For the first time since the pandemic, Texas schools will again be rated based on standardized tests. But for one year only, schools that receive a D or F will get a “not rated” label.
Coronavirus in Texas
As the coronavirus spread across the state, The Texas Tribune covered the most important health, economic, academic and breaking developments that affected Texans. Our map tracker showed the number of cases, deaths, tests and vaccinations in Texas from 2020-22.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Looming end of federal pandemic emergency threatens to shake Texas’ Medicaid safety net, advocates say
The federal emergency declaration is expected to last through at least mid-October and has kept states from dropping people from Medicaid rolls.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Some landlords got a piece of Texas’ $2 billion in rent relief money — and evicted their struggling tenants anyway
It’s unclear whether landlords face any penalties from state agencies for improperly evicting tenants while receiving rent relief dollars intended to help those tenants stay housed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texas schools won’t lose funding for attendance drops during the pandemic
In Texas, schools are funded based on the number of students enrolled and the daily attendance on campus.
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Coronavirus in Texas
The stories behind the Texans lost to COVID-19
Since vaccines became widely available for Texans 12 and older last May, about 82% of Texas’ COVID-19 deaths were among the unvaccinated.
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Coronavirus in Texas
In Laredo, a bus brigade is vaccinating Mexican citizens with COVID-19 shots that Texans aren’t using
Launched in June, a cross-border effort using buses and donated vaccines is helping roughly 2,000 Nuevo Laredo residents per day get COVID-19 shots in Laredo — 10% of Texas’ daily total.
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Coronavirus in Texas
See how many Texas hospital ICUs were filled to capacity during coronavirus surges
After increasing in January due to the COVID-19 omicron variant, the number of hospitals reporting full ICU units declined after falling short of the August peak, which was caused by the delta variant.
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Coronavirus in Texas
After the omicron surge in early 2022, COVID-19 cases declined in Texas schools
Student and staff COVID-19 cases declined after districts reported their highest levels in January since the pandemic began. But the data is incomplete and likely an undercount.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Families are desperate for child care, but providers face a “roller coaster” trying to survive
Although child care providers have mostly reopened, 8% have closed permanently since the start of the pandemic — and 57% of Texas counties still qualify as child care deserts.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texas big-city schools are dropping their mask mandates in response to new CDC guidelines
As the omicron surge dwindles, school district officials move to lift mask mandates.