COVID-19 is changing the entire fabrication of our educational system. As a result of these recent school closures, the 2020-2021 school year is shaping up to look a lot different.
According to the Texas Education Agency (TEA), parents and educators should prepare for the following disruptions to the 2020-2021 school year:
Earlier start dates: Because of COVID-19, parents should get ready for earlier start dates, longer spring and winter breaks, and a later end date.
Staggered in-person attendance: As the state continues to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, there will be a continued use of remote learning mixed in with staggered in-person school attendance.
Six-weeks of intercessional breaks: TEA is also recommending schools use up to six weeks of intersessional breaks to account for student enrichment, gaps due to the resurgence of COVID-19, and bad weather makeup days.
Because of the fluidity of the COVID 19 crisis, the TEA is suggesting schools move to a more flexible learning calendar to account for high-student absenteeism and future school closure mandates. We expect other state education agencies to roll out similar guidelines before the start of the next school year as well.
As a result, you can expect more breaks into the winter and spring semesters to account for a second wave of COVID-19, which will give schools greater flexibility for mid-year adjustments. These frequent school closures will allow school administrations to measure school time by minutes … not days.
Other models recommended by the TEA include a year-round school calendar for navigating a second wave of COVID-19 into flu season or adding at least 30 extra days to the typical school year calendar.
By extending the school year or adding more days to the academic calendar, the TEA believes this will leave teachers and students with more time for breaks and additional school hours to cover learning standards. But … this could also mean our students come back from lockdown a full year behind.
The next steps will be left up to the school districts. Interested districts will need to talk to parents, teachers, and students to get a better understanding of what they want and need, get the authorization or have the authority to make calendar changes to the 2020-2021 academic calendar, and obtain board approval.
As school continues to evolve in response to COVID-19, here’s how you can ensure your child is prepared for the 2020-2021 school year and will stay on track:
Invest in backup resources: With more school breaks and continued remote learning shaping the 2020-2021 school year, it’s important that parents invest in backup educational resources like tutoring to help support and shape your child’s education. Online tutoring services, like Jill’s Tutors, will help your child get that focused one-on-one attention from the safety of your own home. We offer tutoring services for all educational levels and in all subjects. Click here to learn more.
Keep a routine: With another muddled school year in the works, it’s important that you keep some sense of a routine for your children. Whether it’s seeing a tutor once a week or setting specific homework times, routines have been proven to help stimulate success building skills and foster greater self-control.
Set goals: Help your child see the big picture. With less time in the classroom, students may feel more distracted and be held less accountable for their work. Setting goals with your children that will help them see the big picture, especially when it comes to their education, is a great way to facilitate long and short-term school objectives.
With these new changes taking effect in the fall, it’s important to stay up to date with what’s happening in our school system.
If your student is falling behind or struggling with these changes to their schooling environment, we’ve got you covered. Simply visit our website jillstutors.com, call or text 512-598-5135 or email us at jillstutors@gmail.com, and we’ll set you up with one of our talented nationwide educators.