RRISD Announces Changes to Virtual Schooling & COVID Guidelines for Fall
In a press release today, Round Rock ISD announced that a virtual option for students in kindergarten through sixth grade will be available for the Fall semester to allow time for vaccine approval for children under 12.
Additionally, Round Rock ISD will release COVID-19 Guidance for Fall 2021 on Thursday, July 29.
From their release:
Round Rock ISD leaders are monitoring COVID-19 outbreak conditions closely as we plan for the new school year, set to start on Wednesday, Aug. 18. Currently, Austin-Travis County has shifted to Stage 3 of COVID-19 risk guidelines and Williamson County is in COVID-19 Phase Red. As we continue planning to welcome students and staff back to classrooms for in-person learning, Round Rock ISD will release COVID-19 Guidance for Fall 2021 on Thursday, July 29. Once available, the guidance will be emailed to parents and guardians and posted on the District’s website and social media channels. We will also hold a virtual town hall on Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. to discuss safety protocols.
We understand concerns due to the fact that children under 12 are not yet eligible to receive the vaccine and recognize that some families prefer at-home learning as the pandemic continues. District leaders support the idea of continuing to provide a virtual option — particularly for students who may need it due to health concerns or who aren’t eligible for vaccinations — and were disappointed when the Texas Legislature did not pass a bill to fund virtual learning for the upcoming school year. Despite the lack of funding from the state, Round Rock ISD is announcing today that a virtual option for students in kindergarten through sixth grade will be available for the Fall semester to allow time for vaccine approval for children under 12. Information on how to enroll for the limited virtual option will be available July 29.
Health officials are urging everyone who can get COVID-19 vaccinated to do so as soon as possible and in time for the start of the school year so our schools can open safely in August. Soon, more information about vaccine clinics held at District facilities will be available. To make a vaccination appointment, attend a walk-up clinic, or for more information about COVID-19, visit the Williamson County and Cities Health District website and the City of Austin website. Central Texas hospitalizations and COVID-19 cases are on the rise due largely to the highly infectious nature of the Delta variant. However, vaccines are highly effective against the Delta variant, and the more people vaccinated, the safer everyone will be.
We are all ready for a return to traditional activities and in-person learning. Please help us do so safely by getting vaccinated, if you can, to reverse the current trend and get back on a path to a post-pandemic world. As news about COVID-19 vaccines for children under 12 becomes available, Round Rock ISD will continue to share information and opportunities to help families obtain vaccinations.