Texas school kids are now learning remotely. Will that change before the school year comes to an end?
The question is valid. Most school districts around the Houston area end in late May. Governor Greg Abbott has closed schools until May 4th. Conroe ISD Superintendent Dr. Curtis Null doesn't want to speculate on what will happen.
"It's way too early to make that call," Null said. He thinks it's important to hold out hope kids can come back.
"People can look out and see that there is a chance to have normal operations and have normal school; it does give them hope," Null stated.
In Alvin ISD, Superintendent Carol Nelson says the decision to return to the classroom is not one she can make.
"It would be based on what the health officials would recommend. We don't want to put anyone in harm's way," Nelson explained.
But Houston education consultant Ibrahim Firat says we need to take a more realistic approach to the rest of the school year, telling KTRH he doesn't see any way that kids return to class before the fall.
"We should assume that school is going to finish at home this school year," Firat said. "With what's happening I don't foresee an end in sight for us to go back to school anytime soon."
Fort Bend ISD's Charles Dupre agrees with Firat. He told KTRH online learning is going well. But, is everyone attending class. Reports in Los Angeles say about 15-thousand kids have been absent from online learning.
"I have not seen the date yet on how many students we may not have been able to reach. But I'm not hearing concerns from principles, teachers, and staff.
Dupre says if there are children who have not been attending, the district will have to find a way to make up for it.
"We're going to have to figure out what the plan is for those children. As of now I do not have concerns that students are not participating in school," Dupre explained.