This story will be continually updated as districts announce changes to plans.
Plans for school districts are beginning to solidify as the school year approaches for many and is already underway for some.
Arlington ISD voted to make another change to its in-person start date. During a board meeting Thursday, which lasted past in early morning hours Friday, members voted to push the start date of in-person learning from Sept. 21 to Sept. 28.
There will be hybrid instruction from Sept. 28 to Oct. 9 for students who want to return to in-person instruction.
The district will need to apply for a waiver for the new plan, in which the TEA will need to approve it.
Grand Prairie ISD, Richardson ISD, and Irving ISD made changes to their plans last week.
In Grand Prairie, the board announced a staggered plan for students to return to in-person learning.
In Richardson, students from pre-K to 6th grade and in centralized special education programs will return to in-person classes, if that is their learning choice, between Sept. 8 and Sept. 21, on a staggered schedule basis.
Students in 7th and 8th grade will resume in-person classes on Sept. 14, if that is their learning choice. Students in grades 9-12 will return Sept. 21.
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Irving ISD's school board voted to extend online-only learning through Sept. 25. In-person learning was pushed to Sept. 28.
Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa announced that the district will be virtual-only for the first four weeks.
Duncanville ISD announced Aug. 18 that all students will be online-only for the first four weeks of the school year, from Sept. 8 to Oct. 2. Previously, students were starting the year either in-person or online.
In late July, the Fort Worth ISD school board voted to push back their start date and begin classes virtually. That was the third schedule change for the district.
At Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD, the board of trustees voted earlier this month to begin in-person learning on Sept. 8, for students who have chosen that route. District leaders also changed plans at Grapevine-Colleyville and Birdville ISDs.
Here's a look at districts' plans to start the year.
Aledo ISD
The academic year will begin Aug. 19 for Aledo ISD students. Students will have a choice between remote learning or a hybrid in-person option.
The in-person instruction will start as two days a week, then moved to five days a week on Sept. 8. Remote learning will be offered the entire school year.
Parents are asked to commit to one choice for the first nine weeks of the year.
Allen ISD
Allen ISD announced Friday it will be moving to at-home learning for at least the first three weeks of school. The first day of school will remain Aug. 12.
On Sept. 2, the district says students who chose in-person learning will be allowed to return to campus.
"Allen ISD will make every effort for students to have the same teachers and classmates during and after this three-week period," officials said in a written statement.
Alvarado ISD
The start date for in-person or online instruction has been pushed back to Aug. 17.
Argyle ISD
The district will remain on schedule with its plan with in-person and virtual learning, starting on Aug. 17.
Arlington ISD
The school year will begin with online instruction on Aug. 17.
In-person instruction will begin Sept. 28, the district said on Sept. 4. Hybrid instruction will be in place from Sept. 28 to Oct. 9 for students who want to return to in-person learning.
After the hybrid phase, elementary and junior high schools will return to daily in-person instruction for any parents who select that option.
The option to learn virtually will remain in place for all students who want to continue with online learning.
The school district said on July 29 that it would reevaluate its online instruction plan after four weeks.
Birdville ISD
Following Paxton's letter, the district announced it will have online-learning when school begins on Aug. 24.
In-person learning will begin on Sept. 8 for students who chose that option.
Burleson ISD
All students will start the school year remotely on Aug. 31 and will go to full-time on-campus attendance on Sept. 8.
At a school board meeting on Aug. 10, trustees voted to extend the school day by 10 minutes.
Carroll ISD
The district will offer in-person and virtual instruction starting Aug. 24.
Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD
The district announced that students will learn online-only for the first three weeks of the school year, which begins Aug. 17. On Sept. 8, students who chose in-person learning will begin attending classes on campus.
Cedar Hill ISD
The district announced on Aug. 20 that the district will be virtual-only throughout the month of September. The first day of school is Sept. 8.
The district said that medical officials and Dallas County Health and Human Services shared their recommendation after looking at multiple factors, the district said.
CHISD will reassess the situation in September before resuming in-person classes in early October. Results of a recent survey showed that approximately 70% of CHISD families chose online learning.
“At this time, with the continued high number of COVID-19 cases a return to in-person learning could result in an increase in the number of virus transmissions among our children,” Superintendent Dr. Gerald Hudson said in a statement, in part.
Students in 3rd to 12th grade will wear a face mask at all times. Students from pre-K to 2nd grade will wear face masks in hallways, common areas and during arrival and dismissal.
Cleburne ISD
Parents will be asked to choose between in-person and online learning. The first day of school is Aug. 31.
The district said their goal is face-to-face instruction beginning then, but there are two other contingency plans "should we experience attendance fluctuations and/or resurgence of COVID-19 during the 2020-2021 school year," the district said.
Coppell ISD
On July 27, the board of trustees approved moving the first day of school to Aug. 17. The district will provide distance learning only to all students Aug. 17 to Sept. 7, per the Dallas County order.
In-person learning will begin Sept. 8.
Crowley ISD
Students will return to school on Sept. 8. All students will participate in online learning.
School buildings will reopen on Oct. 5. Students can then continue with their choice of either in-person or online learning.
Schools in Dallas County
Per an order issued by the Dallas County health director, all schools will be online-only through Sept. 7.
Teachers and staff can be on campus to conduct online learning as long as social distancing is followed and face coverings are on at all-times, the order said.
Dallas ISD
The start date for students is Sept. 8. Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa said during a news conference on Aug. 20 that the district will be online-only for the first four weeks of school.
After that, the Board of Trustees will have to vote on whether to extend online-only learning through October.
The announcement came the same afternoon that Judge Clay Jenkins shared a recommendation that all schools begin virtually based on their data and the spread of COVID-19 in Dallas County.
In-person practice for student-athletes will also be postponed, Hinojosa said.
"There's still a lot of debate on whether we will have football," Hinojosa said. "We will have to monitor that."
Denton ISD
Denton ISD leaders moved the first day of school to Aug. 26. The district also released a new school calendar.
In addition, the district announced that classes would be remote until Sept. 8.
Parents can decide whether they want their child to return to campus for face-to-face learning or learn online.
DeSoto ISD
DeSoto Independent School District will begin its school year on Sept. 8. On Aug. 13, the district said at least the first four weeks will be virtual for all students.
In addition, the district will monitor health guidance from Dallas County and decide in mid-September whether to extend the period of virtual learning. If needed, the district said, virtual learning will stretch to Oct. 30. Otherwise, in-person instruction will begin Oct. 5.
Desoto ISD released a safety meter to show their plans for instruction based on COVID-19 spread in the community.
The Board of Trustees approved a revised academic calendar for the upcoming school year.
The new calendar extends the school day by 20 minutes. The 2020-2021 school hours are:
- High School: 7:30 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.
- Elementary School: 8:00 a.m. to 3:50 p.m.
- Middle School: 8:30 a.m. to 4:10 p.m.
Teachers will return to work on Aug. 6, in an effort to have more than 20 days of professional development opportunities and preparation before the first day of school, district officials said.
More information regarding DeSoto ISD's academic calendar can be found here.
Duncanville ISD
The start of the school year was delayed to Sept. 8, the district announced July 16.
Duncanville ISD announced on Aug. 18 that all students will be online-only for the first four weeks of the school year, from Sept. 8 to Oct. 2. Previously, students were starting the year either in-person or online.
"The district will continue to evaluate the county and state data and guidelines to determine if the district will begin offering in-person classes starting Monday, Oct. 5 or ask the trustees to continue in a virtual model for an additional four weeks," the district said in a statement.
Eagle Mountain Saginaw ISD
At the district's board meeting on Aug. 6, trustees voted to begin the school year fully remote on Aug. 20. On Sept. 8, students will begin with their choice of either in-person learning or online learning.
Ennis ISD
School will start on Aug. 20 online-only. In-person and online instruction will take place starting Sept. 8.
On Sept. 8 and 10, students with last names A-L will attend in person to learn safety procedures. On Sept. 9 and 11, students with last names M-Z will attend face-to-face classes.
Starting Sept. 14, all students who choose in-person instruction will attend full-time.
Everman ISD
The district's Board of Trustee voted on Aug. 3 to begin the school year with four weeks of virtual classes. The term will start on Aug. 13.
On-campus instruction will be limited to students without internet access or in the special education program, as determined by the superintendent.
The district has Chromebooks and hotspots available for students who haven't received them yet when they register, officials said.
Fort Worth ISD
The Fort Worth ISD school board voted to start school online and push the start date back until Sept. 8.
The first four weeks of instruction will be held virtually.
The Fort Worth school year was originally scheduled to begin Aug. 17 with in-person classes beginning Sept. 28.
Teachers who are delivering virtual instruction will do so from classrooms at their home campus. Some teachers will be entirely in-person, some entirely teaching online and some teachers will do both.
Fort Worth ISD will also follow social distancing guidelines and hygiene/cleaning protocol which was released by the TEA.
The district's plans also mentioned disciplinary action related to COVID-19 protocol, which includes verbal redirection, counseling by a teacher, counselor or administrative personnel, and a parent-student-teacher conference.
"Any student intentionally coughing, sneezing, or spitting on another student or staff member with the intention of infecting the other student with COVID-19 while on the bus, campus, or at a school-related event is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct: Assault (Board Policy)," the district says in the guidelines, along with the disciplinary process.
Frisco ISD
The school year will begin online-only for the first three weeks of school, starting on Aug. 13. In-person learning will begin on Sept. 3 for students who have chosen that route.
Parents will receive a commitment form for their students to choose whether their child will attend classes online or on campus, the district said.
The district will alert parents, students and staff about the disease activity level based on information from local health departments, between substantial, moderate and minimal.
Those levels are based on the number of new cases per 100,000 people and the positivity rate. That level will determine guidance on face coverings.
Under substantial or moderate levels, face coverings will be required for children 3rd through 12th grade and for staff and visitors. For students in pre-K through 2nd grade, masks are required when they are in hallways and common areas.
Under minimal level, masks will only be required by visitors and for students when they are in hallways or other common areas.
Garland ISD
Garland ISD says students will learn online-only from Aug. 10 to Sept. 7, in accordance with the Dallas County order.
Students will begin their choice of in-person classes or virtual learning on Sept. 8.
The district also changed school hours to add 10 minutes of instruction time. The school year calendar also has intersession days where students can participate in remediation, acceleration or enrichment activities, the district said.
In a FAQ section, it says "Will teachers get to choose if they want a remote or face-to-face schedule?"
The district says decisions will be made based on medical certifications and doctor's notes. Staff who lead online learning will be assigned to a Garland ISD facility to conduct instruction in order to have all the support and materials they need, the district said.
Granbury ISD
Parents can choose between online learning or in-person learning. The first day of school is Aug. 12.
Granbury ISD also says that all students will be provided with free school supplies for the upcoming year.
Grand Prairie ISD
Grand Prairie ISD announced Thursday, Aug. 27 a plan for a two-step return to in-person learning. The board bases its decision on several recommendations and input from the Dallas County Health Department, city health services, student needs and parents.
In Grand Prairie, 60% of families have chosen virtual learning, and 40% have chosen in-person learning for their students.
Grand Prairie ISD presented the following 2-step plan:
- Students in grades PK-2 and identified self-contained special education program whose parents have chosen in-person learning will return to their schools on Sept. 14.
- Students in grades 3-12 whose parents have chosen in-person learning will return to their schools on Sept. 21.
Grapevine-Colleyville ISD
Following Paxton's letter, the district's school board voted to begin the school year fully remote on the first day of school, Aug. 17.
On Sept. 8, students will resume school with their choice of either: in-person or virtual learning.
Godley ISD
Godley ISD's school year will start Aug. 4. Parents had a choice of in-person and virtual instruction for their kids.
Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD
All students will begin with three weeks of online instruction. On Sept. 8, students will continue with their choice of either in-person or virtual learning.
The first day of school is Aug. 18.
Highland Park ISD
Highland Park plans to start school with an emergency closure schedule starting Thursday, Aug. 20, with parents being given the option to send their children to school for in-person instruction beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Irving ISD
Irving ISD's school board voted Monday night to extend online-only learning through Sept. 25. In-person learning will now begin Sept. 28.
The district returned to school on Aug. 17 for online-only learning. In-person learning was previously scheduled to start on Sept. 8, the district said. Online learning can continue as an option after in-person learning begins, the district said.
Students from pre-K to 2nd grade will only wear face coverings while in hallways, riding the bus, common areas and arrival/dismissal.
Students from 3rd grade to 12th grade will wear face coverings when in hallways, common areas, riding the bus and arrival/dismissal.
The district released a FAQ document earlier in the month related to the TEA guidelines on reopening.
Joshua ISD
The Board of Trustees voted to delay the start of the school year to Aug. 31, pushing it back from the original date of Aug. 18.
Both in-person and virtual learning will be offered.
The last day of the school year will now be June 2, 2021.
Keene ISD
Keene ISD will have in-person classes and students who want to learn from home will be able to watch a live video feed. The first day of school is Aug. 4.
Keller ISD
Following Paxton's letter, the district's board of trustees decided to move the first day of school to Aug. 26.
The students choice of in-person or virtual learning will take effect that day, the district said.
High school students will have the option to compose a hybrid schedule consisting of some in-person instruction and some remote instruction.
Krum ISD
The start of school has been rescheduled for Aug. 19, and students will have the option of remote or in-person learning. Choices must be made by Aug. 5.
Lake Dallas ISD
The school year calendar was changed and the semester will begin virtually on Aug. 27 virtually, the district said. Then on Sept. 8, students will have the option of in-person or virtual learning.
Lake Worth ISD
The first day of school is Aug. 19. Students will be learning in-person and online.
Lancaster ISD
The school districts of Cedar Hill, DeSoto, Duncanville and Lancaster announced Thursday afternoon that they intend to delay the start of school to Sept. 8.
The districts want this change to "ensure an environment that works to protect the health, wellness and preparedness of our students and staff for the upcoming school year," the districts said in a statement. "Postponing the school start date will allow school systems in our area time to assess the status of the COVID-19 pandemic and adjust accordingly."
Lewisville ISD
The district announced Monday that it will follow Denton County health department's recommendation to delay in-person lessons to Sept. 8.
The first day of school is Aug. 19 with online learning.
Little Elm ISD
School will begin Aug. 25 with the choice of in-person or at-home learning.
Lipan ISD
Lipan ISD said on Aug. 17 that the district is changing back-to-school plans after multiple cases of COVID-19 "affected staff and students" within the past week.
"The district will continue to evaluate the county and state data and guidelines to determine if the district will begin offering in-person classes starting Monday, Oct. 5 or ask the trustees to continue in a virtual model for an additional four weeks," the district said in a statement.
At Lipan, which is in Hood County, the first day of school is Thursday, Aug. 20, and the district said they will move to an "online asynchronous model of learning" instead of starting face-to-face like originally planned.
The district will hand out devices to students on Wednesday, leaders said.
The district may return to face-to-face learning by Sept. 8, depending on what cases look like at that time, according to a note from Superintendent Ralph Carter.
The letter stated:
"We wanted to contact you to let you know that we are having to make changes to the Lipan ISD instructional program. In this past week, there have been multiple cases of COVID-19 that have been reported that have affected staff and students. At this time, we will be Asynchronous learning only starting August 20th. We will be reevaluating cases to determine if face to face learning could resume on September 8th. We will be posting updates and instructions for device pick-up, as well as other important information to get our year started. We appreciate your understanding and the importance of keeping our students, staff, and community safe and healthy."
Ralph Carter
Superintendent
Lipan ISD
Lovejoy ISD
The first day of class is Aug. 17, and the first three weeks of school will be online-only for all students.
Those who have chosen face-to-face instruction will begin in-person classes on Sept. 8.
Mansfield ISD
Following Paxton's letter, the district decided to bein school on Aug. 12. The district will be online-only until Sept. 8, then students will continue with their choice of in-person or online learning.
MORE: Plans from Mansfield ISD
Mesquite ISD
Mesquite ISD will begin the school year online-only on Aug. 17.
In-person learning is aimed to begin on Sept. 14. Parents who would like their child to continue learning from home after Sept. 14 must enroll by Aug. 3.
The district is also issuing internet-ready devices to every student who requests one as well as a hot spot, if needed.
McKinney ISD
McKinney ISD officials announced they have decided to begin school with virtual instruction until the public health situation improves. Their goal is to begin offering on-campus instruction on Sept. 3
Their school year is set to begin Aug. 13.
"Students who had opted for on-campus instruction will be served in a virtual learning environment with the same teacher and classmates who would be in their on-campus classroom," officials said in a written statement.
Midlothian ISD
The board approved a delay, so school will begin Aug. 20. Instruction will be done virtually until Sept. 8, when students will return to campus in small groups to learn and practice the safety protocols.
In-person instruction will resume for all students the week of Sept. 14 and families will have the option of attending virtually or in-person.
Muenster ISD
Parents can choose between in-person and virtual learning for their child. The school year will begin with in-person learning, for those who have picked that option. The first day of school is Aug. 12.
Northwest ISD
The first day of school is Aug. 20. Students will learn remotely for the first 16 days of the school year and can return to in-person learning Sept. 14 if there are no spikes in coronavirus cases, school officials said July 30.
Plano ISD
Plano ISD announced Friday that it will start its school year with virtual learning for all students.
Teachers will have an in-person workday on Sept. 8 and then parents who did not select remote learning will be allowed to send their children to campus Sept. 9.
The first day of the school year is Aug. 12.
Plano ISD was the first district to release a detailed plan on moving forward with the TEA guidelines.
The 37-page plan, released July 9, goes over cleaning protocols and social distancing students and staff.
Parents can choose either face-to-face learning or virtual learning for their children.
MORE: Details from Plano ISD
Princeton ISD
Princeton ISD will offer in-person classes and online instruction beginning Aug. 13. A few more teachers were hired to help with the delivery of online learning, the district said.
Prosper ISD
Students will return on Aug. 12, and will have the choice of in-person and remote learning. Teachers will return to schools on Aug. 3 to prepare for the year.
Red Oak ISD
School will begin Aug. 20 with in-person and virtual instruction.
Richardson ISD
Following Dallas County's orders, Richardson ISD says it will immediately discontinue in-person student activities until after Labor Day.
On Aug. 24, the district shared an update to their plans to return to in-person classes, for students who have chosen that.
In Richardson, students from pre-K to 6th grade and in centralized special education programs will return to in-person classes, if that is their learning choice, between Sept. 8 and Sept. 21, on a staggered schedule basis.
Students in 7th and 8th grade will resume in-person classes on Sept. 14, if that is their learning choice. Students in grades 9-12 will return Sept. 21.
The district began school virtual-only on Aug. 19.
Rockwall ISD
Rockwall ISD Board of Trustees approved to delay the start of school for remote and in-person learning to Aug. 26, the district said.
"This decision comes after weeks of conversations and collaboration with Rockwall County, neighboring Royse City ISD, who is also considering a delayed start, and input received through an employee Start of School Survey," the district said.
Of 6,000 commitments from students in the district, 68% chose in-person learning and 32% chose remote learning, the district said.
On Aug. 4, the district said it was applying for waiver through the TEA for high schools to use an in-person hybrid schedule for grades 9 to 12. Rockwall ISD said the number of students choosing in-person instruction was too high for the schools to maintain social distancing with all positive respondents in the school at the same time.
At Rockwall High School, 71% chose in-person, and 66% did at Rockwall-Heath High School. If granted the waiver, the high school students would attend in-person two days, and be home for three days each week.
The district said a number of schools also face possible overcapacity situations, including Shannon Elementary, Spring Elementary, Stevenson, Amy Parks-Heath, and Cain Middle.
"Based on the current data with approximately 8,000 of 17,000 commitments received to date, 68% choose In-Person learning and 32% choose Remote Learning districtwide," Senior Chief Financial Officer David Carter said. "Given social distancing recommendations of 6 feet, the current number of requests for in-person learning will make it difficult if it continues at the same trend."
Carter said roughly half of the district's students would need to choose in-person for schools to meet recommended distancing guidelines.
Royse City ISD
The district will start in-person and virtual instruction on Aug. 24. The district said they delayed the start date to prepare for in-person learning.
Sanger ISD
Parents will be able to choose whether their student attends learning in-person or online only. The first day of school is Aug. 24.
White Settlement ISD
The first day of school was moved to Sept. 9 during a Board of Education meeting. Students will have the option of in-person or virtual learning.
"The change was made so that we have enough time to implement the safety procedures and prepare the training of employees and teachers, in order to make sure that all our team members are ready for the changes and challenges of the 2020-21 school year," the district said in a statement.
Wylie ISD
The district is offering both in-person and virtual learning.
The first day of school is Aug. 13.
WFAA Digital Producer Jennifer Prohov contributed to this report.