district website to:
- Learn more about our 2020-2021 back-to-school plans
- Make your learning environment selection
- Read the FAQ
Minnie’s Food Pantry Family Distribution, Thursday July 9
In partnership with Minnie’s Food Pantry, Plano ISD will hold a food distribution for families on Thursday, July 9, at Williams High School, from noon until 2:00 p.m., or as long as supplies last. This distribution will be held in the back parking lot of Williams, facing 18th Street, and is available to any family in need of food.
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July 1, 2020
July 1, 2020
Dear Plano ISD Parents,
As a school district, we want nothing more than to welcome our students back into our schools on August 12. Despite the challenges with COVID-19, our district plan is to continue to provide the excellent education that our community expects, which will include both in-person and virtual learning environments. As the public health crisis continues, we have been planning for the opening of the 2020-21 school year with a focus on the health, safety and well-being of our staff, students and community.
While Plano ISD is planning for two different instructional environments, please know that we will follow recommendations for school opening and operations provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as state and local health officials. We are also awaiting further guidance from the Texas Education Agency.
The situation with COVID-19 is continuously changing, as are the protocols and measures needed to keep our students safe. Therefore, we will adjust our plans accordingly, so please understand the need for flexibility and potential modifications to the plans we have outlined below. As adjustments may be necessary throughout the coming school year, it will be our priority to keep our community informed of those changes and updates. Our District website will provide you with the most up-to-date information.
Plano ISD families will be able to choose from two different learning environments:
- Face-to-face: Students and teachers will attend class in-person, five days a week, with additional safety measures in alignment with state and federal guidelines and recommendations.
- In this setting, teachers will provide face-to-face instruction, learning resources and support utilizing Google Classroom.
- Teachers will plan instruction that is easily transferable from face-to-face to remote in the event of a temporary school closure due to COVID spread.
- Social distancing requirements will be implemented to the greatest degree possible.
- District-directed and campus-designed safety procedures will be implemented.
- All staff and students will receive training on safety and health protocols consistent with TEA, the District and CDC guidance in the areas of:
- Health screenings and use of personal protective equipment
- Classroom and campus social-distancing including the plans for the design and layout of classrooms, grouping of students, use of common areas such as bathrooms, water fountains, lockers, clinics, playgrounds, cafeterias, gyms, library, art room, music room, etc., as well as classroom transitions and use of hallways
- Reducing touch points and increased cleaning
- Cleaning and disinfecting of classrooms and other areas
- Arrival and dismissal procedures
- Campus visitor policies and school events
- PISD School@Home Program: Parents will have the choice to select this program which is virtual (remote) learning consisting of both synchronous (live) and asynchronous instruction.
- Teachers will teach School@Home students from their classrooms or other assigned PISD facilities.
- In this setting, teachers will provide instruction, learning resources and support through the use of Google Classroom.
- Parents will support their students to ensure they have access to a device, a place to work and are engaged in virtual learning activities.
- We will utilize the same curriculum as students who attend face-to-face instruction and will design strategies for learning in the remote environment.
- Students enrolled in School@Home will be assigned a virtual class schedule and must be available for live, synchronous instruction during each school day.
- Attendance will be taken based on synchronous participation and completion/progress toward class expectations.
- Grading will be consistent with the guidelines and practices used in all face-to-face instruction.
- Students in grades 6-12 choosing School@Home may be able to participate in on-campus classes for extracurricular activities (in accordance with UIL requirements) and/or electives that cannot be offered in the School@Home setting.
- Additional Considerations for Secondary Students (Grades 6-12) :
- Students who attend face-to-face instruction will be scheduled into the courses they selected last spring during course selection.
- All courses will be offered in both settings.
- Some elective courses for students who select PISD School@Home may require the student to complete a required assignment or project at the campus if the course requires assignments that cannot be reasonably completed remotely, e.g., automotive technology, welding, a/v production, etc.
- We are working to finalize which elective courses will require in-person assignments; later in July, more information will be made available to better assist families with their elective choices
- Students who select PISD School@Home will be contacted at the end of July regarding their schedule if the elective courses requested require an in-person component
As a family, you will select which environment you feel is best for your student(s). If you determine that your student(s) will attend face-to-face, at school, there is no action needed. If you wish to select the School@Home program (fully remote), you can do so through Plano ISD’s Parent Portal beginning July 6. In order to plan appropriately, we are asking all parents who are selecting School@Home to submit this request in Parent Portal by Monday, July 13. Receiving this information early will help Plano ISD plan for student schedules, staffing and preventative health and safety measures.
Your School@Home selection for your student will be in effect for the first nine-week grading period. Further guidance beyond the first grading period will be provided after the start of the school year. If you do not select School@Home (remote) learning by Monday, July 13, your child’s campus will automatically schedule your student in face-to-face classes for the fall semester. We recognize that situations may develop warranting a potential change in your original choice. After July 13, please contact your child’s campus directly if you need to make changes to your selection.
We value each of our students and families and appreciate the trust you have placed in our school system. We look forward to seeing you for the 2020-21 school year.
Visit the Plano ISD website at 2021 Planning for regular updates regarding our 2020-2021 back-to-school plans, which includes frequently asked questions. If you have any questions, please direct them to askPISD@pisd.edu.
Sincerely,
Sara Bonser
Superintendent - Face-to-face: Students and teachers will attend class in-person, five days a week, with additional safety measures in alignment with state and federal guidelines and recommendations.
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June 23, 2020 | Board Meeting
June 23, 2020
Planning for the 2020-21 school year was discussed at the Plano ISD Board of Trustees meeting on June 23, 2020.
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June 18, 2020
June 18, 2020
As Plano ISD plans for the opening of the 2020-2021 school year on August 12, guidance from the State of Texas and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) is pivotal in that planning. Following Governor Greg Abbott’s announcement on Thursday, June 18, the TEA is expected to release additional guidance for schools on Tuesday, June 23. On that same day, June 23 at 7:00 p.m., Plano ISD administrators will be presenting options for reopening school in the fall to the Plano ISD Board of Trustees at their regular school board meeting. The board meeting can be watched live online (or accessed via video archive the following day) at PISD Live.
Parent Advisory Group Opportunity
Plano ISD is seeking interested parents to serve on a district advisory group to provide critical feedback about our return to school plans. In addition to volunteer names submitted by each campus principal, we are seeking additional parent volunteers representing a wide cross section of student needs and interests to serve as part of this advisory group. We value your partnership as we consider different options on how to best meet the needs of all students. If you are interested, please submit your name and contact information using this link by Thursday, June 25. If selected for an advisory group, you will be notified via email during the month of July.
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June 3, 2020
June 3, 2020
As Plano ISD plans for the 2020-21 school year, we know that we must be prepared to deliver a high-quality education for our students in a number of ways and we must ensure our students and staff are safe as school starts again in the fall. While the future related to the COVID-19 virus remains uncertain, planning for the fall is underway. In determining steps forward, there is a concentrated focus on several key priorities:
Health and Safety
We will continue to put families and safety at the forefront of our planning. We are committed to providing safe and clean learning environments where students can learn and grow together. It is our hope that we will be able to return to the classroom this fall, in which case, all appropriate precautions and protocols will be in place. If it is not possible for all students to return to school as normal, plans for school day schedules and parent options are being developed.
Parent Choice
The feedback received so far indicates some parents are concerned about the possible state of the pandemic in fall and are interested in educational choices for their children, including learning from home; while other parents are hopeful that we will return to a more traditional classroom setting. In preparation for the start of a new school year, we are working on plans to provide traditional face-to-face learning options, as well as at-home learning options that will allow students to remain enrolled in Plano ISD with all the benefits and support available in a strong, competitive public school system.
Innovation
We are committed to learning from our remote learning experiences this spring and seek to improve our instructional practices as well as define clear expectations for high-quality learning regardless of what format learning takes: face-to-face classroom learning, remote learning or a combination of both. This will certainly mean the use of innovative scheduling and new technology tools. To truly serve students in meeting their academic and social-emotional needs, we must provide students and teachers with an avenue for engagement, connection and interaction. We know that in order to improve upon our current practices, we must be creative and innovative in planning a new type of learning environment.
Communication
We will continue to seek feedback from stakeholders as we evaluate options for the fall including what a school day would look like, student activities and safety protocols. Please monitor the district website and your email for information about these feedback opportunities. Be assured that we will keep you informed along the way as decisions are made.
Equity
We know that education is not a one-size-fits-all opportunity. As we plan for next year, we know each school in Plano ISD might require slightly different approaches to teaching and learning based on the unique student enrollment at each school. It will be our goal to provide an equitable, differentiated learning experience designed to meet the needs of each student.
School Calendar
One of the first decisions in planning for the 2020-21 school year is considering the District calendar. Plano ISD will proceed with the adopted school calendar for 2020-21. With our goal to have an instructional plan that allows us to move between face-to-face and remote learning, the District will not modify currently adopted calendar. Should a prolonged school closure become necessary, the District can revisit the calendar at that time. Further, students who need additional time/learning support can be accommodated without changing the adopted calendar.
We await guidance from the Texas Education Agency about reopening school and anticipate more clarity from the agency in June and July. In the meantime, we will continue developing our plans and options so that we are prepared for whatever parameters are set by the State for returning to school.
Planning Task Force
In addition to researching scenarios and collaborating with the Texas Education Agency and other state and local agencies to date, we have assembled a Fall 2020-21 Planning Task Force that has been working on the development of plans in these key areas:
Prepare to hear from us frequently this summer as the District keeps you informed on the progress of the task force action teams and decisions that are made regarding 2020-2021. In addition to continued parent communications, we will be adding a feature to our district website to share decisions and plans for the 2020-2021 school year to provide as much information and transparency as possible in this time of change. Our greatest hope is that we will all return to our campuses on August 12 to resume school as normal with the addition of health and safety measures. However, we must be prepared for options that include both face-to-face and at-home learning should the need arise as safety continues to be our top priority.
