Thank you for your interest in Austin ISD and our virtual learning option
We are excited to welcome your child back to school this fall. We know that the best place for children to learn and to thrive is in school, and we are committed to providing a safe and healthy environment so that we can welcome each and every student back to our classrooms.
Austin ISD will continue to implement health and safety protocols for the new school year at all of our schools. Aligned with the CDC’s recommendation that “children should return to full-time in-person learning in the fall with layered prevention strategies in place,” Austin ISD is ready to open our doors and safely welcome your children back to school.
We recognize that our K–6 students cannot get vaccinated yet, so while we have taken every precaution to ensure our schools are safe, for students who need additional options we will now offer a virtual learning option.
Virtual learning application: https://austinisd.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3I2UABUhIF29t9Y
What to expect from the 2021 virtual learning option:
Students will engage in virtual learning via the BLEND platform and receive direct virtual teacher-led instruction.
Students opting for virtual learning will not be allowed to participate in extracurricular activities.
Students will remain enrolled at their home campus, and will be served by Austin ISD teachers and staff. Teachers providing virtual instruction will be solely dedicated to students learning virtually.
Core student services will be provided through both live interaction and independent work.
Examples of core student services: Academic instruction in math, reading/language arts, science and social studies, and necessary intervention services.
A minimum commitment for the fall semester from families will be required. Students will be able to choose to return to in-person learning at the end of the second nine-week period (Dec. 17, 2021).
Students participating in virtual learning will be welcomed back to their home schools on Jan. 4, 2022.
As an added support to our Austin community, we want to make this virtual option available for families not currently attending an Austin ISD school, if spots are available. All non-Austin ISD families submitting an application will automatically be placed on a waitlist and only contacted should a spot become available.
To learn more, see our FAQs.
- Virtual learning will not be available to the following:
- Students eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine (ages 12 and up)
- Pre-K and seventh- through 12th-grade students
- Students who qualify for homebound services
Timeline:
- Application Closes: Thursday, Aug. 5 at 11:59PM
- Families Notified of Acceptance to Virtual Learning Option: Monday, Aug. 9 at 5PM
- Families Must Accept Virtual School Offer: Tuesday, Aug. 10 at 11:59PM
- Notify Out-of-District families if space has become available: Wednesday, Aug. 11
- Virtual School Orientation: Friday, Aug. 13
- First Day of School: Tuesday, Aug. 17
What’s important to know:
This will be a temporary option available for students in kindergarten through sixth grade during the Fall 2021 semester (Aug. 17–Dec. 17, 2021).
Families must complete the virtual application by Thursday, Aug. 5, at 11:59 p.m.
Support for the application process will be provided to families in the following ways:
The Parent Engagement Support Office team will be available at the Austin ISD Central Office (4000 S. I-H 35 Frontage Rd., Austin, TX 78704) 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Monday, Aug. 2– Thursday, Aug. 5.
Families may call the Parent Engagement Support Office helpline at 512-414-0726 for English or Spanish support with the application form beginning at 9 a.m. Aug. 2 and continuing through 6 p.m. Aug. 5.
For more information, families may use our Let’s Talk communications platform by texting 512-886-6434 or visiting https://www.austinisd.org/letstalk, or families may call their school office.
Families may call their home or neighborhood school office.