TEA provides options for graduation ceremonies

Planning for graduation has been a balancing act for high schools across Texas when trying to honor seniors with the state’s executive orders.

In wake of Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order to begin opening the state, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) Commissioner Mike Morath has provided a number of options available to the state’s school district for 2020 graduation ceremonies, the Light and Champion reported.

The options begin with completely virtual ceremonies, a favorite option for some districts before the state began reopening the economy. There is also a hybrid ceremony option which is a compilation of videos detailing the graduation ceremony. Both ceremonies would be scheduled for showing on community channels and school websites, according to TEA's website.  While the virtual ceremony can take place anytime, the hybrid ceremony can only take place effective May 15 provided screening criteria is met. Anyone with the coronavirus symptoms would be excluded from the event according to TEA.

TEA has also provided a vehicle ceremony where families can wait in a car and be recognized one at a time. It's effective May 15 and also requires health screening.

Finally, there is the in-person ceremony. The Light and Champions reported that from May 15 to May 31 this option would be available to counties with five or fewer positive tests.

Outdoor ceremonies can take place in other counties following May 31. The outdoor ceremonies will be required to screen for the virus and must have hand sanitizer located throughout the venue, the Light and Champions reported. Social distancing will be observed and no rehearsals will be allowed. School employees will be limited to the number required to host the graduation.

One issue rising to the forefront is availability of seniors for graduation ceremonies. While some district may have seniors wanting to hold an outdoor ceremony, prior commitments such as military enrollment may prevent them from attending after June 1, according to the Light and Champions. This scenario has some schools looking at more than one ceremony, according to TEA.