What is Remote Conferencing?

Forney ISD is offering Remote Conferencing to support students while they are temporarily away from campus.  A Remote Conferencing Teacher is assigned to students to work remotely each school day. During this time, students will receive support for class assignments through teacher(s) Canvas courses. Students will be counted present for the day and will receive school credit for attendance. Remote Conferencing will be offered beginning Mon., Aug. 23.

Students who are in quarantine as the result of a confirmed positive test for COVID 19 or having direct exposure to someone who has tested positive for COVID 19 are eligible.

WHAT IS REMOTE CONFERENCING?

On Aug. 5, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced school districts could use “remote conferencing” as a way for eligible students to participate in learning from home for up to 20 school days during the academic year. This means students will have an opportunity to keep up with their learning and assignments while isolating or self-quarantining at home.

In accordance with TEA guidelines, students who participate in remote conferencing will be considered present for attendance purposes.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR REMOTE CONFERENCING?

A student is eligible for remote conferencing if they:

• have a temporary medical condition documented by a physician that notes that a student must remain confined to their home or hospital OR
• have tested positive for a communicable condition, such as COVID-19 OR
• have been identified as having been in close contact with COVID-19

HOW WILL REMOTE CONFERENCING WORK AND WHAT WILL IT LOOK LIKE?

Remote conferencing will be available for eligible students in grades K-12 and guidance will be provided for core content areas — math, science, reading and social studies. 

Per TEA (Texas Education Agency) guidelines, the following are Forney ISD’s remote conferencing general expectations: 

• Students will be online synchronously, with an assigned online facilitator via Zoom. 
• Kinder-5th Grade   9:00am-11:00am
• 6th - 12th   9:00am-1:00pm
• Attendance will be taken at 9:15am.
• Students are expected to have the camera on and be visible at all times.
• Students will not conference into their regular classroom with their campus teacher.

WHAT IF I DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE ZOOM APP?

Students who are on a district chromebook will not have access to download the Zoom app. Instead, students will click on “join through your browser” to enter the Zoom classroom.

ARE STUDENTS REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN REMOTE CONFERENCING?

Students will not be required to participate in remote conferencing . If the student is too sick to participate, the student will be marked absent and will be given the opportunity to make up the missed assignments based on the district’s grading guidelines.

APPROVAL PROCEDURES FOR REMOTE CONFERENCING?

Families should notify their campus nurse as soon as possible if their child has tested positive for COVID-19 or if they are choosing to self-quarantine due to exposure. After notifying the campus, an email will be sent to the student and parent within 24 hours to offer remote conference learning.