Before the coronavirus pandemic, Texas schools were already failing many students with disabilities. School closings have made the job tougher and forced many parents to become amateur special ed teachers.
Aliyya Swaby
Aliyya Swaby was the public education reporter for The Texas Tribune, where she worked from 2016 to 2021. Previously she worked at the hyperlocal nonprofit New Haven Independent, where she covered education, zoning and transit for two years. After graduating from Yale University in 2013, she spent a year freelance reporting in Panama on social issues affecting black Panamanian communities. She was an Education Writers Association finalist in 2017 for beat reporting and a Livingston Awards finalist in 2019 for a series on school desegregation.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Coronavirus: The pandemic through Texans’ eyes
Texas Tribune reporters have interviewed Texans from across the state to learn how they are confronting the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read their stories of struggle and resourcefulness in the first installment of a weekly series.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texas schools are paying support staff; work for substitute teachers dries up
With schools closed statewide to halt the spread of the new coronavirus, hourly workers like custodians and bus drivers worry how long their paychecks will keep coming. Substitute teachers aren’t finding paid work at all.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texas schools get OK to give free meals to parents when kids aren’t present
Federal officials had previously approved a waiver allowing school districts to hand out curbside breakfasts and lunches to parents who show up. Now districts have more flexibility on how and what they feed students in free and reduced-price meals while schools are temporarily closed statewide.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texas day cares are closing just when some parents need them more than ever
The new coronavirus has prompted parents to pull their kids from day care, and thousands have closed. But essential workers like nurses, police officers and grocery store clerks desperately need safe places to leave their children.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Dallas County orders residents to shelter in place as coronavirus cases there spread
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins’ new order came after Gov. Greg Abbott held off from issuing a similar directive to the entire state.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texas lets school districts decide whether students can graduate without STAAR
The state standardized test, taken in third through 12th grade, determines whether students can graduate or move on to the next grade and whether schools can stay open.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texas parents struggle to find child care, food as school closings keep kids at home
Lower-income households are being hit the hardest by school closings as parents try to hang on to jobs and care for their children. Districts are cobbling together ways to keep their educations on track.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texas STAAR test requirements waived due to coronavirus outbreak
Gov. Greg Abbott also said he would ask the federal government to waive federal testing requirements, which apply to all states.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Many Texas schools could be closed through academic year due to coronavirus, education commissioner warns
In separate calls with superintendents and lawmakers Sunday, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said decisions on extended school closures would be left up to locals.
