On June 17, the Leander ISD Board of Trustees approved the remote learning option for next school year for interested families.
LISD expects to fund the $2.8 million, one-year program with federal stimulus or ESSER funding. The state of Texas will not provide funding for students in 100% virtual learning next school year.
Hundreds of LISD families who expressed an interest in remote learning will have that option in 2021–22 after the board approved a framework to provide 100% remote learning for PreK thru 12th-grade students to start the school year.
Other plan details include:
- a minimum commitment of one semester;
- special education/504, gifted services provided;
- all courses necessary to fulfill basic promotion and/or graduation requirements offered;
- limited advanced and elective course offerings; and
- secondary students are not eligible to participate in extracurricular activities offered on home campus.
Based on vaccine distribution, low COVID-19 transmission rates in classrooms, and guidance and rules set by TEA, LISD believes that the best opportunity for most students is to learn in-person with their teacher at LISD campuses. In keeping with its mission to partner with families and create safe and supportive environments to nurture each student’s personal growth, LISD believes it is important to offer this remote learning option.
The move to offer virtual learning comes on the heels of legislation that failed to pass in the most recent Texas legislative session that would have funded a remote option for students. The district has applied for a waiver to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) requesting standard funding for students who attend school in remote instruction.
In a survey conducted May 18 to the present, 504 students from 356 LISD families expressed a medical need for a remote learning option for 2021–22. LISD staff will be in contact with these families to gather more information as it begins hiring remote staff.