Friendswood ISD board of trustees approves virtual learning program modifications based on student grades, attendance

After consulting with district leaders, Friendswood ISD’s board of trustees approved many of the district’s proposed modifications to its virtual learning option at a Nov. 16 workshop.

Potential changes as presented at a Nov. 9 meeting included creating a more restrictive process for students to be able to learn virtually, adding some at-home learning days for all students to provide teachers with planning time, and adjusting the model for secondary virtual learning. All changes were approved, except for the addition of at-home learning days for elementary students.

After conversations with the district’s elementary principals and Dahria Driskell, executive director of special education, it was determined that at-home days would ultimately not benefit younger learners; teachers wanted more time in person with elementary students, officials said at the meeting.

“Both of these allow for sustainability through the remainder of the year for our teaching staff,” Superintendent Thad Roher said, referring to the two meeting agenda items dealing with remote and asynchronous learning.

All secondary students will have a total of eight asynchronous learning days over the course of the rest of the year under the new approved system. These days will be structured using the same platforms as usual but will be considered at-home days to give teachers necessary planning and preparation time. Initially, the district also proposed adding two at-home days for elementary learners.

“You can expect your kids to be in school while they're at home that day, and there may be a situation where a teacher will want to touch base [synchronously],” Roher said.

At the secondary level, the changes also give instructors more freedom each week to choose which days will be taught synchronously and asynchronously. Teachers will provide a minimum of two synchronous experiences per week with the revised system. These changes are meant to alleviate some of the stress and pressure on teachers trying to juggle virtual and in-person students.

Under the revised virtual learning system, a student with any class averages below a 70—or the equivalent with elementary school progress reports—or a student with at least three unexcused absences would be required to return to in-person instruction. The Texas Education Agency threshold for mandating a return to in-person learning based on missed attendance is a student missing 10% or more of the days in a grading period, Roher said.

The virtual learning revisions are aimed at a specific group of struggling students, Roher said, and the district is “not canceling virtual learning.”

“Virtual learning’s not going anywhere for some time,” Board Vice President David Montz added. “I’ve met some students in my [dental office] who love it, who are excelling in it—and it seems to be working pretty well for some. ... I think we should also highlight and embrace the positives [of virtual learning].”

Before and after the Nov. 9 meeting, parents expressed concerns over how the logistical challenges of virtual learning, which sometimes result in students missing classes or assignments, would affect their students being able to continue learning remotely.

“What I’m more aware of is maybe more user error ... than actual connectivity issues,” Roher said in response to attendance concerns and whether students are all able to connect successfully to virtual platforms.