On Tuesday, June 23, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) was to provide school districts across the state with important information regarding in-person instruction for the 2020–21 school year. During the call with districts, TEA provided models for remote instruction; however, it did not provide additional guidance regarding in-person instruction. TEA is examining the public health situation, working closely with the Governor’s Special Advisory Council, and continuing to monitor the rapidly changing landscape before it releases plans for in-person instruction for next year. The Agency has indicated it will provide further guidance at a later date, yet to be determined. 

Birdville ISD anticipates further guidance next week from the Texas Education Agency on returning to school in the fall. Once that information is received, District staff will use that information, along with what our community shared in our recent parent survey and other information, to decide what the return to school will look like for BISD in the fall. As soon as decisions are made, the District will share this information with our staff, parents and community, and post it on the District website.  

Birdville ISD would like to thank the families who took part in BISD’s Family Needs Survey.  The 5,519 surveys received will help District leaders plan for reopening school, meeting the needs of students, and understanding the concerns and challenges that are faced by our community.  What follows is a snapshot of information critical to this process. 

• Eighty-eight (88) percent of families were satisfied with the learning that took place during school closure in the spring of 2020. 
• While 64 percent of families reported a preference for a return to a traditional in-person school setting with health and safety precautions in place, 18 percent of families were unsure about a return, and 18 percent preferred a resumption of distance learning with a more robust curriculum and learning experience than was presented in the spring. 

• Of the families expressing concerns for a face-to-face return, 38 percent were likely to keep their children at home and expect online learning in the fall. 
• Sixty-five (65) percent of families expressed concern for the social and emotional well-being of their children at the start of the upcoming school year. 
• Ninety-eight (98) percent of the families reported that the District provided adequate communications to families during school closure. 

Additionally, families shared thousands of comments with ideas which focused on the following topics: 

• attending to the health and safety of children; 
• following the recommended CDC/TEA guidelines for reopening school;  
• transitioning to a single learning management system to simplify communications/instruction for online learning;  
• presenting a rigorous course of study;  
• addressing potential gaps in student learning;  
• providing social and emotional support to children; 
• addressing challenges to families if certain reopening scenarios were to be implemented; and 
• ensuring equitable access to technology.