On July 7, TEA released public health planning guidance for the 2020-21 academic year. Given the latest developments around COVID-19, TEA is issuing important updates to the guidance today, July 17.
School systems will now be able to temporarily limit access to on-campus instruction for the first four weeks of school. 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.
Per the TEA announcement, the 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 (i.e., those who need reliable access to technology) will still be entitled to on-campus instruction every day during this transition period.
Local school boards for districts in areas with high levels of community spread also retain the flexibility to delay the start of the school year.
Additional changes provide school systems with the ability to convert high schools—with school board approval—to a full-time hybrid model once students have transitioned back to on-campus instruction. This model will provide for a more socially distanced school experience, where students receive a portion of their instruction on-campus and a portion of their instruction remotely at home.
One week prior to the start of on-campus activities and instruction, school systems must post for parents and the general public a summary of the plan—developed in consultation with their teachers, staff, and parents—that they will follow to mitigate COVID-19 spread in their schools based on the requirements and recommendations outlined in TEA’s updated public health planning guidance.
Download the updated guidelines.
Watch a video message to Texas teachers and parents from the commissioner.
