Editor's Note: This story that ran in print reflects Carroll ISD news as of July 23. Click here to read the most recent updates to school instruction in the fall.
School will look different for Dragons this fall. After Tarrant County issued an executive order in late July limiting on-campus instruction, school districts have worked to pivot their curriculum to an online setting — including Carroll ISD. As students, parents, teachers and staff continue to transition into a new normal, here’s what you can expect when lessons boot up online later this month.
Online Only
According to the executive order issued by Tarrant County on July 21, schools will roll out online-only instruction until at least September 28. Exemptions include special education students, students with disabilities, students who have limited internet connection in their households and private religious schools.
In-person instruction may only occur on campus when facial covering is worn by individuals’ mouth and nose, and social distancing is observed by at least 6 feet. School districts are also required to submit a written plan for oncampus instruction to the health department by at least two weeks before returning to campus in late September.
“My No. 1 priority is the health and safety of our students, teachers and staff,” Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath says in a previous press release. “The state is and remains committed to providing a high-quality education to all Texas students while ensuring the health and safety of students, teachers, staff and families.”
Camera Ready
Carroll ISD spent the summer finalizing several back-to-school plans. One of the first proactive steps was purchasing AVer 520 conference cameras and installing them in 669 spaces across the district’s 11 campuses. These will allow teachers to deliver virtual instruction to students from their classrooms in real time through the new Dragon Virtual Academy, which the district will roll out in August.
Students will be able to utilize the platform for their own learning as well. While third through 12th grades will allow for more interaction and class presentations through Zoom, grades pre-K through second will incorporate a mix of asynchronous and synchronous learning, allowing students to learn at their own pace through pre-recorded videos.
The district is also pursuing a five-day delay to start school so teachers can get acclimated with the program.
Welcome Back
Once the executive order expires, students who opt in can transition from a virtual setting to a physical one in the classroom — unless an extension to the order is issued. After in-person instruction begins, CISD leadership has stated it will be prepared to welcome back its students safely.
“Our focus right now is on the delivery of a robust online instructional experience that will kick-start the 2020-2021 school year, bringing us all closer to the day when we can welcome your children back to their classrooms for in-person learning,” the district says in a statement.