Name: Abbott hints at changes to Texas guidelines on reopening schools
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Abbott hints at changes to Texas guidelines on reopening schools

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Gov. Greg Abbott signaled Tuesday that changes likely are coming to the state’s , with local officials potentially getting more latitude to keep campuses closed in August.Abbott offered few details on potential tweaks to the state’s guidelines, which have drawn criticism from several leading education groups amid a continued spike in COVID-19 cases, but he suggested new regulations could be released in the next few days.“I think Mike Morath, the commissioner of education, is expected to announce a longer period of time for online learning at the beginning of the school year, and flexibility at the local level,” Abbott told KTRK-TV in Houston. “This is going to have to be a local-level decision, but there will be great latitude and flexibility provided at the local level.”The potential changes likely will ease the state’s push to open campuses in August, which Abbott’s administration outlined last week to . Under Texas Education Agency guidelines issued July 7, public schools must offer five days of in-person classes each week to all families that want them and provide an online-only option to students — or risk losing state funding.Some exceptions exist, however, to the . Local government officials can order schools to remain closed, an option employed in El Paso County and the city of Laredo late last week. Districts also can limit in-person classes to students who lack a computer and internet at home for the first three weeks of their school year. Some districts are planning to remain completely virtual during that time by providing technology to all students in need.Still, the prospect of some Texas schools reopening next month in the midst of a rapid increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations has sparked pushback from educators and some parents, particularly in the past few days.The state’s four largest teacher organizations urged Abbott to halt efforts to reopen schools during the ongoing outbreak. In addition, two organizations representing 41 of the state’s largest school districts called on Abbott to provide more flexibility to local education leaders, including the power to remain online-only to start the school year.“Certainly, we want all students to be in school, but local school districts must have the flexibility to make sure that any approach taken is safe for students, staff and families without the fear of losing funding,” the Texas School Alliance and Texas Urban Council of Superintendents wrote to Abbott.The blowback once again has put Abbott in the position of deciding whether to retain decision-making power or delegate authority to local officials.In prior high-profile fights over the rights of local government officials to close certain businesses and punish people for not wearing face coverings, Abbott opted to overrule county judges and mayors. He issued executive orders that gave him the power to dictate which businesses could be told to close and removed sanctions related to violations of mask mandates. Earlier this month, the governor issued his own mask mandate.More Education NewsAbbott’s comments Tuesday signal he may allow local education leaders more leeway on matters related to the beginning of the 2020-21 school year. The precise power delegated to local officials, however, will depend on the details of guidelines released in the coming days.His reference to a longer period of online learning to start the year hints at the possibility that campuses could remain closed to students with at-home technology beyond the three-week time frame.However, some school districts do not have enough computers and wireless internet hotspots to outfit all families in need — particularly those in higher-poverty districts, such as Houston and Aldine ISDs.Ten school board presidents representing large districts with high percentages of lower-income students — including Houston, Dallas and Aldine ISDs — called on the governor Monday to allow district leaders to decide on school closures.“To say we are required to have in-person instruction — no matter what the situation is — is not only reckless, but unsafe for our students and our staff,” the school board presidents wrote in a letter to Abbott.HISD officials are expected to announce their reopening plans Wednesday, joining several Houston-area districts that have released restart guidelines in recent days. Notably, Alief ISD declared it will remain virtual-only for three weeks, while Fort Bend ISD plans to reopen campuses only to students receiving special education services or taking certain vocational classes.Reporter Julian Gill contributed to this story.jacob.carpenter@chron.com

Gov. Greg Abbott signaled Tuesday that changes likely are coming to the state’s , with local officials potentially getting more latitude to keep campuses closed in August.Abbott offered few details on potential tweaks to the state’s guidelines, which have drawn criticism from several leading education groups amid a continued spike in COVID-19 cases, but he suggested new regulations could be released in the next few days.“I think Mike Morath, the commissioner of education, is expected to announce a longer period of time for online learning at the beginning of the school year, and flexibility...

Abbott hints at changes to Texas guidelines on reopening schools

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