Guidance from Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath indicates remote learning will be possible this school year at the request of families. | Stock photo
After Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton recently issued guidance indicating blanket school closures by local public health officials would be unlawful, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath issued a statement outlining funding for some remote instruction.
Under the department’s policy, schools can still have the first eight weeks of school fully-remote while receiving state funding, according to a press release from TEA. But no Texas school will be able to remain full remote past that eight-week period and still receive state funding.
Individual families will still be able to request full-year remote learning and the school systems will receive funding for those students. However, in order to receive funding for remote learning, a school must also provide daily in-person instruction at the school campus.
The policy does provide exceptions for schools that cease in-person instruction for five days or more in response to a detected COVID-19 case at the school, as well as giving high schools the option to alternate remote and in-person education in order to limit the number of students present on campus, according to TEA.