FBISD is requesting parents who would like to change their students’ learning model for Term 4 to complete a change request form via Skyward Family Access between Thursday, Feb. 4 and Thursday, Feb. 11 at 11:59 p.m.

To minimize the impact of shifting schedules and ensure the greatest stability for teachers and students, any learning model change requests received after the Feb. 11 deadline will be added to a waitlist for further consideration in January, once the Term 4 schedules have been set and the new term has started.

No, parents are only required to complete this form if they want to change learning models for their students. If parents do not wish to change learning models, they do not need to act.

Learning model change requests received after the Feb. 11 deadline will be added to a waitlist for further consideration to minimize the impact of shifting schedules and ensure the greatest stability for teachers and students. Once the Term 4 schedules have been stabilized and the new term has started, campus administrators will address requests submitted after the Feb. 11 deadline.

Campus capacity is being analyzed to determine the maximum number of students able to return to face-to-face instruction while maintaining social distancing measures.

In the event a campus reaches maximum capacity for students returning face-to-face, procedures have been established to support keeping students at their home campuses. These procedures may include space reallocation/reconfiguration and portioning of underutilized, larger common areas and flex spaces to increase overall building capacity.

If a campus cannot accommodate the number of students wishing to return to face-to-face instruction, a process is in place to confirm the order in which the learning model change request form was submitted, along with a review of student programming. If a campus is unable to accommodate a change in the learning model at their campus, they will communicate with families about their options prior to the winter break. Options might include a transfer to another school or remaining in the online learning environment.

In order to adhere to social distancing measures, transportation is not guaranteed for students who select face-to-face instruction for Term 3; however, to the full extent possible, the district will work to accommodate students who are eligible for transportation.

In the Learning Model Change Request Form, families who meet applicable eligibility guidelines must indicate whether bus transportation is needed. Prior to the winter break transportation staff will reach out to families directly regarding eligibility and route availability.

Students who receive special education services and McKinney-Vento students will be transported. 

Fort Bend ISD will continue to adhere to social distancing on buses to the greatest extent possible; however, if there is an increase in students returning face-to-face, the need may arise to load buses with two students per seat.

Safety protocols will be aligned with the campus PPE standards but will include more stringent requirements due to students remaining in an enclosed space during transport.

Students will load from back to front and exit from front to rear, all transportation personnel will be wearing full PPE at all times, and all vehicles will be sanitized between groups of passengers.

Parents should go to the FBISD Bus Route Finder at http://www.infofinderi.com/ifi/?cid=FBI-2B3JIB4YNDI and enter their address to ensure there is a bus route available. After confirming an available route, please contact FBISD Transportation by email at transport.support@fortbendisd.com or call your closest transportation center to confirm eligibility and route availability:

• Hodges Bend Transportation Center – (281) 634-1970
• Lake Olympia Transportation Center – (281) 634-1930

Will FBISD align master schedule times for online and face-to-face students at the secondary level?

Not at this time. Staff explored aligning the face-to-face and online master schedules for secondary students based on feedback received. Ultimately, at the secondary level, it was determined that the consequences of attempting to align the schedules in January would outweigh the benefits.

Shifting to aligned schedules during Term 3 would result in schedule changes for a significant number of students and teachers. It would also require hand scheduling of all students for a second time.  Additionally, this alignment would likely not resolve all the identified issues and would reduce online student access to face-to-face courses. To support the most stable student experience, we will not align schedules at this time.

At the elementary level, FBISD is considering a slight change in master schedules for students receiving online instruction to provide an increase in synchronous learning, specifically for core content. This is in direct response to feedback from our teachers and leaders regarding the need for more direct instruction in these areas. Specific information will be provided soon.

Throughout this process, the top priority will be to minimize schedule changes and teacher assignments; however, based on the number of requested changes, there could be additional transitions for some students and teachers.

Starting November 13, campuses will go about the work of building schedules for students that requested a change. Based on the number received at each campus, other students might also be affected as they build sections of courses and move more teachers from the online learning environment to a face-to-face classroom.

For the safety and wellbeing of our staff, students, and community, FBISD is continuing the use of masks for those two years and older as recommended by the CDC. All students, visitors, and employees must wear masks that have at least two layers of material and cover the nose, mouth, and chin.

If a student is unable to wear a face covering during the day, the reason must be documented in their ARD paperwork or 504 plans.

Note: A face shield can be used in addition to a face covering, but not in place of a face covering. The CDC has upgraded guidance on the use of face/neck gaiters as masks to say that they should be worn with two layers and/or folded to create two layers. FBISD endorses this recommendation.

Yes, FBISD recommends incorporation of limited, yet structured, mask breaks in the day for elementary students (e.g., at breakfast, lunch, recess, snack, etc.). Masks breaks should be taken outside and while socially distanced. 

During physical education class and recess, teachers will allow students to remove their masks when they are engaging in high intensity activities, like running, when it may not be feasible or safe to wear a mask if it causes difficulty breathing. If unable to wear a mask, consider conducting the activity in a location with greater ventilation and air exchange (e.g., outdoors vs. indoors) and where it is possible to maintain physical distance from others.

The best practice for someone who has not tested positive for COVID and has not been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID is for a person to be symptom-free for 72 hours from the onset of symptoms or fever. By following this best practice, we are working to keep everyone safe and mitigate virus spread as much as possible.

At this time, we are carefully analyzing capacity at each campus to determine the maximum number of students that are able to return to face-to-face instruction with social distancing measures in effect in classrooms and common areas.

Following this analysis, if a campus reaches maximum capacity, campuses will have procedures in place to support keeping students at their home campuses, which may include reallocating spaces within the school, reconfiguring classrooms and partitioning larger common areas and flex spaces. We understand the connection students and families have with their home campus and want to maintain as much stability as possible for our students and staff.

If a campus cannot accommodate the number of students wishing to return to face-to-face instruction, a process is in place to confirm the order in which the learning model change request form was submitted, along with a review of student programming. If a campus is unable to accommodate a change in the learning model at their campus, they will communicate with families about their options prior to the winter break. Options might include a transfer to another school or remaining in the online learning environment. 

As the District evaluates the time and instructional impact of the transition to face-to-face instruction, along with student progress data, it has become apparent that an adjustment to the Spring 2021 calendar may be warranted. Calendar adjustments would provide time for schedule development, technology system readiness, and teacher planning to address feedback on disruptions in instructional delivery, support student progress, and maximize instructional time.

The District Calendar Committee has reviewed proposed revisions to the Spring 2021 calendar and the Administration will propose a calendar change at the November 9 Board of Trustees meeting.

In an effort to provide transparency, we want to make sure parents understand that based on the number of students who sign up for face to face instruction, social distancing may require that some students attend at other campuses. We are sharing this because we want to be transparent, but it is also important that our community knows this will be a last resort, and after we have exhausted other options.

After the Learning Model Selection Process, if we determine that a student will have to attend another campus due to capacity, we would work with families so they could stay in online learning if they choose.

Yes, all student’s schedules will change during this initial transition as FBISD sets up two learning models, online and F2F. If you elect to change the learning model for your child in January from online to F2F, it will require an adjustment to your child’s schedule to assign F2F teachers.

We are asking parents to choose a selection for the entire nine weeks. Fort Bend ISD’s Department of Student Affairs has created parameters for parents to initiate changes to their child’s learning model at the end of a nine-week period, as well as changes due to extenuating circumstances during a grading period and outside of the defined selection window.

Campuses will consider each request on a case-by-case basis, with a consideration of campus space, staffing and teaching assignments. If you would like to change your child's learning model due to an extenuating circumstance, please contact your child's campus.

Campuses will make every effort to keep students with the same teacher throughout the remainder of the year. As new students are added to the master schedule all sections will be analyzed. FBISD will make every effort to keep any changes to a minimum.   

As the 2020 – 21 school year progresses, if the number of students who request face-to-face instruction increases beyond the capacity of school space needed to maintain social distancing, FBISD may institute a hybrid learning model at the high school level. In this model, students would receive a portion of their learning experience on-campus, with face-to-face instruction, and another portion with online instruction, following the block schedule. The decision to use this combined model will be determined for each campus based on learning model survey data and building capacity information.   
 
If a transition is needed for one or all of our high schools to a hybrid model, students who request a learning model change at any grading period will likely experience schedule and/or teacher changes. Changes will be minimal for other students, as online students would continue with their online schedules and those attending face-to-face would transition to the hybrid model with their face-to-face teachers.  

All FBISD teachers follow the FBISD grading guidelines for number and type of grades.  If a student has a teacher change, there may be some different specifics, just as if there was a teacher change in non-pandemic times. Teachers will communicate expectations and procedures for all students in the class. 

Yes. Fort Bend ISD recognizes that some parents may not feel comfortable sending their children to school for face-to-face instruction during the 2020-21 school year and will offer online learning for the entire duration of the current school year.

At the elementary level, students will remain in their homerooms for instruction and teachers will rotate to classes as needed. In limited cases, students may transition from one class to a neighboring classroom based on services provided and/or grade level team rotations.

If transition from the classroom is required, students and staff will abide by health and safety protocols and maintain social distancing requirements.

At the secondary level, all master schedules will include 15 minutes for a staggered passing period that will minimize congregation during transitions from class to class. This means that three groups of students will have five minutes each to transition to the next class.

During transitions, campuses will dismiss by grade levels at different times to minimize the number of students in hallways.

Teachers will be positioned in hallways during passing periods to actively monitor and facilitate social distancing/wearing of masks, encourage continued movement from one class to another, and discourage students from congregating in the halls. 

Monitors and staff will be positioned in restrooms to control the number of students that are entering restrooms during passing periods, and hallways/stairwells will have directional signage to communicate the appropriate way for students to move when transitioning to their classes. 

At both the elementary and secondary levels, students and staff can expect to see visual reminders about maintaining social distancing in the hallways, wearing face coverings and properly washing their hands.

The Fort Bend ISD campus teachers and staff understand the importance of enforcing the use of PPE and social distancing. That said, campus administration will remind all faculty and staff of the expectations for monitoring students' social distancing requirements and the use of PPE. Should a student fail to comply, refuses or forgets to follow guidelines, the student will be redirected at least 2 times before campus administration is contacted. Campus staff should respond to each situation on a case to case basis before any punitive measures are taken.  

We follow CDC and ASHRAE guidelines, striving to maintain proper air temperature and humidity while maintaining occupant comfort. The end goal is to reduce the potential for spread of airborne pathogens, and limit possible mold growth in buildings and on finishes. We are upgrading filters from MERV 8 to MERV 13, and buildings are being started earlier, and running longer at the end of the day to bring in additional exchanges of fresh outside air into the building. 

All students will be provided with one cloth mask.  Students are encouraged to bring an extra in their backpack in case the student misplaces the mask, or if it becomes soiled throughout the day.  

Campuses will have disposable masks in the front office for students or staff members whose masks break or are misplaced during the school day. 

If a student must quarantine based on possible exposure in one class period, their schedule will remain the same. They will learn asynchronously through recorded lessons and posted assignments. They will also have the opportunity to "visit" other online course sections to receive online instruction from their own teacher (if possible) or from another teacher. We will always work to help each student remain fully engaged and advancing their education, even if they are quarantined temporarily.

There are several scenarios that could be enacted if there is a positive result in one of our schools, depending on the situation and circumstances:

• If the student and teacher are both quarantined, the student would meet in the teacher's class online at the regular time of day and have a virtual, synchronous class with the teacher and the rest of the students.
• If the entire class is quarantined and the teacher is not quarantined, the class would meet the teacher virtually and the teacher would teach from the classroom at the regular time.
• If the student is the only person quarantined in the class, the student will engage in asynchronous learning from the teacher via video and Schoology notes/assignments. The student will have the opportunity to meet with the teacher during office hours for tutorials and will have the option of working with a different online teacher for tutorials and/or more in-depth instruction while quarantined.

Fort Bend ISD has worked to carefully plan for all scenarios that could be implemented due to a positive case of COVID-19 and/or students and staff members requiring to quarantine.

Please see below for various scenarios that will allow for instruction to continue.

Master Schedule_Instructional Shifts for Quarantine Situations PDF

As teachers and students move in and out of quarantine, schedules will allow for a smooth transition and minimal disruption. We have developed plans for every scenario and will be able to pivot between environments, and additional information about these scenarios is in the link above. Students will not have to change teachers or schedules during these temporary shifts.   

The most challenging scenario is if one student or a group of students is quarantined while the remainder of the class is face to face along with the teacher.  In this case, the teacher would provide videos along with asynchronous assignments for the two weeks of quarantine (which is 5 classes in the A/B block).  Additionally the students will be able to meet with the teacher during "office hours" (the teacher's conference period or before or after school) and will be given the opportunity to attend a synchronous online class if the student desires. 

Determinations regarding food services logistics will be made based on prioritizing defined health and safety protocols.  

• Students eating in the cafeteria will be spaced out at least six feet, with all students seated on one side of the table, facing the same direction.
• Meals will be packaged in to-go containers for students who need to return to classrooms to eat, and disposable plasticware will be provided. Students will also be using disposable trays for the immediate future, until conditions improve.
• All students will use their student ID badge to eliminate the need to punch their number on a keypad, and if a student doesn’t have one, a staff member will enter their ID number in the computer.
• FBISD recommends that cash is not used, and instead, parents may pre-load their student’s account at schoolcafe.com/fbisd.
• All serving lines will be cleaned in between each meal period, and tables and chairs will also be cleaned in between use.

In Fort Bend ISD, the instructional models and technology framework include the purposeful integration of technology into instruction to support blended learning.  Blended learning promotes student choice over place, pace, and/or path of learning and promotes student selection of virtual tools to promote collaboration, demonstration, and creation of content. Teachers will design lesson plans that integrate technology when appropriate to support blended learning. The District supports a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) philosophy for technology use on campuses. BYOD will be encouraged, but will not be required, for students who select face-to-face instruction. While Fort Bend ISD will strive to provide campuses with devices to support the implementation of blended learning and student access to devices, the availability of District-provided devices may be limited depending on the number of students who select face-to-face instruction.

In Secondary, online learners will participate in 1 hour of synchronous instruction and 30 minutes of asynchronous instruction each day. F2F leaners will participate in 1.5 hours of F2F instruction. These times ensure that secondary students will progress through the curriculum at the same pace. The time difference in the school day that you have identified supports transitions and meal service for F2F students.  

Since the beginning of the pandemic, equity and ensuring all students receive a high-quality learning experience has been our top priority. Fort Bend ISD has systems in place to ensure quality online learning and assessment for the fall semester. 

Students who choose online will have dedicated synchronous instruction, at-home learning kits, and online resources to support their success. It is the District’s expectation that online classes will be on par with face to face, and teachers understand it takes a different type of preparation for effective teaching online. 

Parents can trust we have set a high bar for both face to face and online teaching. 

Yes. Fort Bend ISD believes that student participation in athletics and fine arts is vital to the physical, mental, and emotional development of the whole child.

Fine Arts and athletics are a vital part of the instructional program, so students will be able to participate in these activities whether they choose online or face-to-face learning. In some cases, students choosing online will be able to participate in their fine arts or athletics period face-to-face if scheduling permits. Where scheduling does not permit an online student to travel to school for face-to-face practice or rehearsal, teachers will still offer a robust online experience. Master schedules will not be developed until the Learning Model Selection Process is complete, but you can trust we will optimize the schedule to allow online students to participate in face-to-face classes, practices, and rehearsals to the full extent possible. 

Upper-level CTE courses and CTE courses necessary for certification will be a priority as we build master schedules in an attempt to allow students who choose online instruction to attend Face to Face classes at the campus.   

As with all other courses, there may be some which will not align, depending on the amount of requests we receive. 

FBISD will work with individual student schedules to support their participation in the dual credit course. It might be possible to work the schedule so that a dual credit student is able to remain home for that online course and come to school/return to school for other face to face courses if that is chosen. These details will be coordinated at the campus level as the master schedule is developed.