EPISD Opens Learning Pods - Find Out Who Goes Back To School

The El Paso Independent School District has announced that they will be opening learning pods at all district campuses on Monday, November 9. Students who have been identified as having a priority need will be in the learning pods.

District schools are required to reopen per state mandate even though the numbers of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations has risen sharply in El Paso County and even though County Judge Ricardo Samaniego issued a stay-at-home order last week. Superintendent Juan Cabrera said he knows that parents and district staff are nervous about returning to in-school learning, but he said that "a lot of time and energy making our campuses safe and appropriate for learning during these uncertain times.”

EPISD, as did a number of other local school districts, requested a waiver to continue online learning until the spring semester, but they were only given permission from the Texas Education Agency to do so through Friday, November 6. The district came up with a new plan along with other local school districts to reopen for students in certain priority populations. The El Paso area is currently in the TEA red zone, which is the highest COVID-19 hospitalization rates, and until that changes and COVID-19 hospitalization rates fall below 15%, face-to-face instruction for all students will be on hold.

According to EPISD, students with excessive absences or failing grades in two or more core subjects which are math, science, social studies and English, and students with what the district calls "extenuating circumstances" will be allowed back on campus. If your child is identified as part of those groups of students, you will be notified by the district on returning to campus protocol.

For information about EPISD’s Reopening Plan and protocols, visit episd.org.