Our communications team will soon provide parents with a video that gives details about and illustrates each instructional model. It will include specific information about safety. If you have additional questions, please email them to customerservice@gpisd.org, and we will work to provide answers. This webpage is constantly updated with new questions and answers.

According to the current Texas Education Agency guidelines, parents must commit to a learning format two weeks prior to the start of school at the latest. This choice is to remain in place for an entire grading period. GPISD will work to accommodate the changing needs of our families. Parents will be able to make changes in programming at the end of each nine-week grading period.

As always, GPISD will work to provide an exceptional educational experience in any scenario.

No. That is not an option, according to the TEA. Parents will have the option to select in-person instruction or virtual.

This has not been determined. We will know more once we see how many families select online classes over in-person.

Those decisions will be determined based on student enrollment in virtual or in-person student need. All GPISD teachers and staff, both virtual teachers and in-person, will report to a GPISD campus and utilize GPISD internet and instructional materials to lead instruction, whether virtual or in-person instruction.

Parents will be able to make the choice for online virtual school or in-person school, beginning July 14, 2020. All parents will be required to select which method of schooling when they register online. GPISD welcomes all returning students to register for the 2020-2021 school year beginning July 14, 2020. All students new to GPISD may begin enrolling that day as well.

We are awaiting guidance from the Texas Education Agency on social distancing requirements in classrooms, gymnasiums, auditoriums, playgrounds, and more.

We will be able to provide instruction to all students in whichever format their families choose. We will also meet or exceed the requirements and mandates regarding social distancing as well as health and hygiene protocols.

Lunch protocols will be finalized next week and communicated to parents soon after. The lunch procedures will be based on input from campus principals, the Child Nutrition department, and district medical officials.

Yes, transportation will be provided for all who qualify. Bus transportation is provided for all special needs students when required by the student’s ARD and IEP.

General education students will be provided transportation, if eligible from the designated transportation areas.

Direct instruction will be delivered by highly qualified teachers via live ZOOM video, pre-recorded instruction, and/or instructional guided lessons through Canvas or Google Classroom, based on the student’s grade. Direct instruction will be provided by teachers prior to all assignments via a set daily schedule for the class.

No. You will not lose your spot. It is the desire of our Superintendent, Board and staff that all our families continue to choose GPISD.

Options are being explored for providing meals to qualified students who select virtual school.

Yes, at this time the Texas Department of State Health Services has not waived the vaccine requirements for students.

Yes. That is our expectation. All students will all follow the same scope and sequence, assessment calendar, and TEKS-based instruction regardless of the setting they choose (in-person or asynchronous).

Principals and staff are working on this schedule currently. You can expect a regular class schedule with “brain breaks” built in over the course of a normal school day. Here are a few more details:

Your child will have a combination of the following learning approaches:

Direct Instruction:

Direct instruction through the Zoom platform

Prerecorded instructional videos

Online assignments that students will access either through Canvas or Google Classroom, according to their grade level.

Teacher Office Hours

Teachers will hold office hours during set periods throughout the day. This will allow students to contact teachers for the support they need to complete their assignments.

Yes, it will be more structured. The asynchronous model will be presented in a structured format that follows a set schedule for a typical school day.

Students who select virtual school will be required to attend and participate in class daily during regular school hours, and instruction will be led by a teacher.  In the spring last year, students’ assignments were limited. Virtual school this year will be a full course load of instruction and assignments that is comparable to what students who are attending school in-person will be required to complete. Teachers delivering virtual instruction will receive additional training and support in digital teaching strategies and using online curriculum for virtual school.

When notification of a possible exposure occurs, GPISD, in coordination with local health authorities, will begin contact tracing and complete a thorough risk assessment. Based on this assessment, a determination as to whether an entire classroom or multiple classrooms are required to quarantine will be made. Students will have the opportunity to access virtual content during the quarantine period.

Our custodial team will only use chemicals that are approved for use in school settings. These include hospital-grade aerosol cleansers that will be used in our buildings, in addition to the cleaning products that are already in use in our regular cleaning protocols. Sanitizing our school buildings for students and staff safety is a top priority for GPISD.

GPISD custodial services will be following strict guidelines regarding cleaning using hospital-grade cleaners, and a stepped-up level of cleaning will occur. GPISD will post cleaning protocols as a part of our reopening protocol required by TEA.

Parents will be asked to review the health screening tool prior to bringing their child to school every day, and students’ temperatures will be taken upon arrival.

We will implement increased signage around campuses promoting disease mitigation strategies, increased cleaning and sanitation practices, as well as frequent reminders of hand hygiene and social distancing.

We have ordered plexiglass shields for use in high traffic areas such as front office reception and other public areas.  In addition, we are providing clear face shields for staff and students. We will update this information as it becomes available.

Our full safety and reopening plan must be submitted to TEA and to Dallas County for approval. It will also be posted online, once approved. GPISD will comply with all health and safety recommendations established by the health department and Texas Education Agency.

Safety guidelines have been developed for conducting all on-campus workouts, rehearsals, and practices. The district will continue to follow all guidelines provided by UIL, TEA, and the state.

Yes. GPISD will ask all staff to complete an online health screening daily before coming to work, and students will have temperatures taken upon arrival at school.

Based on current guidelines, all students and staff will be required to wear face coverings (e.g., face shields or masks) all day.  The district is working to secure these items.  We will continue to monitor CDC, state, and local guidelines throughout the school year. All decisions about the use of face coverings will be based on the priority of keeping students and staff safe.

At this time we are under a mask order from the Governor, so all students, staff, and visitors will be required to wear masks in the building. The district has ordered masks, as has the TEA. It is a changing topic, but currently we expect to see all staff, students, and visitors with masks on in buildings. That may change as health conditions improve and with guidance from our local health department.

Campus principals and athletics/fine arts staff will work to provide PE, music, and art experiences in a way that keeps all students safe.

Yes, students who select virtual school may participate in extracurricular activities if they meet all UIL requirements, are enrolled in the applicable extracurricular course section, and are able to attend on-campus practices and competitions. Students must have their own transportation to and from practices, rehearsals, etc.

Technology devices will be distributed from students’ home campuses. Date and time of this distribution is to be determined.

Contact your campus for dates and times of technology distribution beginning August 10, 2020.

During online registration there will be an opportunity for you to indicate a need. GPISD is investigating the best way to assist families in accessing online learning platforms and lessons via the internet.