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Updated on July 23, 2020
Return to Learn FAQs
While Aldine ISD is pleased that our schools will be open this fall, the district is also preparing for the possibility that further closures may become necessary should the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases continue to rise in the community. AISD teachers and staff are ready to deliver online instruction should that situation arise.
Aldine ISD will continue to closely monitor the situation and take guidance from the Texas Department of State Health Services and the CDC. Aldine encourages everyone to be mindful of key preventive measures, including wearing masks and thoroughly washing hands.
Instruction
The first day for all students regardless of the instruction model — Learning On Campus option or Learning At Home option — is Monday, August 17. The health, safety, and well-being of students and staff are top priorities. Aldine ISD is constantly monitoring CDC, local, and state guidelines. If any new rules or guidelines are released, the date may be adjusted.
After reviewing surrounding district calendars, the information provided by the Texas Education Agency, and input from the calendar committee, the district has determined that it will operate under the approved 2020-2021 academic calendar. The calendar exceeds the state’s requirements for the minimum number of minutes. Those minutes can be used to accommodate school cancellations.
AISD understands the unique circumstances surrounding COVID-19. The district will offer two options for instruction to provide quality education to students. Families can choose the option that meets their needs.
Learning On-Campus Option: This option will consist of in-person instruction, which includes face-to-face, in-classroom learning using safety protocols to protect students and staff. The in-person instruction will be held Monday through Friday. Students will also complete projects and assignments online, making it easy to transition to virtual learning should there be a need to cancel school or limit access to a campus building.
- Students will have a traditional schedule that includes core courses and electives
- Students will receive daily, specific feedback from their teachers; any activities completed online via Schoology will also receive feedback
- Students will follow a standard grading policy (minimum of one grade/week/course)
- Students will take all district assessments online
- Additional support for the social-emotional needs of students
- Students who require support (e.g., special education, English language learners) and interventions will receive them in person
Learning At Home Option: This option is entirely virtual and requires students to have a consistent online presence to complete their assignments. Students who enroll in the Learning At Home option will be required to log in daily and complete assignments online. Some courses may not be available virtually.
- Students and families can manage their schedule to include core courses and a limited number of electives
- Teachers will provide daily feedback via Schoology activities and chats
- Students will follow a standard grading policy (minimum of one grade/week/course)
- All district assessments will be taken online
- Additional support for the social-emotional needs of students
- Consistent and robust internet access is required; students will have the opportunity to request a loaner device (laptop/Chromebook)
- Students who require support (e.g., special education, English language learners) and interventions will receive those via video conferencing based on the Aldine ISD recommendations.
The online instruction planned for the upcoming school year is rigorous and engaging. Trained teachers will conduct classes through virtual learning tools. It is an evolution of the at-home learning that was offered last spring.
Health and Safety
Face coverings are required for all students and staff while inside the building unless medically exempt. Staff members can use see-through face shields in situations where facial recognition and cues are essential, especially for younger children and those students who may have special needs.
Each Aldine ISD campus has its own unique floor plan and needs. As such, each school is designing and developing a plan to address social distancing throughout the buildings and in each classroom. The plans are specifically designed to accommodate the needs of each school and will be based on the building’s layout and the number of students who choose to attend in-person learning.
Aldine’s custodial staff will thoroughly clean all school buildings and district facilities multiple times throughout the day and again after school has concluded. High-touch and high-traffic areas will be monitored closely. AISD will encourage all students and staff members to use hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes available throughout each building.
No. Temperature checks of asymptomatic students at school are not recommended. Medical experts have determined temperature checks as ineffective in identifying those who may have the virus.
All nurses and campus designees are constantly receiving guidance and updates from health officials, including the CDC, related to health screening and evaluation protocols. Teachers and nurses will keep a close watch on any student who reports to the campus or clinic with fever or flu-like symptoms. If a student has a temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, the staff will call parents to pick up their child.
All employees and students will be expected to maintain social distancing, six-foot physical distance, to the greatest extent possible. Aldine ISD custodial services will routinely clean and disinfect all district facilities, including cleaning frequently touched objects and surfaces with hospital-grade cleaner, which is effective against multiple disease-causing viruses and bacteria. Extra hand sanitizer will also be available at all Aldine ISD campuses. All schools will also have additional masks and gloves for students and staff who request them.
Aldine ISD staff will continue to educate our students, staff, and community members about the importance of frequent hand washing; covering a cough or sneeze; not touching one’s eyes, nose, and mouth; staying home when sick, and other measures to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
Aldine ISD will follow all guidance from TEA, including local, state, and federal health officials. At a minimum, the building will be cleaned again and sanitized. Steps will be taken to trace contacts and notify staff and families about possible exposure to the virus and screen for symptoms. The school could remain open unless there are extenuating circumstances.
Yes, immunizations are required. The Texas Department of State Health Services has not waived the vaccine requirements for students.
Please know that the health, safety, and well-being of students and staff are at the top of AISD’s Core Beliefs. Aldine is taking every advised precautionary measure to keep all students and staff safe. It is the responsibility of the entire community to ensure all students and staff are safe and healthy. Teachers and staff will be required to complete a self-screening for COVID-19 symptoms before entering a district facility each day. That screen includes employees checking their temperature.
Parents and legal guardians can help by keeping children home who are sick. Under TEA guidelines issued on July 8, if a child that exhibits any COVID-19 symptoms, the child cannot return to school until at least 14 days have passed since symptoms first appeared, and at least three days (72 hours) have passed since recovery (resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications); and the individual has improvement in symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, etc.). All lab-confirmed positive COVID cases should be reported to Health Services as soon as possible.
If children are sick, they should not be at school. Students need to be fever-free for 72 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medications, before returning to class after an illness. Keeping children home when they are sick is critical to preventing the spread of any disease, including COVID-19.
Aldine ISD asks that parents and legal guardians keep sick children at home. If a student has been exposed to the virus from an ill relative, AISD will ask that parents and legal guardians do not send them to school until they are sure the child is not an asymptomatic carrier of the virus.
Every campus will have a nurse or administrator who will receive reports of COVID-19 cases and exposures. They will work with families and staff to determine the next steps based on guidance from the TEA, CDC, and local health officials.
As more is learned about COVID-19, families can expect changes to this health guidance. The district will inform families of any changes.
Every campus will have a nurse or administrator who will receive reports of COVID-19 cases and exposures. They will work with families and staff to determine the next steps based on guidance from the TEA, CDC, and local health officials.
Yes. Parents will be notified if contact tracing indicates that their child may have been exposed. It is the district’s protocol to inform the learning community or department of any reported case. Following FERPA and HIPPA guidelines, Aldine ISD will not share a student or employee’s name.
Yes. The district’s transportation team is working on a seating chart and schedule to enable buses to operate as safely as possible. Parents and legal guardians are encouraged to drop students off, carpool, or walk with their students to school to reduce potential virus exposure on buses.
Buses will be thoroughly cleaned after each bus trip, focusing on high-touch surfaces such as bus seats, steering wheels, knobs, and door handles.
Aldine has created universal signage for all buildings and facilities. The signage enforces policies and procedures for face masks, social distancing, handwashing, sanitizing. The district created directional signage for all visitors, staff members, and students.
The district will use CDC recommendations as they relate to restrooms, handwashing stations, and the use of bottle-filling stations, instead of water fountains. AISD has also installed hand-free sanitizing stations throughout campus buildings and district facilities. Additionally, you may see plexiglass partitions in high traffic areas to create additional methods for social distancing.
Yes. Staff and students who have recently had close contact with a person with COVID-19 should also stay home and monitor their health. For additional information on caring for a loved one with COVID-19, please visit the CDC website.
- Encourage your children to maintain social distancing.
- Teach children to wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
- Teach children to avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Teach your children how to cover their coughs and sneezes with a tissue and throw the tissue in the trash.
- If your child is sick, keep them at home and contact your healthcare provider. Talk with teachers about classroom assignments and activities they can do from home to keep up with their schoolwork.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects, like tables, countertops, light switches, doorknobs, and cabinet handles.
- Follow all recommendations from federal and local health authorities.
You can find additional information on preventing COVID-19 at How to Protect Yourself & Others.
Additional information on how COVID-19 is spread is available at How COVID-19 Spreads.
More information on Keeping Children Healthy during the COVID-19 Outbreak is available online.
No. The symptoms of COVID-19 are similar in children and adults. COVID-19 can look different in different people. For many people, being sick with COVID-19 would be a little bit like having the flu. People can get a fever, cough, or have a hard time taking deep breaths.
CDC and partners are investigating cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19. Learn more about COVID-19 and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).
Based on available evidence, children do not appear to be at higher risk for COVID-19 than adults. While some children and infants have been sick with COVID-19, adults make up most known cases. However, a few children have developed multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C). Currently, information about this syndrome is limited. CDC is working with state and local health departments to learn more about MIS-C.
All teachers will be provided with hand sanitizer.
Academic Programs and Extracurricular Activities
Primary school students will attend from 8:15 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.
Elementary school students will attend from 7:35 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Middle school, Lane, and Hall students will attend from 8:35 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Ninth grade and high school students will attend from 7:00 a.m. to 2:35 p.m.
**Goodman ACE and Worsham ACE will attend from 7:35 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
**Drew and Houston will attend from 7:00 a.m. to 2:35 p.m.
**Reece and Anderson will attend from 8:45 a.m. to 4:10 p.m.
Yes. Families will always have the option to move into the At-Home Learning model. Students who are ill or have been exposed to the virus will be moved into this option until it is safe for them to return to school.
Learning On Campus Option
Primary school students will attend from 8:15 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.
Elementary school students will attend from 7:35 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Middle school and Hall students will attend from 8:35 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Ninth grade and high school students will attend from 7:00 a.m. to 2:35 p.m.
**Goodman ACE and Worsham ACE will attend from 7:35 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
**Drew and Houston will attend from 7:00 a.m. to 2:35 p.m.
**Reece and Anderson will attend from 8:45 a.m. to 4:10 p.m.
** Lane, Lane Compliance and GAP will attend from 7:05 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Yes. Families will always have the option to move into the At-Home Learning model. Students who are ill or have been exposed to the virus will be moved into this option until it is safe for them to return to school.
Due to the pandemic, Aldine ISD’s standardized dress requirement (wearing of uniforms) is suspended for the 2020-2021 school year. Students will be expected to wear appropriate clothing in accordance with the district adopted dress code guidelines.
Each campus is designing and developing plans to minimize, as feasible, the number of students in the hallways during passing periods. The plans will be specifically designed to accommodate the needs of each school and will be based on the building’s layout and the number of students who attend in-person learning.
Continuity in personalized support for students served in special education will be provided appropriately for face-to-face learning at school or the virtual learning environment, as determined by each student’s individual education plan.
Our Child Nutrition Department has designed plans to provide physical distancing options for students in the classroom, cafeteria, outside, and other areas of the building for lunch. Additionally, Child Nutrition Services is developing plans to minimize lines and expedite food service with grab and go options. These plans are based on the layout of each campus and is based on the number of students who select in-person learning.
A plan is being devised to distribute technology devices before August 10, 2020. Additional information is forthcoming regarding the distribution process.
Yes. Students will have the ability to bring their lunch from home. Aldine ISD encourages students who bring their lunch to not share or trade lunch items with other students.
For the safety of our school communities, Aldine is restricting visitors to campuses. Visitors, including parents and legal guardians, are limited to essential campus visits only and will be required to complete a COVID screening before entering a school.
Yes. Outdoor play and learning will be encouraged as public health conditions allow. However, to minimize the potential spread on surfaces, playground equipment will not be used.
Learning At Home Option
The Learning At Home option is entirely virtual and requires students to have a consistent online presence to complete their assignments. Aldine ISD is investigating the best way to assist families in accessing online learning platforms and lessons via the internet. The district is working with local officials and service providers to provide greater broadband access.
Aldine ISD is committed to providing access to University Interscholastic League (UIL) activities such as athletics, performing and visual arts, and small-group career and technology education (CTE) instruction as permitted by health conditions. UIL guidelines will be implemented as updates are released and appropriately modified for the district if needed.
Aldine is developing a process that would allow remote learning students to opt back into on-campus learning (in-person instruction). They will be able to change their option at the end of each marking period (nine weeks) if space and staffing allow.
The district uses Schoology as its learning management system, which can be accessed through the at-home learning site, AldineLearns.com. Technology support will be provided in multiple languages to ensure families and students are successfully using these tools. The at-home learning website will also have student’s online textbooks, intervention programs, and instructional resources aligned to their curriculum.
Yes. Students enrolled in the At-Home Learning model will follow the same grading guidelines as the On-Campus option. Grades will count toward GPA, class rank, and UIL eligibility.
Aldine ISD teachers will provide online instruction. All teachers, regardless of subject taught or level, will participate in specialized professional development during the summer.
Daily attendance is required. Students will be expected to log in to Schoology daily and complete lessons and assignments. In addition, students who are struggling or have failing grades may be required to participate in scheduled instructional sessions with their teacher.
Attendance will be taken daily at the district’s designated attendance time. Teachers will take attendance virtually. Students will be marked present when they meet one of the three required daily progress measures, which are:
- Interacting with the teacher
- Progress on lessons within Schoology
- Submitting an assignment
Students must be engaged in learning each day. They must show progress and submit assignments daily to be marked present. Teachers will provide daily instruction and support to students in all grade levels. The actual time online will vary depending on a student’s grade level and specific classes they are taking.
Students who opt for remote learning will be assigned a teacher or teachers just as if they were coming to campus. Aldine is continuing to provide professional development opportunities for educators who will be supporting our students in a remote environment.
Where possible, teachers providing remote instruction will do so from a classroom setting. They have access to instructional materials and resources.
Should public health conditions warrant the district moving into Phase 1, all classes would be held remotely. All of our educators will be prepared to teach online.
Yes. The district will continue to meet all state and federal requirements concerning special education, even in a remote environment.
Aldine ISD will follow all Texas Education Agency (TEA) mandates concerning STAAR testing and accountability. Currently, TEA has scheduled STAAR tests for the spring semester.
Yes. Aldine will be providing district-issued Chromebooks to students. Information to request a district device will be available soon.
The district understands that the lack of home internet can be an issue. As an interim solution, Aldine has extended the wireless network to all district building parking lots for external connectivity. AISD has also purchased a limited number of wireless hotspot devices that families can check out.
Aldine ISD is planning video tutorials as well as opportunities for training. The district knows it’s important for all parents and legal guardians to feel comfortable with the online learning environment that our students will be using.
AISD will continue to provide a help desk phone line to support parents and students that need assistance.
The district recognizes that many students need interaction with other students and staff to thrive academically and socially. Aldine will be staffing a health phone line to assist families with counseling and mental health concerns. School counselors will also be reaching out to virtual/remote learners regularly.
Regardless of whether students choose in-person or online learning, all students will have access to athletics and other UIL activities pending health guidelines and local conditions.
All students will have the opportunity to participate fully in the CTE and fine arts courses of their choice, either in-person or virtually. Many statewide competitions have already implemented plans for students to compete virtually.
Nutritious meals are essential for learning, so the district will continue to provide distribution of meals to families who are choosing to learn at home. AISD will likely continue the same schedule it has been following in recent months but will provide more details as the start of the school year draws closer.
Grades will be taken during each grading cycle of the 2020-2021 school year. Teachers will be recording grades, which will be available for parents and students to access through the Home Access Center (HAC).
Considerations for grading homework are still being finalized.
Teachers will be expected to measure student progress by grading at least two assignments per week (daily grades) and one assessment or project per 3-weeks (considered major grades). All 9-week cycle grades and semester exams, as applicable, will be used in the calculation of the average for any class. Semester exams will be administered for all secondary school courses.
Teachers will post grades on a weekly basis.
Grades will be available for parents and students to access through the Home Access Center (HAC).
Dual credit or dual enrollment courses will be subject to the grading policies of the Institution of Higher Education (IHE) issuing the college credit.
At-home learning option students will be assigned a second period/homeroom. Student attendance will be recorded at 1 p.m. in the homeroom course. Students are by default recorded present. Teachers will mark students absent if they fail to log into their Schoology second period/homeroom class by 1:00 p.m.
Suppose a student is engaged in remote learning and completes the entire week’s learning activities on Monday and does not log in for the remainder of the week. In that case, he or she will be marked “present” on Monday only and counted “absent” for Tuesday-Friday.
State law TEC 25.092 and Aldine ISD Policy still require students to attend at least 90% of their classes to receive credit and be promoted. Remote attendance will count in the same manner as on-campus (face-to-face or in-person instruction) attendance in satisfying this requirement.
Students who are engaged in daily at-home learning, as defined below will be considered “present” and will not be marked absent:
- Participation in Schoology — This is the Aldine ISD Learning Management System (LMS), or completion of independent assignments.
- Interaction with the Teacher — Students will interact with the teacher via Google Meet as part of live or small group instruction. When students are unable to submit assignments via Schoology, they can submit assignments via emails, photos, phone conferences, or other documentation forms.
- Submission of assignments via Schoology.
Parents and students will receive absence notifications via Blackboard Messenger after 3:00 p.m. each day. They will be reminded of the opportunity to resolve that day’s absence if the student engages in learning before 11:59 p.m. of the same day.
Any absence recorded, but resolved by the student logging into Schoology by 11:59 p.m. on the same day, will be automatically reconciled based on login records of Schoology. Suppose the student engages in daily learning with a teacher, but not in Schoology, by 11:59 p.m. that same day. The teacher will notify the attendance office the next workday to resolve the previous day’s absence.
Counseling
Counselors are available to support students academically, socially, and emotionally and provide mental health support or resources for families that may be struggling emotionally. Access to schedule a meeting with an Aldine ISD counselor or social worker or to find a list of local counseling-based resources can be found on our district website.
Counselors will communicate with online learners through email, phone and the Schoolinks platform A list of school counselor emails can be found on our district website.
Staff
A teacher’s assignment will be determined based on student enrollment in the two learning models. All teachers and staff, both virtual teachers and in-person, will report to an Aldine ISD campus to lead instruction, whether virtual or in-person.
It is important to recognize that the pandemic has impacted each staff member differently. All staff members have access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). This is a free and confidential service that allows employees to seek counseling and guidance on a variety of issues, including mental and emotional concerns.
Masks are required for all students and staff while inside the building unless medically exempt. Staff members will use see-through face shields in situations where facial recognition and cues are essential, especially for younger children and those students who may have special needs.
The process for requesting accommodations includes:
- The employee must send an email to the accommodations mailbox at [email protected]
- The interactive process and respond to the employee’s email and provide the employee with the application to request accommodations.
- A committee will review the accommodations requested and will render a decision.
- HR will notify the employee and the campus/department leader of the decision.
Child Nutrition Services
Breakfast and lunch will be provided to all students learning at home through Curbside Meal Service. Designated school sites, days and times for available pick up will be communicated on the district and Child Nutrition website prior to August 17.
- Meal payment will be based on student eligibility.
- Student ID’s are required for meal pick up.
- Parents are encouraged to use SchoolCafe.com for prepayments to provide student meal money instead of using cash.
Students Learning On Campus in Grades 1 – 12 will be provided meal service through a number of methods.
- Mobile Breakfast – mobile carts will be stationed throughout each school to practice social distancing and speed service. Students will choose their breakfast items and then travel to the classroom or designated location.
- Limited Dining Room Seating – a limited number of students may dine in the cafeteria at specific tables that will be marked utilizing social distancing.
- Cafeteria to Classroom – students will enter the cafeteria using social distancing floor markers and make their lunch selection then travel back to the classroom transporting their food in closed containers.
Primary Students (PK-K) will have meals delivered to the classroom and utilize limited dining room seating.
Special Diets will be accommodated for students with a medical disability or allergy as long as Child Nutrition has a doctor’s note on file. Managers at the each meal site will prepare the meal and set it aside for the students with a disability/allergy.
All food prepared and served through the Child Nutrition program must meet safety standards such as proper storage, production, holding and service. Required food temperatures are taken multiple times for hot and cold food to ensure safety.
Child Nutrition staff are screened daily with temperature scanning tools. Any employee with COVID-19 symptoms or exposure may not report to work. All staff will use face shields, facial coverings and gloves when performing job responsibilities and are trained to practice health and hygiene regulations. All kitchens and cafeterias are cleaned and sanitized daily. All cafeterias, serving and dining areas are cleaned between uses. Social distancing is practiced by all Child Nutrition staff when performing job responsibilities.
Breakfast is free for all Aldine ISD students throughout the school year. Payment for lunch meals served during the 2020-2021 school year will depend on individual student eligibility. All meals served during the school year will not be free of charge as they were during the summer.
P-EBT was established by federal legislation as a benefit during the pandemic. It is not connected to Child Nutrition programs and will not be in place.
Breakfast – No cost for all students
Lunch – Primary and Elementary – $2.00
Lunch – Middle and High School – $2.25
Reduced Price Lunch – All levels – $.40
All menus can be found on the Child Nutrition website at SchoolCafe.com.
Payments can be made in the school cafeteria or online at SchoolCafe.com. Please visit www.SchoolCafe.com to register.
Money deposited to a student’s meal account is tied to their ID number that remains the same for every grade level. The money remains in the account unless a refund is requested.
Please visit www.SchoolCafe.com to apply for free or reduced-price meals.
A new meal application or categorical approval is required each school year. Families are given 30 school days to apply before last year’s approval expires. Free or reduced approvals from the 2019-20 school year will expire on September 28, 2020. If a new application is not approved by that date, meals will be full price on September 29, 2020.
Call the Child Nutrition office for help in English or Spanish at 281-985-6450 or 281-985-6441.
A meal application that is approved qualifies meals as free or reduced-price from the day it is approved on. This means meals charged in the past before the meal application was approved are not covered. It is very important to apply as soon as possible for meal benefits.
