On Monday, Leander ISD shared a letter with state education and political leaders requesting that LISD be allowed to suspend in-person instruction and begin the school year with 100% online instruction for all K-12 students.
According to the letter shared July 13, LISD would reopen the schools once the weekly hospitalization rate for coronavirus is five patients or less.
That is the acceptable rate for a Stage 2 opening set by the Austin-Travis County public health agency.
In addition to 100% online learning to start the school year, LISD is also requesting the suspension of STAAR testing and the A-F letter-grade system for the 2020-21 school year. The letter also requests additional funding and classroom size flexibility.
The LISD Board of Trustees and Superintendent sent a letter to Governor Greg Abbott, Texas Education Agency (TEA) Commissioner Mike Morath, the chairmen of the state’s public education committees, and the elected state representatives for our district.
In the letter, we are asking for the following items:
- suspension of in-person school and allowance for 100% virtual learning until the seven-day hospitalization average is five or less, the threshold set by the Austin-Travis County public health agency for a stage 2 response;
- flexibility to realistically minimize classroom ratios and provide social distancing;
- the suspension of STAAR and the A-F state accountability system for the 2020-21 school year;
- additional funding to supplement costs incurred by districts to provide safe and effective learning; and
- a commitment to allocate current or future federal money specified for schools as a supplement to existing funding commitments by the state.
Round Rock ISD and Pflugerville ISD also sent letters.