Texas educators’ association stresses importance of safety in school reopening plans

The Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) is emphasizing safety in its updated recommendations on reopening schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We believe the state has a responsibility to ensure decisions around the reopening of schools are data-driven, guided by expertise, and focused on factors related to health and safety of students, educators, and their families, rather than being motivated by political expediency,” ATPE states in the recommendations document posted on its website.

ATPE suggests in-person instruction should resume in a district-by-district basis with districts developing localized criteria for reopening its campuses.

“A one-size-fits-all approach rarely provides the flexibility necessary to meet the needs of students or school staff in the more than 1,200 school districts and charter schools that operate in Texas,” the ATPE document states. “Our schools vary in size, geography, wealth, family demographics, and a host of other factors. Likewise, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have been varied throughout Texas cities and towns.”

ATPE is asking for the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to revise its current guidance, which would require districts to offer in-person instruction to the entire student body every day after the first three weeks of school.

“This requirement all but precludes districts from being able to proactively minimize the spread of COVID-19 through distance learning or hybrid plans combining in-person instruction with distance learning,” ATPE said on its website. “In order to address both health and safety needs and educational goals, the state must give school districts the flexibility needed to develop and implement creative solutions to best educate students while maintaining a safe environment for all.”

ATPE is also advising TEA to ensure that all stakeholders in a school district are involved in the plans to reopen schools.

“ATPE continues to emphasize the importance of including the voices of parents and school staff in the development and implementation of each school district’s COVID-19 policies and protocols,” ATPE said on its website. “Similarly, the voices of school employees, beyond those at the administrator level, must be included in the development and refinement of state-level policies.”