As required, Uplift has created a  
Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Service Plan (English and Spanish)

Requests for hard copies or translation in another language other than what is posted can be made at the district office.

Uplift is continuing to prioritize the health and safety of our community by continuing many practices we had in place last year to keep our community safe by encouraging masks, health screenings, vaccines, and testing.  We are encouraging schools to continue:   

• Mask wearing: recommended for all
• Good hygiene: wash hands and sanitize frequently 
• Mouth covering: cover your mouth when sneezing or coughing 
• Cleaning: frequently clean and sanitize high touch spaces 
• Ventilation: ensure all ventilation systems have MERV-13 filters, which are changed and maintained quarterly 
• Screening: require scholars, staff, and visitors to complete a FULL Luminare screen prior to coming to school/work 
• Testing: get tested for illness if you’re experiencing symptoms (flu, strep, and COVID-19 testing is available to scholars). Free testing is available for staff, scholars, and families on-site
• Vaccinations: encourage vaccines of our staff, families, and scholars to keep the community safe 
• Reporting: maintain our live Covid-19 reporting dashboard on our website 

Masks are encouraged on all Uplift campuses.

The daily quick screen, Luminare, is not required. Scholars and staff are encouraged to report confirmed positive COVID-19 cases and COVID symptoms to nurse@uplifteducation.org.

Each classroom will be supplied with spray disinfectant, hand sanitizer, and disinfecting wipes. Teachers and instructional staff will be empowered to clean as often as needed. There are also wipes in every classroom for scholars to clean their own desk and chair spaces.

Our primary schools are building into their daily schedules multiple breaks when scholars will clean/ sanitize their hands. All Secondary classrooms have hand sanitizer in them as well for scholars to use.

Common areas (e.g., restrooms) are cleaned throughout the day and electrostatic misters are used for additional cleaning.
Like last year, we are ensuring that all ventilation systems have MERV-13 filters, which are changed and maintained quarterly.

While the majority of our learning this year is in-person at this time, we will offer remote learning for scholars who are medically fragile in grades 7-12. Additionally, we will have remote conferencing for scholars who miss school due to testing positive for COVID-19 and feel well enough to engage in learning and scholars who have to miss school due to having to quarantine due to COVID-19 exposure (10 days)

Unfortunately, the Texas Legislature did not pass a virtual school bill that would allow public school districts/charter school networks to continue offering a virtual learning option. Hence, Uplift is planning for all scholars to be in person for the 2021-22 school year.   

We are aware that some school districts, such as Frisco ISD, have recently announced their intention to provide virtual learning to their students. However, it is still unclear at this time how they are going to receive funding, as the state will not allow schools to receive funding for virtual learning. 

As CEO of Uplift Education, I do not have the power to institute a virtual learning option. The only person who can do that is Texas Governor Greg Abbott, by signing an emergency executive order allowing school districts to offer virtual learning and receive funding from the state. We urge families who want to pursue this path to contact Governor Abbott’s office directly and voice their concerns and support for virtual learning:  

Online:  
https://gov.texas.gov/apps/contact/opinion.aspx  

Telephone:  
1(800) 843-5789  

Mail:  
Office of the Governor 
P.O. Box 12428 
Austin, Texas 78711-2428 

Scholars are not enrolled until they are physically present at the time of attendance. If a scholar will not be there the first few days of school due to a confirmed positive COVID test (an excused absence) or other medically excused absence, it is important to share that information with your school to save their spot. 

If your child is not in attendance by the third day of school and does not have an excused absence, they will be unenrolled from their Uplift campus allowing another child on the waitlist to fill their seat. Your child would also receive unexcused absences that could potentially lead to truancy court. 

We believe we can create a safe environment for your scholar at school and will continue to track and report on our dashboard our weekly cases.  

We strongly recommend for all children 12 and up to get vaccinated. Due to our understanding of the data, the majority of those with COVID-19 vaccines are not being hospitalized even if they become infected with the Delta variant. We will continue to provide vaccination clinics for those who would like to be vaccinated. We invite our families to email nurse@uplifteducation.org to upload their child’s vaccination card, schedule a COVID-19 test, or if they need assistance finding a vaccination site near them.

Science is showing that the most common symptoms of the Delta variant in children are runny nose, respiratory issues, fever and diarrhea. We ask that you monitor these signs in your child and take them to their own pediatrician if these symptoms exist. You can also reach out to your school’s nurse to schedule a Telehealth visit at your school’s clinic. 

Teachers will send any scholar who appears symptomatic to the nurses' office. Our school nurses will assess scholars who are not feeling well throughout the day and contact parents as appropriate. Our nurses’ offices are also equipped with Telehealth equipment and services through Children’s Health. Scholars are welcome to see a physician through our telehealth program with Children’s Health if they are 18 years of age or younger.

Scholars, teachers, and staff should stay home when they have signs of any infectious illness and be referred to their healthcare provider for testing and care. 

Every campus will have on-site testing available! Scholars, family members and staff are ALL able to get tested at our Uplift schools' nurse offices. Staff and scholars are able to get both RAPID and PCR tests and family members are welcome to get PCR tests. Reach out to your school nurse to schedule a test.

Uplift will continue to provide transparency of our COVID-19 cases with all members of our community. We will continue to communicate if there is a positive COVID-19 case on our campuses through our live dashboard which will be updated daily found on Uplifteducation.org/BTS2021.

No. For scholars, COVID-19 has now been added to the list of diseases that can cause students to be excluded from an in-person learning environment.  This means if a child tests positive for COVID, whether they have symptoms or not, they will be required to stay home from school for 10 days from the time of the first symptom or a positive test result.

Additionally, if a staff member is positive for COVID (regardless of vaccination status and symptomology), Uplift requires staff isolate for 10 days from the sign of the first symptom/positive test.

If your scholar is found to be in close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19, we will message you directly. For middle and high school scholars, we will also send out a broader group notification due to the continuous movement of our older scholars throughout the day. You can expect to receive notification for a positive case if it pertains to your scholar’s grade level, advisory class, and athletic team.

All primary school desks will be spaced ~3 feet apart in our classrooms.  Teachers will not be placing desk in “pods” or grouping desks together which is sometimes the preferred classroom configuration in primary.  

In order to minimize time spent in our hallways during class transitions, we will not allow secondary scholars to use their lockers for at least the first semester.  Your child will carry what they need to each class in their backpacks which will stay with them throughout the day.

Yes, playgrounds, gyms, cafeterias, libraries and other public spaces will be open and available for use.

All scholars will be required to wear uniforms in accordance with your school's uniform policy.  Check your school's Families & Scholars web page for the full policy.

Just as we did last year, we will continue to be nimble as we get guidance from the state and federal levels regarding any updates to our COVID-19 safety protocols. We will respond as quickly as possible, and we commit to keeping our families and staff informed as always. We invite you to check this page for the latest information, uplifteducation.org/BTS2021, and thank you for your patience and understanding.