Modified calendar adds three weeks of intersession adjacent to school breaks

June 23, 2020 – Last night, the San Antonio ISD Board of Trustees approved a revised 2020-2021 instructional calendar, which includes 15 additional days as a contingency for COVID-19 outbreaks. The modifications in the newly approved calendar include a week of intersession immediately before or after the originally scheduled Thanksgiving, Winter and Spring breaks. 

An intersessional calendar provides additional days that can be used for students to make up missed days due to a COVID outbreak, and could also be used for those students needing additional support for remediation.   

Earlier this month, the District surveyed its families on calendar options, and the majority of parent feedback favored an intersessional calendar. The calendar includes the same number of regular school instruction days, with the first day of school remaining Aug. 10 and the last day of school for students being June 18. 

During intersession breaks, educators who volunteer for the assignment would be paid to provide instruction and remediation for identified students to prevent regression as a result of COVID-19 school closures. 

The added days of intercession will occur during the following weeks: 

• Nov. 16-20

• Jan. 4-8

• March 15-19 

The District will not be closed during these intercessions. The additional breaks are for students, those teachers who will not be providing instruction, and other employees who would not normally be working through June.

In July, the District will be offering additional opportunities to gather parent feedback on the details of what school and instruction will look like this upcoming school year. 

Based on input so far from staff and parents, SAISD has developed instructional models that include face-to-face, a hybrid (a combination of face-to-face and online instruction), and fully online instruction to accommodate various stages of school closure. 

Safety is a critical component of each plan, with protocols being developed within a framework of hygiene, physical distancing, and other public health considerations. The District will follow the guidance of the METRO Health department and CDC, including the use of masks and other measures.