Hal Harrell
Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District is offering a virtual option for students who don’t feel comfortable returning to a classroom after the May 24 shooting at Robb Elementary. The program is open to all grade levels.
For weeks, many Uvalde families have asked district leadership to make this an option, citing concerns for student well-being and a lack of trust in district security measures, despite the $4.5 million injection into campus security and safety.
UCISD Superintendent Hal Harrell said district administration met with Texas Education Agency and Education Service Center Region 20 officials to launch the program.
The TEA placed limitations on virtual schooling after the pandemic, but Harrell said those limitations have been waived for UCISD.
The UCISD Virtual Academy will be available as long as necessary, Harrell said, adding that the platform will be both synchronous and asynchronous learning.
Asynchronous learning is typically self-guided instruction not happening in real time, while synchronous is similar to being on-campus in a real-time format. He said UCISD Virtual Academy teachers will be from Uvalde, but officials are waiting on enrollment numbers to determine how staffing will be allocated for the program.
The district asks that interested families complete the online survey at uvaldecisd.net/back2school. The application period opened on Aug. 10 and will close on Aug. 31.
The first day of classes at UCISD is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 6.
To attend the UCISD Virtual Academy, a student must be enrolled at UCISD, have reasonable access to in-person services at a district school or facility, and maintain fewer than 10 unexcused absences over a six month period.
Students will be able to use district-issued iPads to attend classes and will be given the free school supplies that have been donated to all UCISD students.
