Fort Bend ISD virtual learning decision deadline looms

FORT BEND, Texas (KTRK) -- Fort Bend ISD families have until midnight Thursday to decide if they want their child to attend class in-person or go virtual for a third time.

Term 3 runs Jan. 7 through March 12 for the district and plans must be made before the end of today, according to district officials.

As of Thursday morning, there were 257 requests to move from face-to-face to online learning in the district. 1,754 requests were made by parents to move children from online to in-person instruction.

Fort Bend ISD leaders have grown concerned after teachers say too many students have fallen behind while learning online.

Superintendent Dr. Charles Dupre addressed the school board Monday night and said failure rates in the first term were somewhat high.

SEE RELATED STORY: Fort Bend ISD dad says kids' grades are falling due to virtual learning

In some cases, students were completing their work but not attending online classes or vice versa.

"So we're looking very critically at our attendance, taking mechanisms to see if there's something we need to shift in how we take attendance," said Dupre.

One thing the superintendent said they're looking at is something that also involves holding the parents more accountable.

More than 60% of the Fort Bend ISD students are learning online. Dupre said the district should have a detailed plan next month on how to respond to learning concerns.

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