Student, Family and Community Support

Plano ISD places a high priority on supporting students, families and staff who will be affected by upcoming changes in 2025-2026 due to the school closures and boundary changes. Our focus is ensuring that all students have access to an exceptional educational experience in Plano ISD. This requires a welcoming, safe, caring and inclusive environment at every campus in our district. Partnering schools will provide intentional opportunities to welcome new students from a closing campus or as a result of an attendance boundary adjustment. There will also be opportunities to honor the community and history of closing campuses.

Student Transfer Information

Changes to attendance boundaries will not be in effect until the 2025-2026 school year, but the district recognizes that some families may wish to make a change for the 2024-2025 school year. The window of opportunity to submit a special transfer for the 2024-2025 school year closed on June 18. 

• All transfers received will be processed on a first come, first serve basis via the Tiered Transfer Guidelines as outlined in the June 10, 2024, Board Resolution Regarding Temporary Modification of Transfer Policy in Response to Campus Closures and Rezoning.
• Transfers will not be accepted to campuses on the No Transfer list (unless you are reversing to your home campus or have been impacted by school closures or rezoning) 

The district will also prioritize students impacted by boundary changes for the 2025-2026 school year during next year’s transfer process. Read more.

Student Support

Student Ambassador Teams

To provide an engaging and smooth transition for all students attending a new school for the 2025-2026 school year, each receiving campus will use a Student Ambassador Team. These ambassadors will host events that allow incoming students to learn more about their new campus. They will also be available to provide support and connections for students as they start on their new campus.

Counseling Support

Recognizing that students may feel a range of emotions when they learn they will attend a new school, the Plano ISD Counseling Services Department will continue to work with all students and schools throughout 2024-2025 and also as they transition into the 2025-2026 school year. 

School counselors on all campuses provide instruction through a comprehensive school counseling program to help students demonstrate:

• Belief in development of whole self, including a healthy balance of mental and physical well-being
• Sense of acceptance, respect and support for self and others in the school environment 
• Positive attitude toward work and learning
• Self-confidence in ability to succeed
• Belief in using abilities to their fullest to achieve high-quality results and outcomes
• Understanding that lifelong learning is necessary for long-term success

As always, Plano ISD counselors provide ongoing guidance for all students; in addition, Counseling Services will provide opportunities for affected students to meet individually with their campus counselors. Throughout the 2024-2025 school year, counselors from receiving schools will have opportunities to introduce themselves, interact and build positive relationships with students who will move in 2025-2026.

Family Support

Starting at a new school is a significant milestone, and your support is crucial in helping your child transition smoothly. Here are some tips on how you can assist your child during this period:

1. Open Communication

Encourage your child to share their feelings about the new school. Listen to their concerns and excitement without judgment, and reassure them that it’s normal to feel a mix of emotions. When your child is transitioning to a new school, it’s important to understand and acknowledge their emotions. No matter if they’re feeling excited, anxious, or unsure, encourage them to talk about their concerns and fears

2. Show Them What They Can Control

When this change is out of their hands, it can help them to see what is under their control. Ask them to consider what in their life they do have the ability to make choices about. This may help to give them a sense of power and security amidst everything that is transitioning around them.

3. Stay Informed

Keep yourself informed about school events, policies, and resources. This will enable you to better support your child and address any questions they may have.

4. Check-In with Yourself

We naturally get nervous for our children when they encounter challenges at school: Will they be able to work through a social struggle? Will they make friends? Will their teacher be kind? Will the reading intervention class help? Our kids are closely tuned-in to our non-verbal cues and emotional signals. By staying calm, our kids may feel, “Oh, Mom and Dad aren't too upset about this. I guess it's probably going to be OK.”

Community Support

Communication Resources

Plano ISD is committed to providing information for the entire community throughout this transition process. With a dedicated website and e-mail messages containing pertinent updates, the District staff seeks to partner with families so they have access to accurate information as they navigate the changes with their children. 

Campus Transition Teams 

In addition to Student Ambassador Teams, Plano ISD will also designate Campus Transition Teams to provide support for families and staff. Each school that will receive new students will identify a team of campus staff, educators and parents to serve as liaisons to connect the new families to the school. Those on the Campus Ambassador Teams will be provided with updated information so they may serve as a primary resource for questions from families. Activities for Campus Ambassador Teams will include:

• Meeting with new families and staff to share information about the school, its events, how to get involved with the PTA, and any upcoming events
• Ensuring all new families and staff receive information from the school including invitations, newsletters and emails; families may wish to begin receiving news from the new campus even before the 2025-2026 school year begins
• Ensuring translation or interpretation needs for the community are met for all campus events
• Connecting families with any needed counseling services on the campus
• Hosting a “destination” event for all students, families and staff to attend 

Q & A Sessions

The District will host Q & A sessions for both families and staff at each campus designated for closure in the 2025-2026 school year. The first session will be held on June 12, 2024 at all four campuses. Staff meetings will be held at 3:00 p.m. and families at 6:00 p.m. Additional sessions will be scheduled for the 2024-2025 school year as we prepare for the changes.

Community Transition Events

Destination Events

During the fall and spring semesters, each campus receiving students as a result of this plan will be hosting destination events to welcome new students and families to their new school. These gatherings serve as an avenue for campus educators and staff to forge connections with students transitioning to a new learning environment. Additionally, these events aim to extend a warm welcome to new students, families and staff, while also promoting cohesion among campus PTAs, business and local community partners to support the transition of students to their new campus.

Campus principals from each school will work together to plan destination events and invite new students, families and staff to join. Destination events will include:

• Welcome Receptions
• Meet and Greets
• School Tours
• Information about the School

Legacy Committees/Celebrations

The Plano ISD Board of Trustees has prioritized establishing Legacy Committees to help support and guide the community through the emotional process of closing school buildings. These dedicated committees, formed specifically for each campus identified for closure, are tasked with preserving and celebrating the rich history of Plano ISD schools.

Each Legacy Committee will include a diverse group of stakeholders: family members of the school namesakes being honored, school administrators, PTA representatives, current and/or former students and other school community members including staff and families. Together, they will work to ensure that the legacy of each school is honored and remembered.

The committee’s initiatives will focus on several key areas:

• Documenting History: Collecting and archiving stories, images and artifacts.
• Community Engagement: Encouraging active participation from the school community throughout the school year.
• Commemorative Events: Organizing a culminating event for each campus to celebrate and remember its history and spirit.