San Antonio area schools update their back to school plans

SAN ANTONIO - Schools are beginning to announce their back to school plans for the coming school year. (Updated as of August 3)

We will continue to update this list as we receive information from the school district.

Alamo Heights ISD: Alamo Heights ISD is currently planning to start school on August 17, in remote/online learning as directed by Bexar County Health authorities. Face-to-face learning is slated to begin on Tuesday, September 8th. Face masks will be required at all times for students in 4th grad and up. Face masks are recommended for students from Pre K to 3rd grade, although they will be required during arrival and dismissal times. They will also have face shields assigned to them in the classroom. More information regarding student programs and campus information is updated on the district's website. The district will resume its planned Face-to-Face and Heights at Home options after Labor Day. For specific information, please visit the district website (Updated 8/14/2020)

Archdiocese of San Antonio Catholic Schools: All schools in the Archdiocese, except for Holy Cross, will begin school on August 17 with in-person and virtual learning. An Archdiocese spokesperson says he expects about half of all students to be in the classroom, about half will do virtual learning and a smaller number of students will be take part in a hybrid version of in-person and virtual learning. Most schools will offer families one of three options: in-person learning, remote learning that does not consist of live lessons, or a hybrid option that offers live lessons while remotely learning from home. For families that choose in-person learning, the Archdiocese says campuses will follow an re-integration process to gradually bring students back to campus. Please contact the individual Catholic school for more information. (Updated 8/14/2020)

Bandera ISD: Classes begin for students in the Bandera ISD on August 17th. In-person and virtual learning will be available. Bandera ISD says plans are in place to quickly pivot from on-campus to remote instruction if a student needs to remain at home due to quarantine or illness. The district's website also states that face coverings will be required when students are arriving or leaving, transitioning between classes, and when physical distancing cannot be maintained. However, students will be allowed to remove face masks when in class when they are working independently and seated with plenty of distance between desks. More information can be found on the district's website. (Updated 8/14/2020)

Blanco ISD: The district plans to delay the start of school until August 24th. Parents will be given the option for their children to return to school in-person on August 24 or may choose at-home remote learning. Parents will be provided with a secure link that will allow them to choose in-person or at-home learning. The district will ask parents to commit to their choice in grading period increments. More information is provided throughout this plan. Grades and attendance will count for both options. More information can be found here.(Updated 8/4/2020)

Boerne ISD will begin the school year on August 12. Families will select either the Traditional In-Person option or the Boerne E-Learning Option. Two Boerne ISD schools located inside Bexar County - Fair Oaks Ranch Elementary and Van Raub Elementary School - will also reopen to in-person learning following the Texas AG's guidance that local health authorities cannot order 100% distance learning. Boerne ISD's complete back to school plan can be found here. (Updated 7/29/2020)

Cuero ISD: The Cuero Independent School District is implementing their back-to-school plan which they call their "Strong Start Plan." Families will be offered either face-to-face instruction or virtual learning starting on the first day of class, August 17. For on-site instruction, all staff members will be required to fill out a COVID-19 self-screening form before reporting to work. All staff will be used in the afternoons to make sure students are socially distancing in the hallways. The district will limit the amount of students using each restroom and school lunches will be packed individually. Students may still bring their own lunch if they choose, but no deliveries will be allowed on campus. Recess times will also be staggered. For remote learning, teachers will schedule live, interactive sessions with students and have daily office hours. Students will be expected to submit assignments daily. More information can be found on the district's website. (Updated 8/11/2020)

Comal ISD: School begins Tuesday, Aug. 25. Five Comal ISD schools that are located inside Bexar County will open to in-person learning following the Texas AG's guidance that local health authorities cannot force school districts to close campuses. The district has also created a COVID-19 Active Case Dashboard which allows parents to monitor active cases of the virus at specific Comal ISD schools. The dashboard can be found here. More information can be found on the district's website. The district is replacing their app that lets you enroll your child. TXConnect will be replaced with "Skyward" for you to download. Class schedules will be posted there. (Updated 8/14/2020)

Devine ISD: School begins Aug. 24. The district will offer both in-person instruction and remote learning to start the year. More information can be found on the Devine ISD website. The district has also uploaded a FAQ on its website, which can be found here. (Updated 8/14/2020)

East Central ISD: ECISD has announced school will start Aug. 17 and the schools will have remote learning through Labor Day. East Central ISD says in-person learning will resume on September 8, though families may continue to do remote learning. East Central ISD is also sending out a technology survey to find out how many students are in need of a device to participate in distance learning. The district says it has limited devices. The district announced they will offer free WiFi to help students in remote learning. The WiFi will be available in the parking lots of their elementary schools and middle schools, along with high school stadium and gym. More information can be found on the ECISD website. (Updated 8/11/2020)

Edgewood ISD: The Edgewood ISD School Board voted to modify the start date to the 2020-2021 academic calendar from August 10 to August 17, 2020. During the most recent school board meeting, trustees voted to extend remote learning through the first eight weeks of school, until October 9. When campuses do reopen for in-person instruction, students will follow one of three learning models chosen by parents: in-person learning, remote learning, or a hybrid model which will include two days on-campus and three days of remote learning at home. Click here for more information. (Updated 8/5/2020)

Floresville ISD: The first day of classes is set for August 24. Families have the option of choosing in-person learning or remote learning. Additionally, at the elementary school level, students's return will be staggered. Superintendent Dr. Sherri Bays says Pre K through 2nd grade will be allowed to start in-person learning on August 24th, while 3rd through 5th will start remotely. Those students - whose parents chose in-person learning - will be allowed to return to campus on August 27. Back-to-school plans are posted on the district's website and can be viewed here. Additionally, in a letter to parents, the district states that Chromebooks that were ordered in June are on back-order. More information can be found on the Floresville ISD website. (Updated 8/13/2020)

Fort Sam ISD: Classes will begin with 100% distance learning on August 17 through at least the first three weeks. Additionally, students in Pre K through 5th grade will receive asynchronous lessons, meaning the student and teacher will not be in engaging in real-time lessons. Students in 6th through 12th grades will participate in synchronous learning. More information can be found on the district's website. (Updated 7/27/2020)

Great Hearts: Schools will start 'online, on time' and buildings are slated to welcome back students Sept. 8. Then, the district will offer synchronous and asynchronous distance learning throughout the year. You can find out more here.

Harlandale ISD: The first day of school at Harlandale ISD is set for August 24, 2020. The first 4 weeks of school will be 100% remote instruction amid the rise in cases of COVID-19 in Bexar County over the past few weeks. Beginning August 17, parents will be required to choose between in-person instruction and virtual learning for when schools are able to open their doors for classroom learning. More information can be found on the district's websit here. (Updated 8/14/2020)

IDEA Public Schools: “Safety has always been important to us at IDEA Public Schools, but this year, it’s even more important,” says JoAnn Gama, CEO and Superintendent of IDEA Public Schools. “Our decision to start school virtually comes after closely monitoring local and state education and health agencies. We want our parents to know that we are implementing measures to ensure students and staff are protected and the needs of our entire community are considered.” More information can be found on the district's website here. (Updated 8/3/2020)

Jourdanton ISD: District leaders have announced they will push the first day of school to Monday, August 17th, and families will have the option of face-to-face instruction or remote instruction. Additionally, students will have the option to mobile order their lunch, in order to maintain little contact while in the cafeteria. More information can be found on the district's website. (Updated 8/14/2020)

Judson ISD: The school year is slated to begin on Monday, August 24, at the Judson ISD. All students will participate virtually until at least Labor Day. District leaders released a "Return to Learn" plan which includes all available options for Pre K through 12th grade. Click here for more information. On Saturday, August 7th, Dr. Ball sent a letter to parents about returning to school. Judson ISD held a question and answer session for parents and students Aug. 11. It answered questions about the upcoming school ear and how each student will be provided technology. (Updated 8/14/2020)

La Vernia ISD: La Vernia ISD will begin the school year on Wednesday, August 19. Families will have two options: in-person learning and remote learning. The district has posted its reopening plan on its website. (Updated 7/31/2020)

Lackland ISD: Classes are set to begin on August 17th with 100% distance learning for all students for the first four weeks, according to the district's website. The latest information can be found here. (Updated 7/30/20)

Lytle ISD: Lytle ISD will begin the school year on August 26. The district's updated calendar can be viewed here. Families will have the option of face-to-face instruction or remote learning. Lytle ISD's complete back-to-school plan can be found here. (Updated 7/30/20)

McMullen ISD: Classes resume on August 12 at McMullen ISD in McMullen County, south of San Antonio. In-person instruction will be the only option available. For more information, click here. (Updated 8/6/2020)

Medina Valley ISD: Medina Valley ISD will begin the first day of class on August 25. All campuses will offer both in-person and distance learning starting on the first day of class, including Luckey Ranch Elementary School. For more information: CLICK HERE (Updated 7/30/20)

Natalia ISD: Natalia ISD's first day of school will be Aug. 24. The district will provide 100% remote learning for the first week and will phase in the students wishing for on-campus instruction over the second and third weeks of the school year. (Updated 7/31/2020)

New Braunfels ISD: First day of school is August 24 and families will have the option of full-time, in-person learning or full-time remote instruction. Families that choose full-time remote instruction must commit for the first nine weeks. Parents have been getting information from district leaders through a series of Zoom meetings, which can be found here. More information can be found on the district's website. (Updated 7/30/20)

North East ISD: The district will provide 100% distance learning at all campuses for a minimum of the first three weeks of the school year. Classes at Castle Hills Elementary began on Tuesday, July 21. Classes at all other NEISD schools will begin on August 17. Additionally, on August 13th, the district announced a 5-phase plan to bring students back to campus after Labor Day. Priority will be given to students with special needs and those whose parents may have unique working situations that make remote learning unsuitable. More information about the phase-in plan can be found here. Parents will be expected to screen their students for COVID-19 each day before going to class. The plan also states that classrooms and restrooms will be disinfected daily. Students of all ages will be required to wear some type of a face covering. The full safety plan can be seen here. To see more of NEISD's back-to-school plans regarding distance learning, click here. (Updated 8/17/2020)

Northside ISD: Northside ISD will begin the 2020-2021 school year on Monday, August 24 with 100% distance learning. There will be no in-person learning until at least Tuesday, September 8th. Between August 3 and August 16, parents will be asked to choose between virtual or in-person learning. The district is also using a new learning system, replacing Google Classroom. The district said this will make for a more robust learning experience. Much more information, including details of the instructional learning options (in-person or virtual), as well as sample schedules and FAQs can be found here. Information about School Supply Lists and Classroom Wish Lists can be found here. On Aug. 11, the school district shared its cafeteria plans for students that return to school. (Update 8/11/2020)

Pleasanton ISD: Pleasanton ISD Superintendent is requesting to push the school year start date from August 17 to September 8. The board will meet on August 4 to consider the change. "The additional time will allow us to continue to monitor developments and cases, train staff on new protocols and learning techniques, and allow families more time to decide if a face-to-face or virtual learning platform will be most appropriate for their families," Dr. Matthew Mann stated on the district's website. (Updated 7/24/2020)

Poteet ISD: Supply chain issues have delayed internet hot spot orders so they have postponed school start date to August 31st. Students doing in-person instruction will be dismissed at 2pm each day so that teachers have the rest of the afternoon to work with remote learners. (Updated 8/18/20)

Poth ISD: Poth ISD will begin the school year on August 13, 2020. Families will have the option of in-person learning or virtual learning. More information can be found on the district's website. (Updated 8/3/2020)

Pre K 4 SA: School officials said they will begin classes for the 2020-2021 academic year on August 17 with 100% remote learning. You can learn more about Pre K 4 SA's remote learning plan here. (Updated 7/30/20)

Randolph Field ISD: Randolph Field ISD will begin the school year on August 24th with remote-only instruction. On-campus learning will resume on September 21 for those families who choose in-person learning. More information can be found on the district's website here. (Update 8/10/20)

San Antonio ISD: The San Antonio Independent School District released a draft of its school year plan on Tuesday, which will begin remotely for all students on August 17. The 45 page plan details five levels of operation in six areas, including building status, safety protocols, academic and instructional continuity, operations, transportation and nutrition. Highlights include classroom layouts with physical distancing, bus layouts with plans to seat one child in every other row, and plans to provide children in Pre-K through 2nd grades with face shields to wear in addition with - or in place of - a face covering. On Monday, August 10, the district announced its tiered plans to reopen, which you can find on their website.(Updated 8/10/2020)

San Felipe Del Rio CISD: The board of trustees voted to delay the start of the school year to August 26, 2020. The first three weeks will be conducted entirely online through distance learning. More information can be found here. (Updated 7/23/2020)

Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD: The SCUCISD board voted to start the school year on August 13 with 100% distance learning until Tuesday, September 8. In a statement posted on the district's website, the board further noted that, "Both In-person instruction (SCUC on Campus) and Remote instruction (SCUC @ Home) will be available to students on September 8. Parents will be given additional time and flexibility during the first two weeks of the remote instruction window to decide what method of instruction best works for their children." On August 5, school officials also released pictures of bus sanitation efforts and new plexiglass partitions installed in school offices. More information can be found here. (Updated 8/5/2020)

Seguin ISD: The Seguin ISD will begin the school year on September 8th. A Back-to-School Blueprint is posted on the district's website, which states that families will have the option of in-person learning or remote learning environments. The complete plan can be found here. More information can be found on the district's website. (Updated 7/30/20)

Somerset ISD: Somerset ISD will begin the school year on August 24th with 100% distance learning. Students will engage in distance learning until at least September 7th. A virtual town hall for parents is set for August 5 at 6 p.m. More information can be viewed here. (Updated 7/23/2020)

Southside ISD: Announced it will begin the school year online - August 17th - with 100% distance learning for the first four weeks. Superintendent Rolando Ramirez said the school board is also considering extending that period an additional four weeks, for a total of eight weeks of distance learning. Once they can go back, parents will have the option of remote learning, hybrid or in-person instruction. Ramirez also outlined some of the district's safety protocols, including temperature tunnels which will measure the temperatures of students and staff every day, one-way hallways, and restrooms that will only be used by one person at a time. The district's complete "Learn YOUR Way" plan can be found here. (Updated 8/6/2020)

South San Antonio ISD: South San ISD will begin the year with 100% virtual learning on Wednesday, August 12th. The district released its "Back to School" plan; it can be viewed here. As the first day of school quickly approaches, we have launched its Back to School website, which lays out the district’s plans to reopen and operate schools to ensure the safety of our students and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, will serve The website will serve as your official resource for all information pertaining to in-person and virtual learning for the 2020-2021 school year which begins virtually on August 12. A curbside event is set for Saturday, August 8, for families to pick up school supplies, chromebooks, hotspots and to get help with school registration. (Updated 8/4/2020)

Southwest ISD: The first day of school is Monday, August 24. A virtual town hall for parents was held on August 6. However, according to the district's website, parents are asked to make a choice if they would like their students to begin the school year remotely or in person by August 14. Click here for more information from the Southwest ISD Facebook page. (Updated 8/7/2020)

Uvalde CISD: Uvalde CISD will begin the school year with 100% distance learning when classes resume on August 17. Superintendent Dr. Hal Harrell announced that the 100% virtual setting would continue through the first four weeks of class, until September 11th. In-person learning will begin on September 14. More information can be found on the Uvalde CISD's website here. (Updated 7/31/2020)

This story will be updated as we receive the information from each school district.