Reopening Texas Schools

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 

The order could extend further, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said. Full Story 

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 

Bigger schools — those with a 5A or 6A designation — will have to wait until September. Full Story 

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 

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

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 

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 

Schools had previously been told that they would need to limit online-only instruction to the first three weeks of the school year, or they'd lose state funding. Full Story 

Many Texas Education Agency employees are working from home, but the agency is requiring schools to open five days a week for in-person instruction this fall. Teachers say that mandate has grave implications for their health. Full Story 

The mask requirement doesn't apply to students younger than 10. The Texas Education Agency guidelines also require schools to post coronavirus prevention plans and encourage hand-washing. Full Story 

Texas education officials delayed an expected announcement of school reopening guidelines Tuesday, but a draft plan shows the state taking a light-handed role in coronavirus prevention measures. Masks and distancing are recommended but not mandatory. Full Story 

State officials announced yesterday that students will return to public schools come fall, but provided few details. Almost three-fourths of parents surveyed in one district say they won't send their children back if it seems unsafe. Full Story 

Abbott notified lawmakers of the plan during a conference call Thursday. Full Story 

Coronavirus is a risk for his students, Premont ISD Superintendent Steve VanMatre says, but so is seeing their educations stop cold. He's trying to safely address both while getting kids back in front of teachers. Full Story