Allen ISD understands that families may want to change their instructional delivery model selection during the school year. Due to the scheduling complexities inherent in both At-Home Learning and In-Person Learning, parents are asked to make a commitment for at least one full nine-weeks grading period.

The chart below outlines the timeframe for making a change in the selected instructional delivery model prior to the start of each new grading period. Parents wishing to change their child’s participation in either At-Home Learning or In-Person Learning for the next nine-weeks grading period will need to complete the Commitment Form. Information will be sent to all parents about the process to request a change.

All changes will be effective on the first day of each new nine weeks grading period as listed below:

Please note that adjustments in instructional delivery model selections across the district may impact teacher assignments and student schedules.

Staff may need to shift to align with new instructional model choices. Therefore, even students who do not change instructional models could experience a change to their teacher(s), course availability or class schedule as teachers are assigned based on the numbers of students and course requests in each environment. 

Students participating in In-Person Learning will receive face-to-face therapy in small groups led by a qualified therapist. The therapy provided will utilize the district selected curriculum such as Take Flight, Herman, Neuhaus, etc. Increased cleaning and sanitation practices, as well as frequent reminders of hand hygiene and social distancing, will occur. Based on the Governor’s mask mandate for all people 10-years-of-age and older, Allen ISD will follow the guidelines and require face coverings (mask or face shield) over the nose and mouth for students in grades 4 and higher. A majority of students turn 10 during the 4th-grade year, so Allen ISD has determined this as the cut-off to create uniformity across the grade level. The same requirements apply to all staff members. For students in grades 3 and below, face coverings will continue to be highly recommended.

During the first three weeks of school when all instruction is provided in a remote, At-Home Learning environment, DT services will be provided for students selecting In-Person Learning through live, synchronous, therapist-led instruction virtually.  Therapy session times will be scheduled by the DT teacher and will take place at a regular time each day. Students will be expected to be available via a video conferencing tool at their assigned therapy time. Students will have access to necessary materials/supplies for therapy at home. Your child’s campus will be communicating timelines for the distribution of these materials/supplies prior to the start of school.

During passing periods, students will be encouraged to head promptly to class and not gather in common areas. Some hallways will be designated as “one-way” to allow foot traffic to move in one direction. In hallways that have two-way traffic, students will be encouraged to flow from a specific side of the hallway to limit the mixing of groups. Staff will be in the hallways to encourage social distancing among students. There are no current plans to stagger bell schedules.

The following information is provided for greater clarification on face coverings in Allen ISD. Based on the Governor’s mask mandate for all people 10-years-of-age and older, Allen ISD will follow the guidelines and require face coverings (mask or face shield) over the nose and mouth for students in grades 4th and higher while on campus. A majority of students turn 10 during the 4th-grade year, so Allen ISD has determined this as the cut-off to create uniformity across the grade level. For students in grades 3 and below, face coverings will continue to be recommended.

This requirement will be in effect in areas where it is not feasible to maintain at least six feet of social distancing, which includes classrooms, hallways, common areas, and buses. Face coverings may be removed to consume food or drink, or to engage in physical activity outdoors while maintaining a safe distance. The same requirements apply to all staff members.

However, on school buses, face coverings will be required for all students, from grades Pre-K through 12th.

We will implement increased signage around campuses promoting disease mitigation strategies, increased cleaning and sanitation practices, as well as frequent reminders of hand hygiene and social distancing. Face coverings will be highly recommended and encouraged for staff and students. Allen ISD will comply with all health and safety recommendations established by the Governor, the health department, and the Texas Education Agency. Safety and health measures may be adjusted based on current guidelines and conditions.

Yes. All staff members will receive COVID-19 prevention training prior to the opening of school.  All students will receive instruction on health protocols related to minimizing the spread of COVID-19.

Allen ISD will follow TEA guidelines for class size.  At this time, the class size requirements are the same as a regular school year. The maximum number of students per class varies by grade level and also varies by class at the secondary level.

Cafeterias will be open to serve breakfast and lunch daily. The physical setup for the cafeteria and the schedule will be adjusted to reduce the number of students in the cafeteria at one time. Each campus cafeteria space will be evaluated to ensure social distancing. Some students will be eating in the cafeteria, spaced according to the recommended guidelines, and other students may eat in the classroom if necessary. All school meals will be served by employees, meaning student self-serve tables will not be used.  Safety and health measures will be adjusted based on current guidelines and conditions.

Yes, transportation will continue to be provided for all who qualify. Bus transportation is provided for all special education students and eligible general education students who live two or more miles from their school or in areas specially designated by the Transportation Department.

Ridership will remain at typical district capacity. To support contact tracing, students will be assigned seats, and a seating chart will be maintained by the bus driver.

The bus driver and all students (grades Pre-K through 12th) will be required to wear face coverings and use hand sanitizer provided when boarding and exiting the bus.

Students are required to remain seated at all times and keep their hands and arms to themselves. Students should not touch each other or share any items. School buses will be cleaned and disinfected daily. Safety and health measures may be adjusted based on current guidelines and conditions.

Signage reminding students and staff about social distancing, handwashing, and infection prevention will be posted throughout the school.

Elementary classrooms will be assigned specific bathrooms, breakfast, lunch, and gym access times to reduce the number of students in any given area as much as possible.

Secondary students will be encouraged to follow social distancing guidelines.

Safety guidelines are being developed for conducting all on-campus workouts, rehearsals, and practices. The district will continue to follow all guidelines provided by UIL, TEA, and the state. These safety guidelines will be published as soon as they become available.

Collin College will provide guidelines for Allen ISD students who are enrolled in dual credit courses for Fall 2020. For any questions about dual credit, contact dualcredit@collin.edu.

Elementary campuses will limit the number of students at recess at one time and create different play areas for activities to further reduce student interactions. Students and staff will be required to use hand sanitizer and wash their hands before and after recess.

Yes, students who select At-Home Learning or In-Person Learning may participate in clubs and/or organizations. Meetings may be held virtually, as applicable. Students must have their own transportation to and from campus.

Students or staff who test positive for COVID-19 will be sent home to recover. When notification of a possible exposure occurs, in coordination with local health authorities, the campus/district will conduct contact tracing. Based on the results, a determination will be made as to whether an entire classroom or multiple classrooms are required to quarantine. In the event students are required to temporarily quarantine, the education of these students will continue through At-Home Learning for the duration of the quarantine period.

During the period of the school closure, students will remain at home and will engage in learning activities that are primarily delivered through an online learning management system. Live, teacher-led instruction and peer collaboration will be scheduled throughout the day to expand students’ opportunities to engage with content and interact with teachers and classmates. Daily student participation in the learning activities will be required. Instructional time will also be dedicated for independent learning activities. A structured schedule will be provided to students indicating required times for participation in live instruction.

The benefit of an online learning management system is to streamline all digital tools and content for a more connected learning experience for students. The district has identified Google Classroom and Seesaw as tools to support a consistent learning management system for elementary students across the district. Google Classroom and Seesaw will be used for both In-Person and At-Home Learners.

Google Classroom helps organize assignments, boosts collaboration, and fosters communication. Seesaw is a platform used within Google Classroom that gives students the ability to create and reflect on their learning. Teachers will provide training to students on how to use these new digital tools. For those students who choose In-Person Learning, these tools will be used as a digital extension of the classroom. Resources will also be available for parents to learn how to support students in navigating learning through these digital tools.

The benefit of an online learning management system is to streamline all digital tools and content for a more connected learning experience for students. Secondary students in grades 7-12 in both In-Person and At-Home Learning will utilize the current learning management system Canvas, which has been used for several years as a digital extension of the classroom. Resources will also be available for parents to learn how to support students in navigating learning through these digital tools. 

We are currently assessing student needs and the availability of devices.

To support all students, the district curriculum will highlight academic standards that teachers will consider as they plan to address the potential learning impacts resulting from the school closure. Teachers will use formative assessments and supplemental resources to personalize student learning to address areas of need.

Overall progress on learning outcomes will be communicated in a “traditional” format using numeric grades. Assignments and grades will be entered into Skyward. The expectations for coursework and guidelines for grading for In-Person Learning and At-Home Learning will be the same. 

Yes. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has indicated that STAAR testing will still occur during the 2020-2021 school year, in compliance with state and federal legislation.

Changes to the educational setting for students are not being made until the end of the first nine weeks of school. The change window deadline of July 29 was set so that the District could plan for each student and meet their needs during the first nine weeks of the school year, allowing AISD to provide for staffing and other resources.

For current students, parents will complete the commitment form no later than July 20 at 8:00 a.m. Upon enrollment, new students will be provided the opportunity to select their instructional model.

Yes, Kids Club will be available to families who are participating in In-Person Learning. Kids Club will operate on its normal schedule. Call 972-727-0503 for more information.