FAQs
The LearnSBISD Plan was updated Aug. 30 and posted to this website on Sept.9.
FAQs are currently in review and last updated on Sept. 14.
LearnSBISD is based on the information, guidance and guidelines from local, state and national government and health agencies as of August 30, 2020.
LearnSBISD is subject to change based on updated guidance from local, state or national government or health agencies.
General
- How was the LearnSBISD plan developed?
- Was the LearnSBISD plan vetted by medical professionals?
- Whose guidance is SBISD required to follow and does the district go beyond that guidance in any areas?
How was the LearnSBISD plan developed?
Was the LearnSBISD plan vetted by medical professionals?
Whose guidance is SBISD required to follow and does the district go beyond that guidance in any areas?
Masks
- Will masks be required for students and staff?
- What if my child can’t wear a mask due to asthma or another health issue?
- Can a child wear a face shield instead of a mask?
- Will masks be required on buses?
- What images can or can’t be on the masks?
- Will masks be required while outdoors?
Will masks be required for students and staff?
What if my child can’t wear a mask due to asthma or another health issue?
Can a child wear a face shield instead of a mask?
Will masks be required on buses?
What images can or can’t be on the masks?
Will masks be required while outdoors?
Response to Confirmed COVID-19 Cases
- How will parents and staff be notified in the event of a confirmed positive COVID-19 case in a classroom or bus?
- How does a parent or staff member report a positive COVID-19 test result?
- Will a school be closed if there is a confirmed case of COVID-19?
- How will SBISD work with local public health officials?
- If mom, dad or another caregiver has confirmed close contact, do I need to keep my student(s) home?
- If one of my children has confirmed close contact at school, do I need to keep all my student(s) home?
- What is the number of COVID-19 cases at which a school will be closed?
- How will you decide who was in “close contact” with a COVID-positive child?
- Will SBISD require students who test positive for COVID-19 to present negative test result before returning to school?
How will parents and staff be notified in the event of a confirmed positive COVID-19 case in a classroom or bus?
How does a parent or staff member report a positive COVID-19 test result?
Will a school be closed if there is a confirmed case of COVID-19?
How will SBISD work with local public health officials?
If mom, dad or another caregiver has confirmed close contact, do I need to keep my student(s) home?
If one of my children has confirmed close contact at school, do I need to keep all my student(s) home?
What is the number of COVID-19 cases at which a school will be closed?
How will you decide who was in “close contact” with a COVID-positive child?
Will SBISD require students who test positive for COVID-19 to present negative test result before returning to school?
Health Screenings
- How and when will students and staff be required to submit health screeners?
- Will schools conduct temperature checks on students? If yes, how often and when?
- What will the process be if a child or staff member is found to have a temperature while at school/work?
- What is the expectation for families to screen their child for temperature or other COVID-19 symptoms? What should they do if their child has one or more symptoms?
- Will SBISD require two weeks of quarantine before the start of in-person learning?
- If one of my children is sent home for a fever, do I need to keep all of my children home?
How and when will students and staff be required to submit health screeners?
Will schools conduct temperature checks on students? If yes, how often and when?
What will the process be if a child or staff member is found to have a temperature while at school/work?
What is the expectation for families to screen their child for temperature or other COVID-19 symptoms? What should they do if their child has one or more symptoms?
Will SBISD require two weeks of quarantine before the start of in-person learning?
If one of my children is sent home for a fever, do I need to keep all of my children home?
Enhanced Cleaning
- How will classrooms be cleaned as far as regular routine?
- How will school spaces be cleaned should a staff member or student test positive for COVID-19 after being at school?
- How will buses be cleaned? Will they be cleaned between routes?
- How will instructional materials like math manipulatives and science lab equipment be cleaned?
How will classrooms be cleaned as far as regular routine?
How will school spaces be cleaned should a staff member or student test positive for COVID-19 after being at school?
How will buses be cleaned? Will they be cleaned between routes?
How will instructional materials like math manipulatives and science lab equipment be cleaned?
Hand Sanitizer and Hand Washing
- Will students and staff be required to use hand sanitizer before entering school and classrooms?
- Will students be taught/reminded how to properly wash their hands?
- How many tImes a day and when during the day will students and staff be required to wash their hands?
- How will staff ensure there is always soap and hand sanitizer available?
Will students and staff be required to use hand sanitizer before entering school and classrooms?
Will students be taught/reminded how to properly wash their hands?
How many tImes a day and when during the day will students and staff be required to wash their hands?
How will staff ensure there is always soap and hand sanitizer available?
Physical Distancing
- Will students be required to physical distance?
- How will you increase physical distance in classrooms?
- Will students be required to physical distance on school buses?
- Will students be required to physical distance on the playground?
- Will staff be required to physical distance at meetings?
- Will staff be required to wear masks during meetings even if physical distance protocols are in place?
- How will you physical distance in student restrooms?
- Will start and end times be staggered for physical distancing?
- How will you limit student contact in hallways and during passing periods?
Will students be required to physical distance?
How will you increase physical distance in classrooms?
Will students be required to physical distance on school buses?
Will students be required to physical distance on the playground?
Will staff be required to physical distance at meetings?
Will staff be required to wear masks during meetings even if physical distance protocols are in place?
How will you physical distance in student restrooms?
Will start and end times be staggered for physical distancing?
How will you limit student contact in hallways and during passing periods?
Learning Models
- Will the same curriculum be used for distance learning and in-person learning?
- How and when can parents switch learning model preference for their child(ren)?
- What grading guidelines will be in place? Will they be the same for distance and in-person learning?
- Do parents have to pick the same learning model for all children in their family?
- What will be different about the learning from home process in Spring 2020 vs. Distance Learning in 2020-21?
- What happens if schools are required to close again and my child was learning in-person?
- Will the district live-stream class for synchronous instruction?
- Will there be perfect attendance awards for the 2020-2021 school year?
- Will high school students have final exam exemptions for this school year?
- What is the breakdown of in-person vs. distance learning selection by school?
Will the same curriculum be used for distance learning and in-person learning?
How and when can parents switch learning model preference for their child(ren)?
What grading guidelines will be in place? Will they be the same for distance and in-person learning?
Do parents have to pick the same learning model for all children in their family?
What will be different about the learning from home process in Spring 2020 vs. Distance Learning in 2020-21?
What happens if schools are required to close again and my child was learning in-person?
Will the district live-stream class for synchronous instruction?
Will there be perfect attendance awards for the 2020-2021 school year?
Will high school students have final exam exemptions for this school year?
What is the breakdown of in-person vs. distance learning selection by school?
Distance Learning (General)
- How many hours a day will students expected to be online?
- Will ItsLearning be the platform for all online learning?
- What other approved learning tools should students and parents know how to use?
- How will students with behavioral or mental health issues be supported through distance learning?
- How will GT students who choose distance learning experience Bendwood?
- How will meals be provided for student(s) (free/reduced) who are in the distance learning model?
- Will distance learning students be required to wear uniforms if their home campus does?
- Will there be an opportunity to change learning models throughout the school year?
- If a student switches from distance learning to in-person learning after a grading period, will their home room teacher change?
- How do I request a device for my child enrolled in distance learning?
- Other than a device, what supplies do I need for distance learning?
- Can students enrolled in distance learning participate in extracurricular activities?
How many hours a day will students expected to be online?
Will ItsLearning be the platform for all online learning?
What other approved learning tools should students and parents know how to use?
How will students with behavioral or mental health issues be supported through distance learning?
How will GT students who choose distance learning experience Bendwood?
How will meals be provided for student(s) (free/reduced) who are in the distance learning model?
Will distance learning students be required to wear uniforms if their home campus does?
Will there be an opportunity to change learning models throughout the school year?
If a student switches from distance learning to in-person learning after a grading period, will their home room teacher change?
How do I request a device for my child enrolled in distance learning?
Other than a device, what supplies do I need for distance learning?
Can students enrolled in distance learning participate in extracurricular activities?
Distance Learning (Pre-K)
- What will the schedule look like?
- Will students be required to follow a specific dress code at home?
- What will tuition be for students attending PreK virtually?
- Will tuition change when we go from a distance learning model to in-person?
- What does independent reading look like for a 4-year-old?
- What will support look like for students receiving services such as speech therapy?
- What resources and supports are available for parents and guardians to help with distance learning?
- Where can I find a school supply list for PK4?
- Is there a specific school supply list for online distance learning?
- Will the school be sending books home?
- Will devices compatible with the adaptive software used in PreK distance learning be provided?
- What is the total screen time expected for a Pre-K student?
What will the schedule look like?
Will students be required to follow a specific dress code at home?
What will tuition be for students attending PreK virtually?
Will tuition change when we go from a distance learning model to in-person?
What does independent reading look like for a 4-year-old?
What will support look like for students receiving services such as speech therapy?
What resources and supports are available for parents and guardians to help with distance learning?
Where can I find a school supply list for PK4?
Is there a specific school supply list for online distance learning?
Will the school be sending books home?
Will devices compatible with the adaptive software used in PreK distance learning be provided?
What is the total screen time expected for a Pre-K student?
Distance Learning (Elementary School)
- What will the schedule for grades K – 5 look like?
- Have teachers received specific training for online instruction?
- If an online teacher is sick will there be trained substitutes available?
- How many students will be in an online class?
- Will students’ daily schedules be consistent so parents can plan ahead?
- Will elementary students have a fixed online home room teacher?
- Will SBISD provide any WiFi for students?
- Will school day schedules match up for the instruction between siblings in different grades?
- Will all learning and assignments be completed online, or will teachers distribute worksheets for the kids to physically write on?
- How will attendance be taken throughout the day? If a student misses a synchronous sign-in time will it be counted as a tardy, absence, etc.?
- Which platforms will be used in distance learning?
- How will the GT program (SPIRAL) for 3rd-5th graders that attend Bendwood for 1 day a week be supported in this distance learning model?
- How can parents access extra services or facilitators that can help with students needing additional supports?
- How will speech therapy and in-classroom support look with distance learning?
- Will there be a way for parents to track student progress?
What will the schedule for grades K – 5 look like?
Have teachers received specific training for online instruction?
If an online teacher is sick will there be trained substitutes available?
How many students will be in an online class?
Will students’ daily schedules be consistent so parents can plan ahead?
Will elementary students have a fixed online home room teacher?
Will SBISD provide any WiFi for students?
Will school day schedules match up for the instruction between siblings in different grades?
Will all learning and assignments be completed online, or will teachers distribute worksheets for the kids to physically write on?
How will attendance be taken throughout the day? If a student misses a synchronous sign-in time will it be counted as a tardy, absence, etc.?
Which platforms will be used in distance learning?
How will the GT program (SPIRAL) for 3rd-5th graders that attend Bendwood for 1 day a week be supported in this distance learning model?
How can parents access extra services or facilitators that can help with students needing additional supports?
How will speech therapy and in-classroom support look with distance learning?
Will there be a way for parents to track student progress?
Distance Learning (Middle School)
- Last year SBISD changed the start and end time for middle schools. Is that time change going to still happen?
- Where and when can parents get the needed textbooks and workbooks?
- Will attendance be taken each class period or just once in the morning?
- Who is the counselor at my school?
- Are students able to use their own computer or device instead of a district-provided Chromebook? Are there special requirements or software needed?
- What other computer gear may be needed for my child?
- Will SBISD provide any WiFi for students?
- Will teachers also have personal blogs or will all contact from teachers be through ItsLearning?
- What happens if student has IT issues/WiFi connection issues and misses part of a lesson?
- Can parents get an ItsLearning login to help children manage assignments and expectations?
- Should parents be able to sign on to the parent portal of ItsLearning now?
- Do parents need to access ItsLearning through a computer and not the mobile phone app?
- When students participate in a lesson by writing out their answers, how are these answers getting back to the teachers?
- How will the small group breakouts look? Will those be via Zoom?
- Are there other digital tools aside from Zoom and ItsLearning?
- What other programs will be used for science?
- What is Clever?
- How will lab science experiments be done remotely?
- How will physical education classes work?
Last year SBISD changed the start and end time for middle schools. Is that time change going to still happen?
Where and when can parents get the needed textbooks and workbooks?
Will attendance be taken each class period or just once in the morning?
Who is the counselor at my school?
Are students able to use their own computer or device instead of a district-provided Chromebook? Are there special requirements or software needed?
What other computer gear may be needed for my child?
Will SBISD provide any WiFi for students?
Will teachers also have personal blogs or will all contact from teachers be through ItsLearning?
What happens if student has IT issues/WiFi connection issues and misses part of a lesson?
Can parents get an ItsLearning login to help children manage assignments and expectations?
Should parents be able to sign on to the parent portal of ItsLearning now?
Do parents need to access ItsLearning through a computer and not the mobile phone app?
When students participate in a lesson by writing out their answers, how are these answers getting back to the teachers?
How will the small group breakouts look? Will those be via Zoom?
Are there other digital tools aside from Zoom and ItsLearning?
What other programs will be used for science?
What is Clever?
How will lab science experiments be done remotely?
How will physical education classes work?
In-Person Learning
- Will in-person learning include some distance learning, too?
- Will secondary student schedules look the same for in-person vs. distance learning?
- If my child returns to in-person learning at the end of a grading period, will my child's teachers change?
- Will elementary GT students still go to Bendwood each week?
- What would happen to a student’s in-person class schedule if it is necessary to temporarily stay home due to a positive case in the family?
Will in-person learning include some distance learning, too?
Will secondary student schedules look the same for in-person vs. distance learning?
If my child returns to in-person learning at the end of a grading period, will my child's teachers change?
Will elementary GT students still go to Bendwood each week?
What would happen to a student’s in-person class schedule if it is necessary to temporarily stay home due to a positive case in the family?
Technology
- Will all secondary students continue to be provided a device?
- Will all elementary students be provided a device?
- How will students receive after-hours technology support such as network password reset?
- Will the district provide a device and network access to students whose families chose distance learning for their children?
Will all secondary students continue to be provided a device?
Will all elementary students be provided a device?
How will students receive after-hours technology support such as network password reset?
Will the district provide a device and network access to students whose families chose distance learning for their children?
Transportation
- Will bus routes and schedules be the same as prior years?
- Will students still be picked up if they live within two miles of school?
- How many students will be allowed to sit in a seat?
- Will masks be required on buses?
- Will there be hand sanitizer on buses?
- Will buses be sanitized before and/or after every route?
- Will students from the same family be required to sit together?
- Will transportation for WAIS and Cornerstone be the same as in the past?
Will bus routes and schedules be the same as prior years?
Will students still be picked up if they live within two miles of school?
How many students will be allowed to sit in a seat?
Will masks be required on buses?
Will there be hand sanitizer on buses?
Will buses be sanitized before and/or after every route?
Will students from the same family be required to sit together?
Will transportation for WAIS and Cornerstone be the same as in the past?
Athletics & Fine Arts
- Are students who are enrolled in the Distance Learning model allowed to participate in athletics?
- Has the UIL made any changes to the athletic schedule for the 2020-2021 school year?
- Are students who are enrolled in the Distance Learning model allowed to participate in cheerleading?
- Has the UIL made changes to the 2020-21 cheerleading schedule?
- Will students who are enrolled in the Distance Learning model be allowed to participate in Fine Arts Extra Curricular Activities?
- Has the UIL has made changes to the fine arts schedule for the 2020-2021 school year?
- Varsity Football - General FAQs
- Sub-Varsity Football - General FAQs
- Volleyball - General FAQs
Are students who are enrolled in the Distance Learning model allowed to participate in athletics?
Has the UIL made any changes to the athletic schedule for the 2020-2021 school year?
Are students who are enrolled in the Distance Learning model allowed to participate in cheerleading?
Has the UIL made changes to the 2020-21 cheerleading schedule?
Will students who are enrolled in the Distance Learning model be allowed to participate in Fine Arts Extra Curricular Activities?
Has the UIL has made changes to the fine arts schedule for the 2020-2021 school year?
Varsity Football - General FAQs
Sub-Varsity Football - General FAQs
Volleyball - General FAQs
Visitors & Volunteers
- Will visitors be allowed in schools and district buildings? Appointments required? Health screeners?
- Will mentors be able to visit students in person?
- Will classroom volunteers be allowed?
- Will PTAs or Sister Schools be allowed to provide teacher appreciation opportunities?
- Will PTA volunteers be able to provide on-campus volunteer support (ie, in the front office or Library)?