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This Education Evolution page lays out the district’s plans to reopen and operate schools to ensure the safety of students and campus staff amid the continuing challenge of COVID-19. It lists plans for campus reentry developed with the input and recommendations from government officials, health authorities, teachers, parents and district educators. The content is meant to inform parents and community members about the many safeguards the district is putting into place as schools open during the ongoing pandemic. In addition to in-school learning, Dallas ISD is considering offering at-home virtual learning for families that are interested. This page will be continually updated with additional information.
The Dallas ISD Board of Trustees on July 23 approved moving the start date to Sept. 8. Go here to learn more.
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Other Resources
Using their ead user name and password, campus staff can go here to access the Education Evolution Playbook with reentry guidance for campuses.
As the District gears up for opening and the start of school, we know there are many questions relating to re-entry schedules, safety precautions, and resources available to employees. Refer to Re-Entry Staff Q&A for a wealth of information compiled to address many of your questions.
- Safeguards Dallas ISD is Taking to Keep Students Safe
- Campus Staff Self-Screening Process
- Daily Bus Transportation Safety Procedures
- Arrival and Dismissal Process for Students Walking to School or Arriving by Car
- Student check in at Campus Metal Detectors
- How Will Schools be Cleaned?
- Parents and Visitor Screening Requirements
- How Will Schools Handle a COVID Case on Campus?
- School Nurse Assessment of COVID Symptoms
- What is a Face-to-Face Instructional Model?
- Factors Affecting Face-to-Face or Distance Learning Models
Frequently Asked Questions
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How will Dallas ISD keep students and staff safe when school reopens?
Dallas ISD’s approach to safety includes cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting; health screening and preventative hygiene; physical (social) distancing; and communication, training, and coordination. Masks will be required. The district will provide each student with a limited number of washable masks.
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How will teachers and staff be screened?
Teachers and staff will self-screen for COVID symptoms such as feeling feverish or having a temperature equal to or greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, loss of smell or taste, cough, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, headache chills, sore throat, shaking or shivering, significant muscle pain, or diarrhea. If these symptoms are present, they should not report to work and should contact their supervisor.
The same applies if they have had direct contact or live with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, or have been a) within 6 feet of someone with the virus for at least 15 minutes, or b) directly exposed to infectious secretions (coughed or sneezed on) while not wearing a mask or shield.
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What safety/hygiene equipment will be available for students, staff and visitors?
Disposable masks and gloves will be provided to campuses to use as needed to protect staff and students. These will be provided to students who do not bring their own. Non-contact thermometers and batteries will be provided to campuses to use at entrances. Hand sanitizer will be provided to campuses and portable hand sanitizer stations will be set up between classroom spaces. Refillable hand sanitizers that hook onto backpacks will be provided, one per student. Disposable disinfectant wipes will be provided for students and staff.
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What precautions will be taken at the bus stop and on the school bus?
All drivers will be pre-screened upon arrival at Dispatch before receiving their keys and route. Drivers must wear face masks while driving. All students must wear a mask and use hand sanitizer before boarding the bus.
Parents are asked to assist at bus stops with child supervision for PPE and distance, if possible.
Students will have their temperatures taken before boarding the bus. The parents of any student at a bus stop found to have a fever will be notified and the student will be returned home by bus or picked up by parents. Because there is limited space for social distancing on buses, students must wear masks, and windows will remain open, weather permitting.
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Will students be screened again when they enter the school?
On entering the campus, students who are bus riders will not have their temperatures taken again. Students who are walkers or dropped off will have designated entry points where temperatures will be taken. A student with a fever will be sent to the nurse’s office until the parent picks them up. The clinic will be set up to keep those with COVID-19 symptoms apart from other students who are visiting the nurse.
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What safety equipment will students have in the classroom?
On reporting to the classroom for first period, students will exchange their mask for a face shield or place face shields over their masks. Each classroom will be provided with CDC-approved disinfectant wipes and spray, and hand sanitizer to be used as determined by the teacher.
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Can students go to the cafeteria, gym, and other open spaces?
Yes, as long as they have their masks on and can socially distance as feasible.
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How will elementary students participate in specials, such as PE, music, gifted/talented classes and art?
Gyms will have markings of six feet for spacing. All classrooms that include music and art will be sprayed with disinfectant weekly. A campus may opt for the music and art teachers to rotate into home classrooms or students may be taken to the music and art room depending upon the specific campus space.
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How will students be protected at recess?
Elementary school classroom teachers may have students switch their face shields for masks, as that may be easier for students while outside. If students are more than six feet apart, masks and/or shields are not required, and if they are within six feet, masks/shields are required.
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What precautions will be taken for secondary students?
Secondary students will enter the same classroom at the start of each day to switch from face masks to face shields, and at the end of the day to switch again. The face shield will be left at the campus for disinfecting. Secondary students will keep their face masks with them at all times.
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Will students wear face masks or shields to the cafeteria?
Students may wear masks or shields to the cafeteria for lunch, whichever works better for them. The cafeteria tables will have dividers, so masks/shields are not required to be worn while eating.
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Will secondary students change classrooms during the day?
Secondary students will switch classrooms during transition times, about 3-4 times a day. Each high school will develop a transition that works best for the students and building layout. Students will be encouraged not to gather in the hallways, and teachers and staff will monitor for quick movement from class to class.
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Will assemblies be held?
No. Large assemblies or gatherings of students will not be allowed in the school building until otherwise notified.
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Will the school day be longer to allow for safety measures?
Yes. Fifteen minutes has been added to the school day to allow for the safety measures to be employed.
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What kind of training will be provided for students and staff to educate them on safety procedures?
Students and staff will be required to regularly view safety videos to become familiar with safety concerns and procedures.
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How will the district handle cleaning for buses, classrooms, and other shared spaces?
The District will enhance daily cleaning of all facilities, with special attention to specific high use areas such as door handles, knobs, and buttons. Each school will apply GermBlast weekly. The product, a safe, environmentally friendly and powerful disinfectant, removes and destroys dangerous microorganisms in the environment. Surfaces are treated with a protective polymer that inhibits growth of microorganisms for up to 90 days. The chemical is registered with the EPA and approved for contact surfaces.
Custodians will be trained to deep clean a facility or a specific site within a facility should a confirmed case of COVID-19 be identified on a campus or site and should the site need to be closed for a designated amount of time, as recommended by the CDC.
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What other safety procedures will be implemented?
Teachers are required to build into the schedule at least two handwashing breaks for their students to wash their hands.
Plexiglass dividers will be utilized in classrooms, and classrooms will be cleaned thoroughly.
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Will parents be notified if there is a positive case at their child’s school?
It is against the law for the district to release or identify the names of students or staff who have tested positive for the virus. However, if a positive case is confirmed at your campus, Health Services will begin contact tracing to determine who the student or staff may have come in close contact with. If it is determined that your child was a close contact, you will be notified and given detailed instructions for next steps. Depending on the extent of the contact tracing results, a number of actions could occur, including dismissing entire groups of students, classes, or in worst cases, closing a school for a designated period of time.
