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Richardson ISD plans to reduce class sizes, offer more remedial programs to offset COVID-19 learning loss

Planning for district-wide programs is already underway even though funding is uncertain.

Richardson ISD is drawing up plans to offset learning loss during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some students in the district have fallen behind, and others have not achieved “a full year of academic growth during the pandemic,” Superintendent Jeannie Stone said in a video report.

Administrators plan to take multiple steps to address learning loss, including to reach out to students and families who fell out of regular contact during the pandemic, Stone said. Their goal is to get programs in place by the summer and for the 2021-22 school year.

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During the video report, Stone detailed more information about the plans. The list includes:

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  • The creation of the RISD Virtual Learning Academy as a permanent and separate RISD school choice for students K-8, pending passage of state laws to allow that option.
  • Comprehensive summer remedial and enrichment programs for students in grades pre-kindergarten through 8.
  • Expanded Saturday instruction and intervention programs.
  • Reading and math interventionist specialists in every elementary school.
  • Advanced phonics training and materials for every kindergarten and first grade teacher in the district.
  • Reduced class sizes in fifth and sixth grades at schools with higher student-to-teacher ratios.
  • Reduced class sizes at junior highs and high schools.
  • Reduced high school class sizes for core end-of-course tested subjects.
  • Smaller high school class sizes for remediation courses.
  • Additional support for special education students.
  • More student access to counseling services and community resources.
  • Interest camps in areas such as robotics, coding, writing and design to help students connect with schools.
  • Elementary extracurricular teams and leagues, such as basketball, cheer, volleyball and dance.

The district estimates the annual cost of the initiatives to be $28.2 million over the next two years, plus an additional one-time cost of $4.1 million.

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Most of the money is expected to come from Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds approved by Congress.

District officials won’t know the exact amount of federal funding Richardson will receive until the money is distributed by the state. But Stone told the school board last week the district cannot wait for the money to be distributed and needs to move forward with launching the programs.

“We don’t know how much money we’ll receive, exactly, and we haven’t received anything yet,” Stone said in a video presentation. “It’s notable that Texas is one of only two states that has not distributed these funds.”

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