The Texas Education Agency didn't announce clear health and safety guidelines for reopening schools this fall, but has released attendance protocols covering in-person and virtual instruction. | Pixabay
School administrators, teachers and parents are looking to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for what a new school year in the middle of a COVID-19 pandemic will look like.
Though TEA was scheduled to announce health and safety guidelines for reopening schools, Education Commissioner Mike Morath told Texas AFT guidelines are still in flux and the ever-changing situation makes it difficult to set firm standards for on-campus instruction.
As for attendance, students are expected to attend school on campus when schools are operating normally. On-campus instruction will continue to be funded as it was before the pandemic. There is also a provision for remote synchronous instruction, two-way live virtual instruction between teachers and students. Attendance is taken at a set "snapshot" time and teachers post attendance as if students were present in the classroom.
Decisions about reopening schools should be made with the consultations of health professionals, educators and key community leaders, according to Texas AFT. The AFT five-point plan includes measures for social distancing, testing, tracing and isolating and investing in the community.
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