Distributes computers, hotspots, food boxes, backpacks
ALDINE – Like many school districts in the Houston-area, the Aldine Independent School District is going to begin the school year with virtual learning. In order to meet the needs of students in the district and bridge the digital divide, Aldine ISD officials handed out Chromebooks and hotspots to hundreds of families last Monday.
The drive-thru distribution event took place at Aldine High School Monday afternoon ahead of the district’s Aug. 17 start date.
“All children deserve equal access to education and so with COVID-19 magnifying that devise, we are making sure that our students are getting the learning tools that they need to be successful,” said Aldine High School Assistant Principal Shavonya Rasberry-Vaughan.
District officials said more than 5,000 families signed up for the event and each family got one set of devices. With such a high need among students in the district, officials say they will plan a second event to hand out devices to more students.
District Gears Up for Second Round of Device Distribution for Students
Families need to submit an online request form by midnight on August 10; distribution will take place on August 14.
Distance learning online education. A schoolboy boy studies at home and does school homework. A home distance learning. The Aldine Independent School District is providing Chromebooks to students that need one just in time for the first day of school, August 17.
The District’s re-entry plan, Return to Learn, has all students learning virtually from home for at least the first three weeks of the 2020-21 school year. Currently, Aldine’s plan allows a return to physical classrooms on Tuesday, September 8, if their parents or legal guardians have chosen the on-campus learning model. Students on the learning at home model will continue to receive virtual instruction.
Earlier this month, the District held the first round of device distribution targeting families that had chosen the learning at home option. To get technology in the hands of more students, Aldine ISD is hosting another learning device distribution event on August 14 geared to:
• families that selected Learning On Campus on the Commitment Form and have not already received a device, and
• families that received confirmation to pick up a loaner device on August 3 but did not attend (regardless of the reason).
If other children in the home have already checked out a learning device (e.g., Chromebook, laptop), the family is not eligible at this time.
Families that do not have a personal device at home should consider requesting a device. Students learning on campus will need a device at home to complete assigned tasks online.
Aldine will contact families that selected Learning On Campus on Friday, August 7. They need to complete a Request for Technology Form online. The link to the form will remain open until midnight on Monday, August 10. Registration must be completed by midnight on Monday, August 10. Please note that at this time, we are limiting devices to one per family.
Families who received a confirmation email for the August 3 device distribution but were unable to pick up their device will receive a new confirmation email on August 12. These families do not need to complete the Request for Technology Device Form again.
“Aldine ISD is working hard to ensure students have access to learning tools during these unprecedented times. Earlier this month, we distributed almost 4,000 devices to students across the District,” said Chief Business and Operations Officer Dr. Tamika Alford-Stephens. “As we near the first day of school, we recognize that many of our families are still without technology to support student learning.”
Alford-Stephens noted that Aldine and other school districts are adapting to a “new” normal due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She added that AISD would continually monitor local health conditions and reassess as needed throughout the school year.
“Providing students access to a device before the start of the school year will help them complete assigned tasks online once schools open, but they will also have a smoother transition if we need to go to our online learning platform this school year,” Alford-Stephens said.
While the District is limiting devices to one per family, as more devices become available, additional distributions will take place.
Families without internet are encouraged to reach out to their cell phone and internet providers. Several cell phone service and internet providers are offering access to free internet for those who live in our community. The District has also compiled a list of known resources for Aldine ISD.
For more information about the District’s device distribution plan, please visit our Aldine ISD District Devices FAQs.