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On Monday, Midland ISD will reveal during a school board meeting its model under which students and teachers will re-enter school on Aug. 19. The virtual meeting is set for noon and will be streamed on the district’s website.
lessPhoto: James DurbinOn Monday, Midland ISD will reveal during a school board meeting its model under which students and teachers will re-enter school on Aug. 19. The virtual meeting is set for noon and will be streamed on the
... more
On Monday, Midland ISD will reveal during a school board meeting its model under which students and teachers will re-enter school on Aug. 19. The virtual meeting is set for noon and will be streamed on the district’s website.
lessOn Monday, Midland ISD will reveal during a school board meeting its model under which students and teachers will re-enter school on Aug. 19. The virtual meeting is set for noon and will be streamed on the
... moreMonday is a big day for students and teachers.
On that day, Midland ISD will reveal during a school board meeting its model under which students and teachers will re-enter school on Aug. 19. The virtual meeting is set for noon and will be streamed on the district’s website.
There are three models Midland ISD officials will use – an on-campus instruction model, a blended instruction model and at-home instruction model. Each model features an option for families to enroll in the Midland ISD Online Academy – a 100 percent online option.
The determining factor will be the level of coronavirus “community spread,” the district said. A “low” level or “no” level of community spread will allow for on-campus learning. Should there be a “moderate” level, MISD would employ blended-learning instruction. A “high” level of community spread would trigger “at-home instruction for all students,” them district said.
Midland ISD will consult with local health authorities including the Midland Health Department and Midland Memorial Hospital about COVID-19 spread. The Midland Health Department has reported the two highest weekly coronavirus case totals over the last two weeks. There have been 790 confirmed coronavirus cases, an average of 395 a week or 56.4 a day.
There also is a Texas Education Agency option for re-entry that allows for the school year to begin with up to four weeks of virtual (at-home) instruction.
“What is right for Midland is what these groups that I mentioned (MMH, the health department, the CDC, the community through surveys – and the information they provide) making that determination,” MISD Chief of Staff Katie Atkins said.
What teachers and families told MISD
A survey recently sent out to teachers and families provided MISD officials information about support for online learning heading into the school year and teacher apprehension about going back into the classroom. The survey showed that more than 60 percent of the 2,082 MISD staff responding are either extremely concerned (39.4 percent) or moderately concerned (27.1 percent) with the impact of COVID-19 in relation to the on-campus learning/working environment.
It also showed 65.2 percent of 2,086 responding staff would support a fully virtual launch to the school year. Of the 13,690 responses from families, more than 50.6 percent are interested in a full-time virtual learning option.
The district also will start the school year with the Midland ISD Online Academy for those interested in a long-term virtual learning environment for their child. A family has the option to exit the online academy and return to on-campus instruction every six weeks -- the end of each grading period.
Atkins said last week that the difference in online learning last spring and this school year will be structure.
Atkins told the Reporter-Telegram that along with the flexibility of a virtual learning environment, people also want structure and students need feedback. She said those are “key to having successful learning outcomes.”
“So that that’s been a big lesson learned, is how do we ensure it’s true engagement and make sure that learning is occurring,” Atkins said, “not just clickety clicking through an assignment, getting it done, turning it in and getting a grade or a progress measure engagement, but what does engagement truly look like?”
The district states that attendance will be counted through daily engagement.
Achievement in COVID-19 environment
Atkins talked about the challenges for a district working to improve academically during the pandemic. She said it will be important for teachers and school officials to gauge students’ emotional and social needs, because quality academic learning cannot take place until officials realize where students are on those fronts.
Along with identifying a student’s readiness, there will be a need to see the skills that students have relative to where they should be academically.
“Where do we need them to be and how do we get them there?” are questions Atkins said will be asked. There are worries about a “summer slide” on top of a “COVID slide” from last spring.
“I think we have to approach this with a positive and realistic expectation of support,” Atkins said.
What is taking place in the classroom will be intentionally aligned with what those essential standards are, Atkins said.
Midland ISD has struggled when it comes to academic performance. While there weren’t Texas Education Agency ratings for the 2019-20 school year, MISD trailed when it came to the district’s own Lone Star Governance goals.
“We have to be really focused on building capacity and having students delve deeper into those – what we call essential standards – to really accelerate that learning,” Atkins said.
What happens Monday
Midland ISD staff and families will learn Monday what re-entry will look like. That includes the type of instruction, where it will happen, how often some students will come to class and other necessary information in a coronavirus setting.
Midland ISD officials have stated that students in pre-K through second grade will be on campus Monday through Friday whether the district is in “on-campus instruction” or “blended-learning instruction.” The same can be said for self-contained Life Skills classes and self-contained autism classes.
District officials said that if extracurricular activities take place, students can participate whether they are on campus or part of the online academy.
“We’ve been able to capture what are some of these frequently asked questions, and then build some responses,” Atkins said of the re-entry document on the district’s website. “So those are there as well. And really, there (are) so many questions that people have about a range of topics. So, we’re continuing to evolve that document.”
The agenda for Monday’s special school board meeting includes an item that calls for the approval of a waiver that allows for 40 percent campus hybrid instruction for students in grades nine through 12.
Agenda documents state the blended model of instruction includes students attending in-person either Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday in student cohorts, while participating at-home on alternating days in the asynchronous model of instruction. Learning for all students on Friday will be online.
“Challenges with technology on asynchronous days will be mitigated by issuing devices and hotspots in a similar model to those provided during spring 2020 instruction,” according to the district. “Campuses will work with families with students in multiple grade levels to ensure all students in the same family attend on the same day.”
Midland ISD survey
Staff
--Please indicate your level of concern with impact of COVID-19 in relation to the on-campus learning/working environment.
Extremely concerned: 39.4 percent
Moderately concerned 27.1 percent
Somewhat concerned: 14 percent
Slightly concerned 12 percent
Not concerned at all 7.4 percent
Note: 2,082 responses
--If the current level of COVID-19 in Texas remains at similar levels in August, to what extent would you support a fully virtual launch to the school year (with no delay in start date, and transition to in-person learning later on)?
Support: 65.2 percent
Oppose: 16 percent
Neither support or oppose: 12.1 percent
Not sure: 6.7 percent
Note: 2,086 responses
Parents
--Students’ access to devices
My student has sole access to a learning device: 53.3 percent
My student has access to a learning device: 31.4 percent
My student does not have access to a learning device: 15.4 percent
Note: 13,647 responses
--Students’ access to WiFi/internet
My student has access to WiFi/internet on a Chromebook, tablet, laptop or computer: 82.4 percent
My student has access to WiFi/internet, but only via a mobile device 12. 4 percent
My student does not have access to WiFi/internet: 5.2 percent
Note: 13,634 responses
--Are you interested in a full-time virtual learning option for your student for the 20-21 school year?
Interested: 50.6 percent
Uninterested: 49.4 percent
Note: 13,690 responses
Re-entry scenarios
--On campus instruction
Would occur under a low or no level of COVID-19 community spread
All families would have the option to enroll in Midland ISD Online Academy
--Blended instruction
Would occur under a “moderate” level of COVID-19 community spread
This model uses both in-person instruction and virtual instruction
All families would have the option to enroll in Midland ISD Online Academy
--At-home instruction
Would occur under a “high” level of COVID-19 community spread
All families would have the option to enroll in Midland ISD Online Academy, regardless of the amount of time the district implements this model
--About on-campus instruction
Instruction: Face to face – to the extent possible, students maintain social distancing in classrooms
PPE: Students encouraged to use face mask/covering, temperature checks taken at entrances
Cleaning/sanitizing: Routinely use hand sanitizer and wash hands
Meal: Brown bag lunches taken to classrooms
Transportation: Temperature checks before entering bus; buses maximize fresh air exchange; touch surfaces regularly wiped down; cleaning and sanitizing daily
--About blended instruction
A Group (A-L): In-person Monday and Wednesday, virtual Tuesday and Thursday
B Group (M-Z): In-person Tuesday and Thursday, virtual Monday and Wednesday
Friday: All students participate in at-home instruction
Note: Students attending each day Monday through Friday (pre-K through second grade, self-contained Life Skills classes, self-contained autism)
Note 2: Dyslexia instruction (only for duration of dyslexia intervention session), speech therapy (only for duration of speech therapy session).
--About at-home instruction
Instruction: Classes delivered via Google classroom
Technical support: WiFi hotspots and Chromebooks at home
Feedback: Beyond-class, on-going support
Meals: Grab and go
--Extracurricular activities
Students in Midland ISD Online Academy may also participate in extracurricular and co-curricular activities offered their campus
Students who participate in these activities must arrange to attend practices in-person
Online: midlandisd.net/fall2020
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Midland ISD to discuss re-entry policy - Midland Reporter-Telegram
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