Socorro ISD to start 2020-2021 school year with online learning, staggered classroom returns

EL PASO, Texas -- The Socorro Independent School District has released plans to bring students back for the 2020-2021 school year while adhering to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Texas Education Agency guidelines.

The first day of the school year is set for July 27. In a statement released by the district, Superintendent Jose Espinoza explains the district has revised the school year calendar which will allow for the flexibility to close schools or the district if positive Covid-19 cases or another widespread of cases were to arise.

The district is also implementing three-weeks of full time online instruction. Teachers will be giving lessons online from the classroom.

After the first three weeks the district is planning on bringing students back using a staggered schedule staggered schedule that will allow 25 percent of students to be in their classrooms. They will eventually move to 50 percent, until they reach 100 percent capacity.

"We remain committed to providing the rigorous education that all our students need and deserve," said Espinoza. "All of these decisions are challenging to make, because there are so many individuals who have unique circumstances that we have to take into consideration."

Espinoza went on to note that the district was "committed to supporting students, parents and employees throughout what will be another challenging school year."

The district said parents can change their student's school learning option at the end of the grading period and can opt-in to an online learning model.

It is still unclear which students will go back first, but the district told ABC-7 they want to provide parents options. A survey asking the parents for their feedback will be sent out within the next week.

Click here to read other frequently asked questions about the upcoming school year provided by the district.

The superintendent's entire statement is shown below.