Past Contributions

• Custodians, cafeteria workers and bus drivers also fear returning to Texas schools

  By Aliyya Swaby July 30, 2020

  Texas schools employ almost as many support staff members as they do teachers, often in hourly or part-time jobs with low pay. The state has offered limited guidance on how to protect them on the job. Full Story 

• Texas schools are being compelled to reopen classrooms on the state's timetable, like it or not

  By Aliyya Swaby and Stacy Fernández Updated: July 29, 2020

  Gov. Greg Abbott has yet to formally announce a definitive plan for reopening Texas schools safely, but two actions Tuesday effectively force districts to have students back in classrooms after eight weeks of the school year's start. Full Story 

• Texas attorney general says local health authorities cannot “indiscriminately” shut down schools

  By Aliyya Swaby July 28, 2020

  After Paxton's guidance, the Texas Education Agency reversed course and announced that the state won't fund schools that remain closed under a local public health mandate. Full Story 

• Texas fifth and eighth graders won't have to pass STAAR test to move on to the next grade

  By Aliyya Swaby Updated: July 27, 2020

  Gov. Greg Abbott said Monday that Texas students must take the state standardized test next spring, but fifth and eighth graders can graduate without passing it. Full Story 

• As school reopenings falter, some Texas parents hire private teachers. Others can only afford to cross their fingers.

  By Aliyya Swaby July 23, 2020

  With the safe reopening of schools this fall in doubt, parents with the resources are setting up "learning pods" or seeking other options. But the do-it-yourself approach to education threatens to leave behind students of color and poorer families. Full Story 

• Texas will allow schools to keep classrooms closed longer than previously ordered

  By Aliyya Swaby Updated: July 17, 2020

  Facing backlash from educators, parents and public health officials, the Texas Education Agency is giving schools more time before they must resume teaching students in person and allowing districts hard hit by the coronavirus to seek waivers. Full Story 

• Harris County officials recommend, not mandate, that school districts stay closed to in-person instruction until October

  By Aliyya Swaby Updated: July 21, 2020

  On Tuesday, Tarrant County joined the list of other officials, including those in Dallas, who are mandating delayed school reopening. Full Story 

• Texas officials scramble to provide school reopening guidelines with only weeks of summer left

  By Aliyya Swaby July 15, 2020

  Conflicting mandates pingponging between state and local officials are frustrating many parents, students and teachers trying to plan for a fall semester during a raging pandemic. Full Story 

• Texas classrooms can stay closed this fall without losing state funding if local health officials order it

  By Aliyya Swaby July 15, 2020

  School districts won't lose state funding if they stick with virtual classes this fall because a local health authority has mandated that classrooms remain closed. Full Story 

• Lani Popp defeats Robert Morrow in Texas State Board of Education runoff

  By Aliyya Swaby Updated: July 15, 2020

  Republican leaders had rallied against Morrow, who is known for his jester's hat and his history of racist and sexist comments. Full Story