AUSTIN (WBAP/KLIF) – The Texas Education Agency is giving more control to local school districts regarding the start of school. The move comes amid a continued increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Texas.
Last week, the TEA released public health planning guidance for the 2020-21 academic year in order to well prepare students, teachers, and staff to safely return to school campuses for daily, in-person instruction. Given the latest developments around COVID-19, TEA issued updates to the guidance.
According to TEA Commissioner Mike Morath, in response to the varying public health realities of each Texas community, these changes give the needed flexibility for schools to effectively provide a smooth transition for students, teachers, and staff so that they will experience the safest and least disruptive mode of learning during the beginning of the school year.
“School systems will now be able to temporarily limit access to on-campus instruction for the first four weeks of school,” said Morath. “After the first four weeks, a school system can continue to limit access to on-campus instruction for an additional four weeks, if needed, with a board-approved waiver request to TEA.”
TEA guidelines include important exceptions for students; specifically, any family that lacks Internet access at home and/or requires devices for students learning virtually. Any student requiring on-campus instruction during this period, including those who need reliable access to technology, will still be
entitled to on-campus instruction every day during the transition period.
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