LEARNING

Nationwide, community members are protesting the teaching of social-emotional learning – largely because conservatives have linked it with another flashpoint in public education: critical race theory.

With the start of the 2022-2023 school year more than a month away, the Brownsville Independent School District is taking applications for remote learning. Students wishing to attend remote learning must meet the following eligibility requirements:>>Be enrolled in a school district or open enrollment charter school. The following are the steps for admission:>> Parents apply for remote learning​;>> Parents with multiple children must submit one application per child;>> Application is reviewed by remote learning committee​;>> The student is evaluated through TEA criteria. Students admitted to remote learning must maintain Brownsville ISD attendance requirements, academic performance, and practice appropriate online etiquette. Parents will be notified by e-mail of acceptance or denial to remote learning no later than August 5, 2022 by 5 p.m.

The move to Western equipment is increasingly important as Ukraine runs low on Soviet-era arms.

Social-emotional learning, or SEL, addresses children’s feelings and interpersonal skills as they learn. A variety of programs integrate SEL into the curriculum to help students build self-awareness and self-management, improve responsible decision-making and develop relationship skills. Advocates say social-emotional learning can help boost students’ confidence, teach them to better manage their emotions and prevent bullying. Some educators also use SEL to help children process their feelings in an effort to reduce rising suicide rates. In Oklahoma, a state senator in February introduced a bill that would bar schools from using funds for SEL education.

Social-emotional learning, or SEL, addresses children’s feelings and interpersonal skills as they learn. A variety of programs integrate SEL into the curriculum to help students build self-awareness and self-management, improve responsible decision-making and develop relationship skills. Advocates say social-emotional learning can help boost students’ confidence, teach them to better manage their emotions and prevent bullying. Some educators also use SEL to help children process their feelings in an effort to reduce rising suicide rates. In Oklahoma, a state senator in February introduced a bill that would bar schools from using funds for SEL education.

Phone lines at many of the city’s Catholic schools were jammed with calls this week from weary parents inquiring how to enroll their children.

Texas Southmost College in Brownsville has joined other institutions of higher education and is starting spring semester 2022 with remote learning. TSC official on Friday stated that out of an abundance of caution and concern over COVID-19 trends, TSC students will begin the spring semester with remote learning on Jan. 17 and will return to campus on Jan. 31. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley also announced that it too would return to remote learning when the semester starts on Jan. 18 because of COVID=29 concerns. Students will return to campus on Jan. 28. South Texas College will also begin the spring semester with online classes this first week of the semester, which begins on Jan. 18.

With the deadline approaching for parents of Brownsville Independent School District children wanting to sign up their children for remote learning, the district has already received over 3,000 applications.

It’s about being better parents, partners and humans when we aren’t compelled to go hide in the bathroom for a little peace.

The Brownsville Independent School District will start the application process for remote learning on Wednesday and close it at 5 p.m. Sept. 20, 2021.

Houston Independent School District Superintendent Millard House II took to the mic with concern in his voice.

A petition on Change.org is calling on the Brownsville Independent School District to offer virtual learning as an option this school year rather than require students to attend in-person classes as mandated by the Texas Education Agency.

“This is the kind of area we live in, so you can imagine that you’re always going to feel protective of your children.” As schools reopen across the country, Black students have been less likely than white students to enroll in in-person learning — a trend attributed to factors including concerns about the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on communities of color, a lack of trust that their schools are equipped to keep children safe, and the large numbers of students of color in urban districts that have been slower to reopen classrooms. “Now that they’re home, we feel safer,” said Johnson, who was keeping her two young daughters home despite options being made available for in-person learning.

A Houston program is providing one-on-one academic help to make sure students stay connected in a safe way. The Education Building at The Forge for families Center takes pride in assisting parents through the pandemic. They navigate students through the virtual learning process and help with homework and assignments. Thomas is the Program Director at the Forge for families Center. To learn more about the Forge for families center, click here.

Meanwhile, days after threatening to roll back restrictions on Chicago businesses if COVID-19 cases continue to spike, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Thursday by imposed a 10 p.m. curfew on all nonessential city businesses. —Karen Ann Cullotta4:31 p.m.: On the worst day of the pandemic, the US reported 75,687 new COVID-19 cases. Remote learning has been a challenging adjustment for many students, teachers and parents since the COVID-19 pandemic started in March. —Christen A. Johnson2:01 p.m.: Chicago-area grocers stock up to ward off shortages as COVID-19 cases rise. The announcement comes as Pritzker and state health officials warned of increasing COVID-19 positivity rates and hospital admissions across the state.

Educators and child advocates are particularly worried about the learning loss they’re experiencing during this pandemic. The Texas Family Leadership Council and representatives from local, state and national nonprofits joined the Texas Federation of Teachers to highlight the pandemic learning loss that Texas children are facing. When educators and child advocates talk about pandemic learning loss, they are most worried about students in the earliest grades: Pre-K, Kindergarten, First, Second and Third. The concerns around pandemic learning loss go beyond academic achievement. At the onset of the pandemic, Mental Health America of Greater Houston started offering free self-mental health screening tests.

HOUSTON – The largest school district in Texas has reopened its campuses Monday by bringing back some students for the first time this semester. HISD Superintendent Grenita Lathan and other local leaders welcomed students back during a press conference at 10:30 a.m. at Highland Heights Elementary School while discussing how to bridge the gap for the digital divide. Lathan said she and countless others are preparing to welcome thousands of students back to campuses for in-person learning. Since March, the district has given out 36,200 hot spots and 110,000 devices to students in need, Lathan said during the press conference Monday. “This is truly a historic and transformational accomplishment in our district,” Lathan said.

But before you take that leap of faith, by finding help on Facebook, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office has a warning. Threat 2: Online predators“Internet access can be dangerous for children,” said Chris Suefert, Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney. During the first eight months of 2020, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office has charged 59 defendants for internet crimes against children. Kids’ increased access to the internet has also increased the risk of predators contacting and grooming children online. Investigators have continued to make significant arrests of suspects who are accused of soliciting children online and exchanging images and videos of child sexual abuse.

A Houston family shared advice on how to prepare for virtual learning. Set a virtual learning scheduleThe key to success, Portilla said, is to have rules and set a schedule to keep children on track. What tech items do I need for virtual learning? A computer for the child to use to participate in virtual learning is an essential item, according to Portilla and other experts. If you need more advice on virtual learning, she just put together an e-book called “10 Steps to a Simple & Grace Filled Homeschool Year Guide & Workbook.”You can find the book and more information here.

A 12-year-old Nicaraguan boy started his own business to save money for a computer to attend online classes. Mario Urroz says he's been using his mother's cell phone to do homework ever since his school closed due to the coronavirus. With money being tight, Mario decided to start selling cacti. Mario buys them from a local farm, puts them in colorful painted pots and then sells them on social media. Mario is hoping to have enough money to buy a computer by December.

HOUSTON – The Aldine Independent School District unveiled its reopening plans for the upcoming school year. Parents learned more about the changes in a virtual town hall hosted by the district. District administrators tackled those topics, including transportation, technology, and health and safety of students, during Thursday afternoon’s virtual presentation. After that, students will have two options: continue virtual learning or head back to the classroom for in-person instruction. Student Health & SafetyEducators said the health and safety of students is their number one priority.

HOUSTON As the 2019-2020 school year comes to an end, parents want to know how their local school district plans to educate children in the fall. Channel 2 Investigates sent a poll to more than 140 school districts in 20 area counties to find out what are the plans for instruction. Channel 2 Investigates created a spreadsheet that lays out each districts plans. Channel 2 Investigates Robert Arnold spoke with dozens of school superintendents about whats in store for students and the challenges of education in a world with COVID-19. Watch it below:Earlier in the week, Channel 2 Investigates organized a virtual town hall meeting with more than one dozen superintendents from school districts large and small; urban and rural.