This is an ongoing issue and response by Leander ISD. As we continue to get new information and make new decisions, the content of this article may be outdated. Please visit our COVID-19 webpage for the most up-to-date news and announcements.

Facility closures until at least May 4

All LISD events and travel are canceled through the end of April and district buildings will remain closed until at least May 4, 2020, after the executive order issued by Governor Greg Abbott. The district will continue to provide instruction and operate remotely during this time. 

We care about the health and safety of our LISD community and will continue to do our part to support efforts to “flatten the curve” of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. 

Please follow the physical distancing orders and recommendations provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), local and federal officials, and health care experts. 

It is extremely important for our students and families to limit contact with others outside their immediate families during this time, and we join our health care colleagues in strongly recommending that everyone stays home and avoids close contact with others.

Grading, GPA, Class rank changes for rest of 2019–20 School 

The Leander ISD Board of Trustees approved updates to grading, grade-point average (GPA) and class rank at a special called meeting Tuesday night. The second semester will not count toward grade-point-averages (GPA) or class rank for any student. 

Starting on April 6, we will launch Phase 2 of our remote learning plan. Learning will continue, even when our buildings are closed. Phase 2 will include the introduction of new content and a pass or incomplete grading system for course credit. As we have suspended normal school operations through May 4, closing our buildings and continuing instruction through remote and distance strategies, we recognize the impacts on student grades and reporting. We have not collected grades or assignments during these initial two weeks of our building closure (through April 5). 

Phase 2 of our Remote Learning Plan to Begin April 6

Our Teaching and Learning, Special Programs, and Technology teams are excited to launch Phase 2 of our remote learning initiative on April 6. Details of the plan are below and broken down by topic. 

Remote Learning Guide for Parents

We are committed to keeping our school communities connected and thriving even as our school buildings remain closed. As we begin Phase 2 of our Remote Learning Plan, our goal is to provide on-going and purposeful student learning that strikes a balance between on-line and off-line learning activities. Teachers will begin to introduce new learning, incorporating projects, assignments, and activities. Learning experiences will be designed to be authentic and engaging, aligned to the TEKS and the LISD curriculum, emphasizing opportunities for interaction with teachers and fellow classmates.

Distribution of Chromebooks 

Need-based Laptop Distribution for Leander ISD Elementary Students 

On Tuesday, April 7, we will begin loaning Chromebook laptops to elementary students (grades PreK–5) who have limited or no access to a device at their homes. 

We installed content filtering on the devices in order to keep students safe while online and to comply with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). These devices are on loan from Leander ISD to provide learning opportunities for all students and are expected to be returned in the future. 

Because we do not have enough devices to distribute to every elementary student, we are respectfully requesting that families utilize resources at home if at all possible. This will allow us to better serve our families who do not currently have devices for their students. 

Chromebook distribution for remote learning will take place at your elementary campus Tuesday, April 7–Thursday, April 9. Students enrolled in the bilingual or PreK programs may pick up their devices at the campus closest to their residence/home if desired.

Please see the schedule below for your campus’ drive-through device pickup date and time.

Tuesday, April 7

Morning – 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

  • Akin
  • Parkside
  • Rutledge
  • Regan
  • River Ridge

Afternoon – 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

  • Naumann
  • River Place

Wednesday, April 8

Morning – 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

  • Larkspur
  • Knowles
  • Faubion
  • Whitestone
  • Grandview

Afternoon – 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

  • Bagdad
  • Camacho
  • Reed
  • Pleasant Hill
  • Cypress

Thursday, April 9 

Morning – 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

  • Plain
  • Block House Creek
  • Westside
  • Mason
  • Bush

Afternoon – 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

  • Winkley
  • Cox
  • Deer Creek
  • Giddens
  • Steiner Ranch

Device Pick-Up Procedures

  • Drive-thru distribution through the front entrance for each school. 
  • In the interest of keeping our families and staff healthy,  LISD will be following social distancing practices throughout the distribution process. 

Technology Support for Middle and High School Students 

The laptop distribution on April 7–9 is focused on our elementary students because most of our secondary students already participate in the mLISD 1:1 program and use a district device or use their own personally owned device. The mLISD district devices for secondary students will continue to be supported as outlined in the mLISD handbook during this time. 

As we have previously shared on our Leander ISD website, two Internet Service Providers (ISP) are providing free, trial internet to homes who may not have access. Please use the COVID19 Technology Support page to seek help as needed. 

You can submit a Technology Help Ticket at http://servicemanager.leanderisd.org/ or call us at 512-570-0566. 

Remote Work for Teachers and Staff

We are sending a separate message to teachers and staff regarding remote work procedures starting April 6.

We will continue to keep you updated.  We will get through this together and come out the other end a more close-knit community than ever.

Thank you for your patience and support during this challenging time.