No More Waiting

We are weeks away from starting the 2021- 2022 school year. The return to public schools will look as diverse as the students served by them. In the Dallas metroplex, options for returning to instruction I am aware of include: Extended school days, an extended school year, year-round schedules, a hybrid of virtual/ classroom instruction, full-day instruction with and without masks and all day virtual instruction. There appears to be an option for just about everyone.

This should tell us that politicians and education administrators have embraced the idea of innovation and alternatives for students in our public schools. What it appears to tell us is education administrators and politicians have no collective idea of how education in north Texas will look in the fall. The uncertainty is probably worrisome to many students and families. Parents not knowing how to organize schedules or students concerned about instruction modalities will likely result in a rocky and frustrating start to the new school year.

We are long past the first anniversary of the landing of COVID-19 and the closing of schools. The fact that there is no uniform plan for schools yet is concerning. This reality further reinforces my thought it is time for parents who are weary of uncertainty in education to look into steps they can take to ensure their children’s academic needs are met. Waiting for politicians to create a safe, functional and effective education environment for all children is not good use of our time. Instead, perhaps we should research alternatives that might be available to us.

Alternatives like learning pods and micro schools are increasingly available in communities. Private schools remain a viable option as well. Homeschooling is more popular than ever as parents opt to take full responsibility for their children’s learning. Many parents are hiring working and retired teachers to teach the subject matter they can’t, which is an excellent support for parents who want to homeschool.

Rather that settle for indecision that negatively impacts instruction, let’s take time to explore options that may serve our children well, resulting in improved social and academic achievement. Politicians and education administrators have demonstrated their commitment to public education and their ability to get education on track. While they are still working things out, we can move forward for the wellbeing of our kids.

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