Texas Issues Back-To-School Guidance Amid Coronavirus

AUSTIN, TX — The Texas Education Agency on Friday issued back-to-school guidelines in light of sustained surges of the coronavirus across the state — including robust, and continued, online education. In tandem, state officials announced an ambitious $200 million effort to secure hotspots to accommodate internet-based education.

Agency officials termed the protocol as updates to guidance. issued last week pertaining to public health planning guidance for the 2020-21 academic year . The previous guidance was designed to prepare students, teachers and staff to safely return to school campuses for daily, in-person instruction, officials added.

"Given the latest developments around COVID-19, TEA is issuing important updates to guidance," the agency said in a prepared statement.

See updated Texas Education Agency guidelines here

As part of its guidance, the education agency said public school districts can allow students to start the upcoming school year with up to eight weeks of online-only instruction. Moreover, school districts have the option of maintain computer and internet access for online-only classes among high school students for up to 60 percent of each grading period.

Computer resources made available to students

State officials also announced a $200 million allocation in federal coronavirus relief funding for spending on technology devices — computers, wireless internet hotspots,routers and the like — to facilitate at-home education.

The actions yield greater flexibilty and resources to schools trying to achieve an equilibrium between the benefits of in-school learning while providing safeguards to help blunt the spread of respiratory illness. Previous Texas Education Agency guidance alllowed for a mere three-week period of virtual education for the first three weeks of the upcoming 2020-21 academic year.

In tandem with the new guidance, state officials led by Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday announced the allocation of $200 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to the Texas Education Agency for the purchase of eLearning devices and home internet solutions to enable remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic for Texas students that lack connectivity, according to a news release.

The funding will enable the Texas Education Agency to purchase and distribute devices, hotspots, routers, and other resources for specific needs identified by local education agencies (LEAs), according to the advisory. The funding would be used to establish a reimbursement program with a matching fund component tied to locally controlled Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) or LEA local funding, state officials noted.

The financial allocation is in addition to a previously announced distribution of up to $400 million of CRF to reimburse districts for COVID-19 expenses incurred during the 2019-2020 school year. This funding will also establish a reimbursement program for devices and home internet costs incurred by LEAs from May 21st through Sept. 1, officials added.

"As school districts delay the start of in-person instruction for the 2020-2021 school year due to COVID-19, it is essential that we work to provide Texas students with the devices they need to connect and communicate online for classroom instruction," Abbott said in a prepared statement. "As we continue to combat COVID-19 in Texas, we are committed to providing reliable and effective solutions that will help students academically succeed while protecting public health."

Added Sen. Jane Nelson: "Virtual learning works when students have access to the proper wi-fi and electronic devices. These funds help bridge the digital divide and prevent students who lack access to technology from falling behind."

Sen. Juan Hinojosa echoed the sentiment: "No child should ever be denied the ability to achieve his/her dreams simply because he/she does not have technological devices or internet access. Education is the great equalizer and while that will look different in the near term, a move to distance learning to protect students and teachers can only be effective for all learners if they all are able to actively learn and participate. Today's actions by the Governor and TEA will move us toward this goal of ensuring every child has equal access to the tools and resources necessary to achieve a high-quality education."

Rep. Giovanni Capriglione lauded the collaborative effort that yielded the new guidance: "So many of our students across Texas will be starting the school year by continuing their remote education," he said in a prepared statement. "With all of the challenges that remote learning presents, having adequate access to a computer and reliable internet shouldn’t be one of them. I’m proud to have worked with Gov. Abbott, my legislative colleagues, and Commissioner Mike Morath to secure the needed funds to begin the process of bridging this digital divide."

Rep. Oscar Longoria noted the added resources would ensure the continued education of students amid unforeseen challenges spurred by coronavirus: "Our public education system is facing unprecedented challenges due to COVID-19. Operation Connectivity ensures all Texas students have the resources needed to connect and learn online."

Paxton warns religious educators guidance doesn't apply to them

Separately, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued guidance to be followed by religious private schools this fall. Unlike the public school accommodations, however, Paxton's guidance came in the form of a warning to religious school educators based on religious freedom considerations.

Paxton's missive alerted that local public health orders attempting to restrict their reopenings violate the United States and Texas Constitutions and the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act, he wrote in a news release. Moreover, local orders seeking to restrict the reopening of religious private schools or institutions is inconsistent with Abbott's executive orders, and therefore, are invalid, he added.

"As the U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed just last week, there are robust constitutional and statutory protections unique to religious individuals and communities, specifically including religious private schools,” Paxton wrote. “In accordance with the protections granted by the First Amendment and Texas law, this guidance allows religious private schools to determine for themselves when to reopen free from any government mandate or interference.”

Read a copy of Paxton's letter here.

This article originally appeared on the Austin Patch