AISD pulls the plug on remote learning

By Sandy Morris

Earlier in the year, the -COVID-19 pandemic basically gave Albany ISD students an extended spring break that ran through the end of the school year. 

Then, at the beginning of this school year, the Texas Education Agency allowed school districts to offer remote online learning to students who needed to be in quarantine or whose parents were not comfortable sending their children back to school. 

Albany ISD began the school year offering remote online learning to any student whose parents requested this option. 

According to AISD superintendent Jonathan  Scott, there have been three students participating in remote learning at the secondary level and 13 at the elementary level. 

AISD administrators and staff members have spent the first two six weeks of the school year evaluating the effectiveness of remote learning, and they have determined that remote learners are not progressing as effectively as their traditional on-campus peers. 

Last week, Scott sent a notice to all AISD families, notifying them of the suspension of the remote online learning option for the district at the end of this six weeks period. 

Beginning next Monday, Nov. 9, the first day of the third six weeks, students enrolled in Albany ISD will be required to report to their campus for traditional on-campus instruction.

Exceptions will be made for students who have been told to quarantine by their doctor, the state health officials, or by a school administrator or nurse, said Scott. 

Documentation must be provided to the campus administrator indicating the required quarantine or illness. 

“While the district believes traditional on-campus instruction is the best learning environment for the students, we are aware there are situations where face-to-face instruction may not be best for all students,” said Scott. 

Families who do not wish to send their children on campus for other reasons besides required quaratining will have to seek options outside of Albany ISD’s classes.

According to the letter, options for families to be able to fulfill the compulsory education laws include:

•Transferring to another public school or TEA accredited charter school that accepts remote online transfers.

•Homeschool education.

•Enrollment in an online school.

•Enrollment in a private school that offers a remote online option. 

Scott said this week that administrators have already been notified that a few students are choosing to either homeschool or attend school elsewhere. 

“The overwhelming majority of our remote learners are returning to the campus starting the third six weeks,” stated Scott. 

Scott also stated the district will assist parents in their decision-making process, if needed.