Updated COVID-19 safety guidelines were released July 29 in anticipation of the coming school year by Round Rock ISD. With more information available to the district than in fall 2020, the fall 2021 guidelines are slightly different than previous guidance regarding COVID-19.

Per these guidelines, which have been posted to the district website, students are encouraged but not required to wear masks, as an Executive Order from Gov. Greg Abbott has outlawed the mandate of mask wearing by school districts. However, the district has previously stated that masks will be encouraged among students and staff.

If students are symptomatic, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated or not, the district is asking parents to keep them at home. School nurses will also be able to provide clinical assessments for students who begin presenting symptoms of COVID-19 "in a way that is not normal for them," according to the district. They will then be asked to quarantine at home for 10 days before returning to school but may return early with a doctor's note giving an alternate diagnosis or stating that symptoms are not related to the virus, or a negative COVID-19 test.

Other guidance is available for different situations students will encounter at school this semester, such as distanced seating arrangements in compliance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, transportation, pick-up and drop-off among many others.

According to the district, it will adjust guidance to prevailing conditions, and enforce prevention measures and strategies to the extent that they do not conflict with Texas law.