Austin ISD - Announcement: In-Person Learning Is Up As Coronavirus Cases Decline

Austin TX

12 May, 2021

11:02 AM

Description

Press release from Austin ISD - Announcement: May 11, 2021 By Eddie Villa More students are coming back to campuses in the last weeks of school following a decline in the number of COVID cases across the district. Since March, Austin ISD has seen a 7.1% increase in the number of students attending school on-campus, an increase of more than 5,000 students. "We have recognized that our students excel in learning when they are physically present at school," Chief of Schools Anthony Mays said. "I am grateful to see the influx of students coming back for in-person learning these last few weeks." In April, Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde sent a letter to all families encouraging students to come back to campus so they can enjoy and benefit from face-to-face instruction and unique, hands-on learning opportunities. "We've all done a lot of work to get to this point," Elizalde stated in the letter. "We want to encourage you to send your students back to school so they can enjoy the learning opportunities that happen on campus every day." The increase of students attending class in person has gone hand-in-hand with a decline in the overall number of positive COVID-19 cases. According to the Austin ISD COVID-19 Dashboard, cases have dropped almost 50% from the month of January to April. The negative correlation trend is also seen across state public schools. The decline in COVID cases has followed months of safety protocols including the regular use of face masks, social distancing where feasible, and now vaccine clinics for staff and families being offered across the district. If you would like your student to resume on-campus learning, please reach out to your campus. On-campus learning can begin as soon as a family chooses throughout the rest of the school year.  This press release was produced by Austin ISD - Announcement. The views expressed here are the author's own.