Virtual School Offered For Fall Semester: Conroe ISD

CONROE, TX — Conroe Independent School District Superintendent Curtis Null announced a one-semester virtual learning option for students in Pre-K through sixth grade in a video address to parents Friday evening.

The virtual option will only be offered for the fall 2021 semester, and the program is being put in place because of rising COVID-19 indicators in Montgomery County as well as the fact that children under age 12 are not yet eligible to receive a vaccination for the virus, Null said in the address.

The program requires an application, which must be submitted by Tuesday. Null said priority would be given to families who have “unique special circumstances.” Conroe ISD begins school Wednesday.

Null described the program as a bridge program for families who intend to bring their children back for in-person instruction at Conroe ISD schools in the spring semester.

"This is not intended to be a replacement for in-person instruction," Null said. "In-person instruction is the best way to educate your children. This is an option for those of you who feel like you cannot send your child to in-person instruction because of your family’s circumstances. This program is an alternative to having to withdraw your child and take them to either homeschool or to a different online charter program."

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Students enrolled in the virtual option will lose their seat in their in-person classroom, and while they will have a Conroe ISD teacher for virtual learning, it likely will not be one from their school. In his address, Null emphasized the importance of teachers not having to be responsible for multiple forms of instruction, so virtual instructors will only teach virtually and in-person teachers will only teach in the classroom.

Students in virtual learning will not be able to participate in extracurricular activities on campus, according to the program’s participation agreement.