Due to Senate Bill 15, while Texas school districts are not required to offer a virtual learning option, school districts can receive full funding for local remote learning delivered in a synchronous, asynchronous or a combination format for grades K-12 under given parameters, according to the district.
Applications at PISD will be accepted from Sept. 22-26, and acceptance into the program is based on the availability of space and instructional staff at each grade level, according to the news release.
In addition, if applications exceed teacher capacity, students who meet the application deadline will be chosen by a lottery system, and any virtual learning option will be dependent on final enrollment numbers, according to the news release.
The virtual learning option is a nine-week commitment, and PISD will only provide minimum services to meet promotion requirements, according to the news release. Temporary virtual learners will be assigned a PISD teacher who could be from a different campus than the student’s school during the program.
According to the news release, students will be denied from temporary remote learning program if they have had one or more of the following:
- excessive absences;
- did not achieve satisfactory on a 2021 STAAR exam (for students in fourth, fifth or sixth grade);
- did not earn a grade of a C or higher in each of the following classes: math, science, social studies or reading/language arts;
- disciplinary infractions; or
- limited academic progress during the previous school year(s).
Students in the virtual program must comply with PISD’s student code of conduct and acceptable use guidelines regarding technology, maintain at least a 90% attendance and remain in good disciplinary standing, according to the news release.
For more information and to get to the application form for the program, visit PISD’s website.
