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This guidance document is being provided based on the public health situation as AISD understands it today and is for the 2020-2021 school year. Changes to the public health situation over the course of the summer and the 2020-2021 school year may necessitate changes to this guidance.
*most recent update: August 24, 2020At this time, Angleton ISD requires the use of non-medical grade face coverings in all AISD facilities for all individuals, regardless of age. An exception may exist if a room has fewer than 10 people who can social distance 6 feet. Other exceptions may exist on a case-by-case basis as determined by the building principal/supervisor.
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1. SCHOOL ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE | 2. FACILITIES | 3. ACTIVITIES | 4. BACK TO SCHOOL | 5. AISD ONLINE LEARNING | 6. RETURN-TO-SCHOOL PLAN
Current COVID-19 Response Level
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Angleton ISD has created a framework to establish operational levels in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The levels allow the district to determine the best course of action for AISD at any given time during the pandemic.
On August 24, AISD will start school on Level 2. The Return-to-School schedule posted on July 27 is still in effect.
Level 2 Procedures:- Students/Parents may choose to work online or on campus.
- Students who choose to attend on-campus will return on a staggered schedule (may be different for each campus or for grade levels).
- All staff working in district
- Masks required
- Class size requirement (one person per 30 square feet)
- UIL and extracurricular activities may be operational.
- Meals for eligible students who are attending online will be served on the students’ attending campuses. Online students’ meals will be picked up at designated schools. Students will have to present either a school ID or SMART Tag ID to receive meals from AISD Child Nutrition Department.
- AISD Transportation Department will operate for eligible students.
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Factors that determine the Level
Determining the operational levels of Angleton ISD during the COVID-19 pandemic is a collaborative effort among school district officials, AISD board members, and County and State public officials. AISD is committed to keeping our community healthy while learning, teaching and working.
Angleton ISD regularly monitors and determines the level of operations for classes and other events and activities using an established framework. Levels of operations range from a closed district to a fully open district. Levels within this range include various combinations of online and on-campus classes, staffing assignments, district operations, and class size densities.
Factors that determine the Level AISD is operating at are as follows:
- Number of COVID-19-positive tests in Brazoria County
- Number of COVID-19 cases in Angleton ISD
- Growth rate of positive tests in Brazoria County
- Growth rate of positive tests in Angleton ISD
- COVID-19 infection rates in Brazoria County
- COVID-19 infection rates in Angleton ISD
- Hospitalization rates in Brazoria County
- Hospitalization rates in Angleton ISD
- Angleton ISD student attendance rates
- Angleton ISD student COVID-19 rates
- Angleton ISD staff attendance rates
- Angleton ISD staff COVID-19 rates
- Significant and applicable actions from County Health officials and/or County Judge
- Significant and applicable actions from State Public officials
- Significant and applicable actions from Federal officials, including the Center for Disease Control (CDC)
- All Texas Education Agency (TEA) guidance and rulings
- Availability of PPE in Angleton ISD
- Availability of Angleton ISD facilities that can safely facilitate response levels
- Trends of comparative school districts (staffing)
- Emergency Family Medical Leave Act requirements
- Student or staff hospitalization
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Level 0
- All students and staff on campus
- No mask requirement
- No classroom size requirement
- UIL and extracurricular activities will be operational
- Schools will operate as normal.
For AISD to consider moving to Level 0, no AISD students or staff shall have a positive case of COVID-19.
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Level 1
- All students/parents choose either to work online or on campus.
- All staff working in district
- Masks required
- No classroom size requirement
- UIL and extracurricular activities may be operational.
- Meals for eligible students who are attending online will be served on the students attending campus. Online students’ meals will be picked up at designated schools. Students will have to present either a school ID or SMART Tag ID to receive meals from AISD Child Nutrition Department.
- AISD Transportation Department will operate for eligible students.
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Level 2
- Students/Parents may choose to work online or on campus.
- Students who choose to attend on campus will return on a staggered schedule (may be different for each campus or for grade levels).
- All staff working in district
- Masks required
- Class size requirement (one person per 30 square feet)
- UIL and extracurricular activities may be operational.
- Meals for eligible students who are attending online will be served on the students’ attending campuses. Online students’ meals will be picked up at designated schools. Students will have to present either a school ID or SMART Tag ID to receive meals from AISD Child Nutrition Department.
- AISD Transportation Department will operate for eligible students.
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Level 3
- Students with internet connectivity issues that cannot be helped with AISD hotspots, those who need specialized assistance, and staff members’ children will attend designated campuses to access online instruction.
- All other students attending Online Learning
- All staff working in district
- Masks required
- Class size requirement (one person per 50 square feet; social distance of 6 feet required)
- UIL and extracurricular activities may be operational.
- Meals for eligible students who are attending online will be served on the students’ attending campuses. Online students’ meals will be picked up at designated schools. Students will have to present either a school ID or SMART Tag ID to receive meals from AISD Child Nutrition Department.
- AISD Transportation Department will operate for eligible students.
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Level 4
- All students working online
- All staff working in district
- Masks required
- UIL and extracurricular activities will not be operational.
- Meals will be picked up at designated schools and dropped off at common points. Students will have to present either a school ID or SMART Tag ID to receive meals from AISD Child Nutrition Department.
- AISD Transportation Department will cooperate for eligible students.
Texas Education Agency guidelines do not currently allow Angleton ISD to reach Operation Level 4.
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Level 5
- All students learning online
- All staff working online
- Meals will be picked up at designated schools and dropped off at common points. Students will have to present either a school ID or SMART Tag ID to receive meals from AISD Child Nutrition Department.
- AISD Transportation Department will not operate.
Texas Education Agency guidelines do not currently allow Angleton ISD to reach Operation Level 5.
A Letter From Mr Edwards
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Dear AISD Community,
As you know the 2020-2021 school year will be challenging for our students, our families and our staff. AISD is committed to providing a learning environment that keeps our students and staff safe and that provides for meaningful academic experiences.
Based on input from our community, staff and the Texas Education Agency (TEA), AISD is presenting the 2020-2021 reopening guidelines. These guidelines highlight two important learning opportunities for all students and families: on-campus learning and online learning. Parents will have to make the difficult decision on which education setting they choose for their children. As a parent of a high school senior, my family is also struggling with this decision about how to keep our family safe during these incredibly difficult times and allow the educational and social experiences that our son needs. Hopefully, the information provided in these guidelines will help you start to investigate, discuss and decide what education option is best for you and your family.
It is very important that all students are registered online by going to www.angletonisd.net/registration2020. This information will help AISD make the best decisions for staffing and class rosters.
On Thursday, July 23, 2020, AISD will release an online enrollment form on our AISD website for those parents who choose for their children to do the online learning option. The Online Learning Enrollment form must be completed by August 5, 2020.
It is very important that our community understands that the COVID-19 situation is fluid, and infection rates may cause rapid changes to our plans. I have been in consistent contact with TEA, county health officials, and other school district officials. I am committed to keeping our students and staff safe. This commitment along with COVID-19 data in our school district and guidance from TEA and Governor Abbott’s office may cause changes to our educational plans and school calendar in the upcoming weeks and months. AISD will continue to communicate with you as quickly and effectively as possible, and I thank you for your patience as we navigate this ever-changing world in which we find ourselves.
AISD will host a Facebook Live event at 5:30 pm on July 22 to discuss our plans for reopening school and any new guidance we need to provide.
Our commitment to safety and quality student experiences will not waiver. Angleton ISD will continue to work hard and continue to prove why we are the A-Team.
I look forward to seeing our students soon and hope you and your family stay safe.
Phil Edwards
Superintendent - Angleton ISD
Health Guidance
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Angleton ISD’s number one priority is the health and safety of its students, staff, families and community. As such, the district has developed health guidance related to the COVID-19 pandemic. All Wildcats--students, employees and visitors--will be expected to follow the health guidance and safety protocols.
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General
- Hand sanitizer will be available in all classrooms.
- All staff and students shall be trained in proper handwashing techniques once every three weeks.
- Printed posters with safety procedures concerning COVID-19 shall be placed at all AISD buildings as reminders.
- AISD shall provide a page on the AISD website for information related to personnel issues and COVID-19 regulations. The webpage shall include information about the following:
- No student, faculty or staff member should be on campus if any of the following apply to them:
- The individual has been diagnosed with or tested positive for COVID-19, and he/she does not meet criteria for release from isolation (confirmed case).
- The individual has symptoms of COVID-19 or had close contact with a person with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, and he/she does not meet criteria for release from isolation (probable case).
- The individual has symptoms consistent with COVID-19 but has not yet been evaluated or received test results or a diagnosis (suspected case).
- The individual has been tested for COVID-19 but has not yet received results.
- The individual has had close contact or household contact within the past 14 days with someone who was a confirmed or probable COVID-19 case.
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COVID Symptoms or Diagnosis
- All AISD schools must have a plan for immediately separating any student who shows COVID-19 symptoms while at school until the student can be picked up by a parent/guardian or designated person who is on the student’s emergency list. Schools shall consider room size requirements to manage the holding of these students.
- AISD will close off areas used by a person demonstrating Covid symptoms (student, teacher or staff) until they can be disinfected. If possible, the district will wait 24 hours to clean these areas to increase the chances of the virus becoming inactive. If 24 hours is not possible, the district will wait as long as possible.
- Any individuals who either (a) are lab-confirmed to have COVID-19 or (b) experience the symptoms of COVID-19 (listed below) must stay at home throughout the infection period, and they cannot return to their campuses or an AISD facility until the school district screens the individual to determine if any of the conditions for campus re-entry below have been met:
- In the case of an individual who was diagnosed with COVID-19, the individual may return to the campus when all three of the following criteria are met:
- at least 24 hours have passed since recovery (resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications);
- the individual has improvement in symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath); and
- at least ten days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
- In the case of an individual who has symptoms that could be related to COVID-19 and who is not evaluated by a medical professional or tested for COVID-19, such individual is assumed to have COVID-19, and the individual may not return to the campus until the individual has completed the same three-step set of criteria listed above.
- If the individual has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and wants to return to campus before completing the above stay-at-home period, the individual must either (a) obtain a medical professional’s note clearing the individual for return based on an alternative diagnosis or (b) receive two separate confirmations at least 24 hours apart that they are free of COVID-19 via acute infection tests at an approved COVID-19 testing location found at https://tdem.texas.gov/covid-19/.
- In evaluating whether individuals have symptoms consistent with COVID-19, consider the following question: Have they recently begun experiencing any of the following in a way that is not normal for them?
- Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit
- Loss of taste or smell
- Cough
- Difficulty breathing
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Chills
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Shaking or exaggerated shivering
- Significant muscle pain or ache
- Diarrhea
- Nausea or vomiting
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Close Contact
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 b. being within 6 feet for a total of approximately 15 minutes throughout the course of a day ; 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.
- Screening Questionnaire Information
- 1. When asking individuals if they have symptoms for COVID-19, school systems must only require the individual to provide a “Yes” or “No” to the overall statement that they are symptomatic for COVID-19, as opposed to asking the individual for specific symptom confirmation. School systems are not entitled to collect information during screening on the specific health information of an individual beyond that they are symptomatic.
- 2. Once it is determined that individuals who responded “Yes” to either of these questions have met the criteria for re-entry, school systems must destroy those individuals’ responses. https://services.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/clinical-guidance/covid-19-pl
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District Response to Positive Cases
Updated Sept. 17 - AISD will no longer send letters home or contact parents/guardians about other students who are sent home with symptoms of COVID-19. We will continue to communicate with parents/guardians if there is a positive COVID-19 case on a campus.
Parents/Guardians will receive an individual phone call or text if their child has been in a room or in close contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19. Parents/Guardians will receive a letter if there is an individual on the campus who has tested positive for COVID-19 but the individual has not been in the same room as their child.
AISD administrators have been tracing cases or possible cases where someone has symptoms. In situations where an individual has symptoms, AISD administrators have found that most symptoms are ultimately not related to COVID-19. Therefore, we will only send out communications based on positive COVID-19 cases.
Also, students and employees will only be asked to quarantine if they have a positive test or have been in close contact with a person who has a confirmed positive case of COVID-19.
Close contact is defined by the Texas Education Agency as being within six (6) feet of the individual, whether wearing a mask or not, for a cumulative time of 15 minutes. Close contact also includes being coughed or sneezed on by the individual or having an exchange of other bodily fluids.
If parents/guardians have any questions, they should contact their child’s campus.
We also ask parents to continue to talk with their children about the proper safety precautions they can take while at school. We will continue to participate and encourage best safety practices at school, which include washing hands, use of hand sanitizer, wearing masks and/or face shields, and social distancing.
1. SCHOOL ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE
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AISD is dedicated to ensuring all elements of the school day are as safe as possible, and the district has implemented several safety measures for buses as well as entrances and exits into AISD facilities. Students and staff are expected to adhere to the arrival and departure plan to ensure the safety of all Wildcats.
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1.1 Buses
- As a response to COVID-19, AISD encourages all parents/guardians, with the ability to do so, to transport their children to and from school.
- Masks or face coverings shall be worn at all times by any person on an AISD bus.
- All students who ride a bus will have their temperature taken prior to entering the bus.
- All students who enter the bus will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms.
- Any student who has a temperature or displays COVID-19 symptoms will not be allowed on AISD buses.
- Parents need to be prepared if their children are not allowed on the bus.
- Parents will be contacted if their children are not allowed to travel by bus.
- Buses shall be thoroughly cleaned after each bus trip, focusing on high-touch surfaces such as bus seats, steering wheels, knobs, and door handles.
- All drivers and monitors shall have training on COVID-19 symptoms, how to administer proper temperatures, and social distancing. This training shall be required every three weeks.
- Bus seating will be assigned.
- Students at bus stops shall follow all AISD guidelines. This shall include wearing masks and practicing social distancing at bus stops.
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1.3 School Entry and Exits
- All schools will have designated entrances/exits. All students and staff will use the designated entrances/exits.
- All staff will be screened and have their temperatures taken upon all entries into the building. Employees who leave and return to a building must have their temperatures taken upon each re-entry unless accompanying students outside (ex. outside learning activity).
- All students will have their temperatures taken upon all entries into the building. Students who leave and return to a building must have their temperatures taken upon each re-entry unless taken outside for a school-related reason.
- Parents need to be prepared to pick up their children as quickly as possible if their children are not allowed into class due to displaying COVID-19 symptoms.
- If students display COVID-19 symptoms and are not allowed to attend on-campus school for a period of time, they may participate in online learning during the absence period. While participating in online learning, they will be counted present.
- During the screening process, AISD will not collect specific health information of an individual beyond that they are symptomatic.
- All students will wash or sanitize hands upon all entries into the building.
- No visitors will be allowed into the building unless an appointment is scheduled.
ALL visitors, including AISD personnel, must sign into the building and report directly to where they are attending. No visitors will be allowed in other parts of the building.
2. FACILITIES
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AISD has implemented several recommended social distancing and cleaning guidelines for its facilities to ensure a safe learning and work environment for its students and staff. The number of individuals in specific areas will be limited as determined by the space, and social distancing will be followed. Also, the district has enhanced cleaning expectations, including frequency, to maximize safety measures.
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2.1 Classrooms
- Desks must all face the same way. This may be relaxed for cooperative learning.
- Students must wash or sanitize hands at least 2 times a day while in classes/school.
- Students will have assigned seats in classrooms.
- Each Kindergarten-12th grade student in Angleton ISD will be assigned a Chromebook.
- Pre-Kindergarten students will be assigned an iPad that they will use for the duration of the school year, and this device can be taken home.
- Students in grades K-2nd will use the same device daily, and devices will not be shared. K-2nd students will not take devices home after school unless specific directions are given by the school to do so, or unless instruction is all asynchronous.
- Students in grades 3rd-12th will have a device that they carry with them at all times, including after school. Schools shall have the ability to limit students taking devices home after school.
- At this time, all assemblies, field trips, pep rallies, class parties, or other group gatherings are suspended.
- No outside food deliveries will be allowed for students or staff.
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2.2 Hallways
- Hallways must be designated and marked for both social distancing and directions.
- Students shall follow all hallway guidelines developed by the school.
- All hallways should be monitored at all times.
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2.3 Cafeteria
- Cafeterias may operate only at 50% capacity.
- Students may not be seated in groups of more than 25.
- Students must maintain a distance of 6 feet from each other at all times.
- Lunches may be served in the classroom.
- All lunches shall be closed. This includes any visitors entering the building and any student leaving the building.
- High school students will not have the ability to leave campus for lunch.
- No lunches from the outside shall be dropped off at the office for students at any time.
- Students will be allowed to bring their own lunches with them to school; however, food items shall not be shared.
- School lunches shall be served on disposable trays.
- All child nutrition staff shall use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) while performing job responsibilities.
- All seats in the cafeteria shall be assigned.
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2.4 Gyms
- No more than 25 people can be in a group in an area.
- No more than 2 groups may be in these areas at the same time per gym.
- These areas must be monitored by adults during all usage.
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2.5 Auditoriums
- Auditoriums may operate only at 50% capacity.
- No more than 25 people can be in a group in an area.
- Individuals must maintain a distance of 6 feet from each other at all times.
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2.6 Cleaning
- After students have left any AISD building, ALL spaces shall be cleaned and disinfected thoroughly. This shall include all doorknobs, desktops, and tabletops.
- All restrooms shall be cleaned every 2 hours.
- All lunchrooms, auditoriums, locker rooms, weight rooms, and hallway areas should be cleaned after each time they are used in mass by students and staff.
- All AISD campuses shall institute more frequent cleaning practices, including additional cleaning by janitorial staff.
- AISD schools will arrange for the additional cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces that are commonly touched throughout the day. This would include objects such as door handles, common tables/desks, shared supplies such as art supplies, and high-touch devices such as shared laptops or tablets.
- AISD schools will arrange for the cleaning of surfaces that are commonly touched in classrooms between different class groups if the same room will be used by multiple class groups.
- AISD will ensure these cleaning products are stored safely, including storing harmful products where children cannot access them, and will ensure that harmful cleaning products are not used near children.
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2.7 Visitor Information
- No outside visitors, including parents, shall be allowed into the building unless an appointment is made. This does not include parents coming into the building to engage school reception personnel.
- ALL visitors, including AISD personnel, must sign in at the properly designated entrance into the building and report directly to where they are attending. No visitors will be allowed in other parts of the building.
- All lunches shall be closed. This includes any visitors entering the building and any student leaving the building.
- No lunches from the outside shall be dropped off at the office for students at any time.
- AISD shall restrict visits in schools to only those essential to school operations.
- No visitors who display COVID-19 symptoms will be allowed in AISD schools and facilities.
3. ACTIVITIES
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AISD is committed to ensuring that students have access to enrichment experiences such as UIL and extracurricular activities, whether they are learning on-campus or online. AISD will follow the recommended safety protocols, and students and staff will be expected to follow the required guidelines when participating in these activities while at AISD facilities.
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3.1 Outdoor Activities
- Schools must have hand sanitizer or hand-washing stations readily available in the workout areas. Students and staff should be encouraged to use it frequently.
- All surfaces in outdoor workout areas must be thoroughly disinfected throughout the day and at the end of each day.
- AISD will plan for entry and exit procedures that reduce the number of students and parents congregating outside and/or mixing around the outside workout areas and parking areas.
- Outdoor, school-based activities during the day may be conducted up to a maximum of 25 students in a group.
- No more than 2 groups (max 25 people) are allowed in a common area at the same time.
- Each school will provide safety guidelines for outdoor play areas.
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3.2 Extracurricular Activities
- Any student, regardless of how he or she is enrolled in school (on-campus or online), may be able to participate in any extracurricular activities, including UIL activities.
- If a student is attending school through online learning and participates in UIL or extracurricular activities, then he or she shall attend all practices and scheduled class times for the activity in person.
- All UIL and AISD guidelines for extracurricular activities shall be followed. (www.uiltexas.org/covid-19-information)
- The No Pass and No Play guidelines shall be followed.
4. BACK TO SCHOOL
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AISD continues its commitment to excellence and to providing a high-quality education to every student. Students will have the opportunity to participate in one of two learning models: on-campus or online instruction. All students must be registered through our online portal, and parents/guardians will have the opportunity to choose which learning model their children will follow.
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4.3 In-Person Registration Opportunities
All AISD campuses will host in-person enrollment opportunities for parents/guardians who do not have access to the online system to enroll or register their children.
Enrolling and registering returning students will still be done using the online portal, but AISD staff will be available to answer questions and walk parents/guardians through the process. Spanish speaking staff will be available to assist parents who may need translation services.
Parents/Guadians will enroll their children at their designated campus. Dates and time will vary by campus and are listed below.
To make sure this is a safe experience for all involved, we have established the following guidelines:
- Only one person per household will attend in-person enrollement.
- Masks or cloth face coverings will be required for all persons.
- Parents/Guadians will have their temperatures checked and asked COVID-19 screening questions before being allowed to enter.
- There will be no more than 16 guests allowed inside AHS and AJH and no more than 20 guests allowed inside an elemenatry campus at a time.
Elementary Campuses
All six AISD elementary campuses will host registration opportunities on the same dates and times.
Monday, July 27: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, July 28: 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 29: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 30: 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Friday, July 31: 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.Angleton Junior High
Monday, July 27: 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 28: 8:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday, July 29: 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 30: 8:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Friday, July 31: 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.Angleton High School
Monday, July 27: 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 28: 8:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday, July 29: 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 30: 8:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Friday, July 31: 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. -
4.4 Transfer Students
- Transfer requests are expected to be approved by July 23, 2020.
- Transfer students may choose online learning.
- Transfer students will not be assigned to schools if that assignment places an undue burden on the school in terms of class enrollment or class size.
View our Student Transfer Guidelines and Application Documents here.
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4.5 Important Dates
- All parents should register their children online starting July 6, 2020, at www.angletonisd.net/registration2020.
- On Thursday, July 23, 2020, AISD will release an online enrollment form on the AISD website for those parents who choose for their children to do the online learning option. The Online Learning Enrollment form must be completed by August 5, 2020.
- Starting July 23rd, 2020, parents/guardians who are unable to register their children online may register their children at their designated campus. Each campus will communicate registration times.
- All students who are new to the district shall provide all required documentation by electronic means to the campus secretary.
- Transfer requests will be accepted and schools assigned by the district by July 31, 2020.
- Starting July 31, any expected returning student who has not enrolled by completing the online back-to-school forms shall be contacted by school district personnel.
- Students who have withdrawn over the summer shall be processed as soon as possible.
- After August 17, new student enrollments shall be done at the campuses. This should be done by appointment, should be done as quickly as possible, and should include screening for COVID-19.
- After August 17, withdrawals shall be done by scheduling appointments at the campus. This should be done as quickly as possible.
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4.6 Additional Resources
- School Supply Lists
- Freshman Orientation Info - More Information Coming Soon
- AHS Schedule Pick-Up - More Information Coming Soon
5. AISD ONLINE LEARNING
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All students will have the choice of doing online learning or attending school in person. The deadline for parents choosing to have their children participate in the Angleton ISD Online Learning Program for the start of the school year is August 5, 2020.
- Unless a student is receiving on-campus instruction or participating in approved extracurricular activities, then he/she shall not be on AISD campuses unless principal approval is given.
- AISD will use the Asynchronous Instruction Format as defined by the TEA for all online learning. Online Asynchronous Instruction does not require having the instructor and student engaged at the same time. In this method, students learn from instruction that is not necessarily being delivered in-person or in real time. This type of instruction may include various forms of digital and online learning.
- Any student who chooses asynchronous instruction shall be expected to engage in learning activities daily. Students participating in online learning shall be expected to complete a minimum of 4 hours of learning time per day.
- Each Kindergarten-12th grade student in Angleton ISD will be assigned a Chromebook.
- Students in grades K-2 will use the same device daily, and devices will not be shared. K-2 students will not take devices home after school unless specific directions are given by the school to do so.
- Students in grades 3-12 will have a device that they carry with them at all times, including after school. Schools shall have the ability to limit students taking devices home after school.
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5.1 Attendance for Online Learning
Under our approved online learning plan, students earn daily attendance through daily engagement measure(s). The TEA approved engagement methods are as follows:
- Students will show daily progress in approved AISD Learning Management Systems (LMS), such as Edgenuity/Google Classroom;
- Students will show daily progress via teacher-student interactions;
- Students will demonstrate completion/submission of assignments from student to teacher.
- Engaged is defined as meeting any of the three above mentioned methods.
- If students fail to meet daily online learning attendance guidelines, they shall be counted absent.
- All AISD attendance guidelines shall be followed, including the 90% attendance guidelines for course credit and all truancy guidelines.
- To make the most of his or her education, regular school attendance is essential for a student to benefit from teacher-led and school activities, to build each day’s learning on the previous day’s, and to grow as an individual. Absences from class may result in serious disruption of a student’s mastery of the instructional materials; therefore, the student and parent should make every effort to avoid unnecessary absences. Two state laws--one dealing with the required presence of school-aged children in school (e.g., compulsory attendance) and the other dealing with how a student’s attendance affects the award of a student’s final grade or course credit--are of special interest to students and parents.
5.1a Compulsory Attendance
- Students enrolled in prekindergarten or kindergarten are required to attend school and are subject to the compulsory attendance requirements as long as they remain enrolled.
- State law requires that a student between the ages of 6 and 19 attend school, as well as any applicable accelerated instruction program, extended year program, or tutorial session, unless the student is otherwise excused from attendance or legally exempt.
- State law requires attendance in an accelerated reading instruction program when kindergarten, first grade, or second grade students are assigned to such a program. Parents will be notified in writing if their child is assigned to an accelerated reading instruction program as a result of a diagnostic reading instrument. A student will be required to attend any assigned accelerated instruction program, which may occur before or after school or during the summer, if the student does not meet the passing standards on the state assessment for his or her grade level and/or applicable subject area.
- A student who voluntarily attends or enrolls after his or her 19th birthday is required to attend each school day until the end of the school year. If a student age 19 or older has more than five unexcused absences in a semester, the district may revoke the student’s enrollment. The student’s presence on school property thereafter would be unauthorized and may be considered trespassing.
5.1b Failure to Comply with Compulsory Attendance
- When a student between ages 6 and 19 incurs unexcused absences for three or more days or parts of days within a four-week period, the school will send a notice to the student’s parent, as required by law, to remind the parent that it is the parent’s duty to monitor the student’s attendance and to require the student to come to school. The notice will also inform the parent that the district will initiate truancy prevention measures and request a conference between school administrators and the parent. These measures will include a behavior improvement plan, school-based community service, or referrals to either in-school or out-of-school counseling or other social services. Any other measures considered appropriate by the district will also be initiated.
- If you have questions about your student and the effect of his or her absences from school, please contact the facilitator or any other campus administrator.
- A court of law may also impose penalties against a student’s parent if a school-aged student is deliberately not attending school. A complaint against the parent may be filed in court if the student is absent without excuse from school on ten or more days or parts of days within a six-month period in the same school year.
- If a student ages 12–18 incurs unexcused absences on ten or more days or parts of days within a six-month period in the same school year, the district, in most circumstances, will refer the student to truancy court.
5.1c Attendance for Credit or Final Grade
- To receive credit or a final grade in a class, a student in kindergarten–grade 12 must attend at least 90 percent of the days the class is offered. A student who attends at least 75 percent but fewer than 90 percent of the days the class is offered may receive credit or a final grade for the class if he or she completes a plan, approved by the principal, who allows the student to fulfill the instructional requirements for the class. If a student is involved in a criminal or juvenile court proceeding, the approval of the judge presiding over the case will also be required before the student receives credit or a final grade for the class.
- If a student attends less than 75 percent of the days a class is offered or has not completed the plan approved by the principal, then the student will be referred to the attendance review committee to determine whether there are extenuating circumstances for the absences and how the student can regain credit or a final grade lost because of absences.
- All absences, whether excused or unexcused, must be considered in determining whether a student has attended the required percentage of days. In determining whether there were extenuating circumstances for the absences, the attendance committee will use the following guidelines:
- If makeup work is completed, absences for the reasons listed above at Exemptions to Compulsory Attendance will be considered extenuating circumstances for purposes of attendance for credit or the award of a final grade.
- A transfer or migrant student begins to accumulate absences only after he or she has enrolled in the district.
- In reaching a decision about a student’s absences, the committee will attempt to ensure that it is in the best interest of the student.
- The committee will review absences incurred based on the student’s participation in board-approved extracurricular activities. These absences will be considered by the attendance committee as extenuating circumstances in accordance with the absences allowed under FM(LOCAL) if the student made up the work missed in each class. The committee will consider the acceptability and authenticity of documented reasons for the student’s absences. The committee will consider whether the absences were for reasons over which the student or the student’s parent could exercise any control.
- The committee will consider the extent to which the student has completed all assignments, mastered the essential knowledge and skills, and maintained passing grades in the course or subject.
- The student or parent will be given an opportunity to present any information to the committee about the absences and to talk about ways to earn or regain credit or a final grade.
- The student or parent may appeal the committee’s decision to the board by following policy FNG(LOCAL).
- The actual number of days a student must be in attendance to receive credit or a final grade will depend on whether the class is for a full semester or for a full year.
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5.2 Grading Guidelines
All AISD grading guidelines shall be followed by both in-school and online learning students. The assigning of grades and grade points shall be the same for both on-campus and online learning. The grading guidelines are as follows:
5.2a Minimum number of grades:
- Pre-K through 12th Grade Core Content
Teachers are required to record in Skyward a MINIMUM of two (2) DAILY GRADES weekly and one (1) MAJOR GRADE every three (3) weeks of the quarter for each core class. - Pre-K through 5th Grade Enrichment
PE and Music teachers will assign students a nine weeks participation grade only. Participation will be based on student interaction and engagement with digital content, and students should be assigned at least one participation grade a week. - 9-8 active weekly engagements = E
- 6-7 active weekly engagements = S
- 5-4 active weekly engagements = N
- 3 or less active weekly engagements = U
- 6th through 12th Grade Enrichment
Teachers are required to record in Skyward a MINIMUM of two (2) DAILY GRADES weekly and one (1) MAJOR GRADE every nine weeks of the school year for each enrichment class.
5.2b Make-up work
Schools will announce more defined Makeup and Late work guidance for the 2020/2021 school year by November 1, 2020. This guidance will be for the remaining 2020/2021 school year.
5.2c Grading Categories and Weights
- MAJOR GRADES = 40%
- Tests
- Long-term projects
- DAILY GRADES = 60%
- eLearning/Google Classroom Interactive discussion and classroom participation
- eLearning/Google Classroom
- Quizzes
- No single assignment or assessment may count more than 20% of a student’s grade.
5.2d Independent Work
- Students are required to complete all assignments that are posted each week.
- Students may work at their own pace but are still required for meeting minimum attendance requirements for the course. All independent work will be at a level that can be done independently by the student, and the student should clearly understand the expectations of the assignment.
5.2e Posting of Grades
- Assignments and assessments should be graded and posted in the Skyward electronic grade book in a timely manner so that students are receiving appropriate feedback and parents are able to access accurate information.
- Assignments and tests should be graded, posted, and made available to students within 72 hours. Teachers are expected to update their electronic grade books by 4:00 pm each Tuesday of the following week.
- A teacher has the discretion to drop grades, as long as it is consistently and fairly applied and documented. The minimum number of grades per quarter must be maintained.
5.2f Student Progress and Grade Reporting
- Teachers will provide a progress report for each student according to the grading calendar published each year. Report Cards and Progress Reports will be sent home via the district timeline.
- Parent Conferences: All teachers will make a good faith effort to conference with parents of students experiencing academic difficulty at each progress reporting period. A good faith effort is defined as multiple attempts using multiple modalities (call, email, personal contact, etc.). All attempts should be documented.
- The assigning of grade points can be found in the AISD Student Handbook.
- Pre-K through 12th Grade Core Content
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5.3 Other Online Learning Guidelines
- If a student chooses to change from online learning to on-campus learning, then a wait period of up to 5 days shall be put in place at the attending schools discretion.
- AISD may require students who are being served through online learning to attend a campus to complete assignments for certain elective courses.
- Students who do not have reliable internet connectivity at their home may be required to attend on-campus school.
- AISD may have internet connectivity hotspots to help students without reliable internet connectivity. However, these hotspots may not work in all areas of the AISD attendance boundaries.
- Further Online Learning Guidelines may be found in the AISD Online Learning Handbook
- Special Education, 504, and ESL guidelines shall be followed.
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Parent Resources
Visit the Online Learning Handbook to get more resources and information.
6. RETURN-TO-SCHOOL PLAN
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Sept. 9 Update from the Superintendent
Sept. 9 Update:
AISD elementary schools and Angleton Junior High School have been scheduled to return all On-Campus Learning students starting the week of September 14. Angleton High School has been scheduled to continue the A/B schedule as allowed by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). AISD continues to monitor the District’s COVID-19 data, and we will use this data to make informed decisions as we see trends and projections emerge. AISD is committed to student safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
TEA will grant school districts a waiver that allows PreK-8th grade schools to have four additional weeks that limit the school week for On-Campus Learning. Through the waiver, schools can continue an A/B schedule where not all students attend a full five-day school week.
For all elementary schools and Angleton High School On-Campus Learning students, AISD will follow the previously announced schedule. All elementary On-Campus Learning students will return to schools starting September 14 for a full regular school week as already planned. Angleton High School will continue to follow the announced A/B schedule for On-Campus Learning students.
Right now, we do not have any active cases at the junior high campus; however, we want to make the transition to a full five-day school week at AJH as safe as possible. Therefore, AISD will submit the waiver to TEA for Angleton Junior High School and will follow an altered transitioned rollout of grade levels at AJH for students who are enrolled in On-Campus Learning.
As we transition students from A/B schedules to a full five-day school week at AJH, we want parents to be aware of some factors that affect the On-Campus Learning environment specifically at the junior high campus:
- The ratio of classroom square footage to the number of students in the classroom - Students may have classes where they will be sitting closer than six feet apart.
- Parents’ decisions to move their children from Online Learning to On-Campus Learning - This is causing an increase in the number of students on the campuses, which then increases the number of total individuals in the space.
- Frequency of period transitions during the day
- Enrollment growth at the campus
AISD wants to create a safe return for all students. We will take all steps to ensure that students are going into a school and classrooms that meet the levels of operations that AISD has determined to be safe.
AJH is taking the following steps to enhance safe learning environments at the junior high campus:
- Balancing classroom sections to reduce large class sizes when at all possible
- Moving classes to larger rooms when necessary
- Maximizing all classroom square footage to allow the largest social distancing possible in a classroom
- Staggering the release of students between class periods
- Requiring everyone in the school to wear masks at all times other than during mealtimes and when not appropriate for specialized classes
We also want AJH parents to understand the following:
- All classroom rows will be facing the same direction.
- Students will be closer than six feet apart. Students will be separated as much as possible in classrooms, but in most cases that will not allow for six feet of distance.
- On-campus students will be expected to bring their own water bottles. Water fountains will not be available.
- Students will eat in the classrooms. They will not have masks on while eating.
- Students will have the opportunity to sanitize their hands before and after meals and at other times throughout the day.
- Online Learning students must have a structured learning schedule and environment at home in order to be successful with Online Learning. Students must have a dedicated learning space, interact with teachers daily, and turn in assignments on time. Students who cannot follow these structures may be having academic issues with the Online Learning model.
The return schedule for AJH On-Campus Learning students has been altered to allow for a safer learning environment and for administration to meet the demands of the increase in students choosing On-Campus Learning. Students can still participate in the Online Learning model.
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Aug. 3 Message from the Superintendent
August 3 Update:
Angleton ISD has made changes to its reopening schedule to allow for students and staff to make gradual transitions back to campuses. The changes will allow students and staff to properly train on on-campus safety protocols as well as give the district a chance to monitor the COVID-19 situation.
School will still begin on August 17 as planned; however, under the new Return-to-School Plan, all students will start the first week learning under the Online Learning model where teachers will provide direct instruction from their classrooms. This change to the reopening schedule will allow the district to introduce the Online Learning model properly so that students and staff have the adequate time needed to prepare and learn the new online plan and the expectations for online learning.
“The main advantages of reopening schools on a staggered schedule is that it allows us to implement change in small group transitions while also letting us continue to monitor the COVID-19 data and to prepare for our schools to open as safely as possible,” Edwards said.
Edwards said that the Online Learning model is flexible enough to allow students to transfer from online to on-campus and vice versa at any time.
“Regardless of whether students choose the on-campus or online learning model, they all need to have an understanding of what the Online Learning model is because they may have to participate in some level of learning online this year,” Edwards said. “The COVID-19 crisis can change quickly at any time, and I want our students and staff to be prepared for all situations.”
Dr. Adam Stephens, AISD Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, said that quality instruction will continue throughout the school year.
“The new online plan is designed to ensure our students are receiving quality learning experiences,” Stephens said. “In this COVID-19 world, our students and staff have to be prepared for anything. They have to feel comfortable learning online, and our parents need to feel confident that their children are learning and being properly prepared for their futures, regardless of the instructional model.”
“We want to make sure that we open our district up in the safest manner possible and that we are properly prepared to provide our students with the learning experiences they deserve,” AISD Superintendent Phil Edwards said. “We will continue to make decisions in the best interest of our students’ and staff’s safety, and we believe that the new reopening schedule allows us to properly prepare for when we do open our doors to those students who choose to learn on campus.”
Starting the second week of school on August 24, the district will begin opening its doors to some students who choose On-Campus Learning. Most students will continue to learn online, but students in Pre-K, Kindergarten, 6th grade and 9th grade who choose to participate in On-Campus Learning will begin attending school on campus on an assigned A/B schedule. Each campus will designate its own A/B groupings. Family members may not attend on the same day. (See the A/B Schedule below.)
“There is a strategy with our staggered reopening plan,” Edwards said. “We are starting On-Campus Learning with students in Pre-K, Kindergarten, 6th grade and 9th grade because these are transition years. Students in those grade levels are new to their campuses and have to learn an entirely new campus structure.”
On August 31, some students will continue instruction online, and the district will open up On-Campus Learning to 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 7th and 10th grades in addition to the previously designated students. They will attend their campuses on their assigned A/B schedule days.
Then on September 8, all On-Campus Learning students will begin attending school on their campuses following the A/B schedule. The following week on September 14, On-Campus Learning students at all elementary schools and Angleton Junior High School will begin attending Monday through Friday during regular school hours. Angleton High School will continue on the A/B schedule until further notice.
All students who choose to participate in On-Campus Learning will be expected to follow the district’s safety protocols. AISD strongly encourages all students, regardless of age, to wear a mask if possible. Students who are 10 and up and without special circumstances must wear face masks. Failure to comply with the district’s mask requirements may cause a student to be removed from On-Campus Learning.
Parents/Guardians who want their children to participate in Online Learning for the 2020-2021 school year must complete the Online Learning Registration Form at www.angletonisd.net/OnlineRegistration by August 5.
The Online Learning Plan is a structured instructional model. Edwards said the model will look very different than the online learning that occurred in the Spring.
“When COVID hit us in the Spring, we were in crisis mode,” he said. “We now have had time to prepare for the upcoming school year, and our students will be receiving robust instruction and learning experiences whether they are on campus or learning from home.”
The Online Learning Plan will require students to have access to an internet connection. If students do not have access to a reliable internet connection, parents/guardians need to contact their children’s principal.
Additionally, all AISD students will be issued a device. Students in Kindergarten through 12th grade will be issued Chromebooks, and Pre-Kindergarten students will be issued iPads. These devices will be for students in both Online Learning and On-Campus Learning.
“We are committed to making sure that all our students are learning and have access to the tools they need to be successful,” Edwards said.
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6.1 Return to School Schedule
Monday, August 3, 2020
• AISD Professional Development begins.
• Staff begins work on site.
Rationale: Allows new staff to learn and practice new safety protocols, learn and prepare for online learning protocols, plan lessons for the upcoming year, and prepare their classrooms.Monday, August 17, 2020
• All students begin instruction online. (Read the Online Learning Handbook here)
• Students with internet connectivity issues, those who need specialized assistance, and staff members’ children will attend designated campuses to access online instruction.
Rationale: Allows students and staff adequate time to prepare and learn new online learning experiences. Allows AISD to continue to monitor relevant COVID-19 data and prepare for schools to open safely for On-Campus Learning.Monday, August 24, 2020
• Students in Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, 6th grade, and 9th grade who choose to participate in On-Campus Learning begin attending school on campus on their assigned A/B schedule days.
Rationale: Allows time for students who are transitioning to grades at new campuses to learn and practice adequate safety measures in small groups. Allows AISD to continue to monitor relevant COVID-19 data and prepare for schools to open safely for On-Campus Learning for larger groups of students.Monday, August 31, 2020
• Students in grades 1, 2, 3, 7, and 10 who choose to participate in On-Campus Learning begin attending school on campus on their assigned A/B schedule days.
Rationale: Allows time for students transitioning back to campus to learn and practice adequate safety measures in small groups. Allows AISD to continue to monitor relevant COVID-19 data and prepare for schools to open safely for On-Campus Learning for larger groups of students.Tuesday, September 8, 2020
• All students who choose to participate in On-Campus Learning will begin attending school on campus on their assigned A/B schedule days.
Rationale: Allows time for students transitioning back to campus to learn and practice adequate safety measures in small groups. Allows AISD to continue to monitor relevant COVID-19 data and prepare for schools to open safely for On-Campus Learning for larger groups of students.Monday, September 14, 2020
• All students in grades Pre-K through 6th who choose to participate in On-Campus Learning will attend Monday through Friday during regular school hours.
• All 7th, 8th, and high school students who choose to participate in On-Campus Learning will continue to attend on assigned A/B schedule days.
Rationale: Allows Angleton Junior High and High School to engage in appropriate social distancing to provide for safety for all high school students and staff in the largest attended campus. All other campuses will follow current TEA requirements.Monday, September 21, 2020
• All students in grades Pre-K through 7th who choose to participate in On-Campus Learning will attend Monday through Friday during regular school hours.
• 8th and high school students who choose to participate in On-Campus Learning will continue to attend on assigned A/B schedule days.
Rationale: Allows Angleton Junior High and High School to engage in appropriate social distancing to provide for safety for all high school students and staff in the largest attended campus. All other campuses will follow current TEA requirements.Monday, September 28, 2020
• All students in grades Pre-K through 8th who choose to participate in On-Campus Learning will attend Monday through Friday during regular school hours.
• All high school students who choose to participate in On-Campus Learning will continue to attend on assigned A/B schedule days.
Rationale: Allows Angleton Junior High and High School to engage in appropriate social distancing to provide for safety for all high school students and staff in the largest attended campus. All other campuses will follow current TEA requirements. -
6.2 A/B Schedule
Students who choose to participate in On-Campus Learning will be designated in either an A group or a B group based on the alphabetical order of their last names. Each campus will designate its own groupings. Family members may not attend on the same day. The A/B schedule will follow the Return-to-School Plan above.
A/B days will be scheduled as follows:
- Students who are in Group A will attend on campus on Mondays and Wednesdays during regular school hours. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Group A students will participate in learning online.
- Students who are in Group B will attend on campus on Tuesdays and Thursdays during regular school hours. On Mondays and Wednesdays, Group B students will participate in learning online.
- On Fridays, any student assigned remediation on campus will attend on campus during regular school hours. All students who are not assigned remediation will participate in learning online. Campus administration will assign those students who will attend remediation.
On-Campus Schedule
Additional Guidelines
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- AISD will suspend all locally developed student incentive attendance guidelines for the 2020-2021 school year.
- Due to possible school day closures related to COVID-19 issues in the 2020-2021 school year, it is possible that the AISD 2020-2021 school calendar may be adjusted. This may include AISD having make-up days in June 2021 and the possible delay of the start of school in August 2020.
Resources
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Access the registration/enrollment portal and get back-to-school information at our
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