The latest education news from The Texas Tribune.
Abbott’s decision to curb the role of local health authorities in school reopening decisions has added to the ongoing conflict between him and local governments during the pandemic, with mayors and judges voicing frustration over having their hands tied by the state’s response. Full Story
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Dependent on tuition money, private schools are eager to get children back into their classrooms. But they know inadequate safety measures could make them vulnerable to lawsuits. Full Story
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Abbott said local health authorities can't shut down in-person instruction before school starts, but an outbreak on campus once students have arrived could prompt a closure. Full Story
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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
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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
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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
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Now that the first official estimate of the coronavirus' effect on the Texas economy is out, the hard work starts. Legislators have to figure out which parts of the state budget to cut and which parts to keep. Full Story
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Darcy Vogt Williams says districts want flexibility deciding how and when to start the new school year, given the pandemic. Listen in the weekend edition of The Brief podcast. Full Story
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UT-Austin also released finalized fall plans Monday, saying that tuition for online and hybrid classes will be the same as in-person tuition. Full Story
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Texas government is going in two directions at once, with Gov. Greg Abbott blowing a whistle on rising COVID-19 numbers while top education officials detail plans to open public schools for in-person classes this fall. Full Story
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Live updates: To receive benefits, people who filed for unemployment must request payments every two weeks on an assigned day. Full Story
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Daily temperature checks and supervised hand-washing are some of the safety rules for schools that decide to hold in-person classes this summer, under new guidance from the Texas Education Agency. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott's decision to reopen child care centers and youth camps takes pressure off parents, but safety guidelines may be unaffordable for some providers. Full Story
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If confirmed in June, Gallego will be Sul Ross' 13th president and the first alumnus to lead the school. Full Story
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The historically black school in Austin moved online as coronavirus shut down college campuses. The loss of community is difficult for a school with a hands-on tradition of boosting students, many poor and the first in their families to attend college. Full Story
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Texas officials closed down campuses in early March and are losing millions of dollars as they pay students back for housing, parking and other unused services. Full Story
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Karen Sams and Michelle Sandoval, both 2020 Texas Teachers of the Year, know how important it is to see their students in the classrooms and hallways. Without that contact, they fear some are slipping away. Full Story
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The university set enrollment records under Brian May, who abruptly resigned, according to KTXS. Full Story
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Our multimedia team is asking Texans to send in a brief video telling us about the day-to-day changes in your life since society essentially shut down last month to limit the spread of the new coronavirus. Full Story
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Federal officials had previously approved a waiver allowing school districts to hand out curbside breakfasts and lunches to parents who show up. Now districts have more flexibility on how and what they feed students in free and reduced-price meals while schools are temporarily closed statewide. Full Story
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