Reopening Texas Schools

Featured coverage

Hope, fear and hula hoops. How four Texas schools are preparing to bring students back into classrooms.

By Allie Goulding and Stacy Fernández Aug. 13, 2020

Public schools are about to become the next front line in a state struggling to control the coronavirus pandemic. Here's what it's like on the ground at four of them. Full Story 

Latest coverage

• In San Antonio, teachers hit the streets in search of students disappearing from online learning

  By Bekah McNeel, The 74 March 3, 2021

  Every few weeks, teams of teachers from one middle school knock on doors looking for students who have disengaged with online classes. It seems to work. Full Story 

• Texas will require students to take the STAAR test in person

  By Aliyya Swaby Jan. 29, 2021

  School districts can set up sites outside of their schools, including performing arts centers, hotels and recreation centers where they can “ensure equitable access and maintain test security.” Full Story 

• Texas school leaders urge state not to cut funding as they struggle with declining enrollment

  By Aliyya Swaby Dec. 15, 2020

  Enrollment has fallen as schools and families grapple with pandemic closures and health concerns. Next semester, the declines could start hitting district budgets. Full Story 

• Texas students will still take STAAR tests in 2021, but schools won't be rated on them

  By Aliyya Swaby Dec. 10, 2020

  State lawmakers had previously asked the Texas Education Agency to seek a federal waiver to cancel the standardized tests. Full Story 

• A North Texas superintendent is openly defying the state mask mandate in schools. No one is stopping him.

  By Stacy Fernández Nov. 23, 2020

  The Texas Education Agency declined to take action, saying it's up to local enforcement. A county official tried to intervene but said it should be up to TEA to enforce. Full Story 

• Many Texas families say remote learning isn’t working and they want it fixed

  By Aliyya Swaby Nov. 20, 2020

  A summer of delay and inconsistency from state political and education leaders left Texas schools little time to prepare for an academic year with millions of students learning from home. Now many of those kids are failing through no fault of their own. Full Story 

• In this San Antonio classroom, a teacher divides her time between "roomies" and "zoomies"

  By Aliyya Swaby Nov. 12, 2020

  Third grade teacher Abigail Boyett is responsible for simultaneously educating 10 students in person and 11 at home. It's a challenge many Texas teachers face this fall as schools adapt to the pandemic. Full Story 

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• Alarming failure rates among Texas students fuel calls to get them back into classrooms

  By Aliyya Swaby Oct. 23, 2020

  Most schools hoped this fall would see students make up academic ground lost last spring when the pandemic hit. Instead, districts are looking for ways to reverse plummeting grades and attendance among students learning at home. Full Story 

• Some Texas school districts are requiring in-person instruction again, leaving parents scrambling for options

  By Stacy Fernández Oct. 21, 2020

  As the numbers of people infected and hospitalized by the coronavirus tick back up across the state, dozens of Texas school districts eliminated the option for remote learning and forced students, faculty and staff to return to the classroom, with few exceptions. Full Story 

• Texas schools tell teachers with medical risks they must return to classrooms during the pandemic

  By Aliyya Swaby and Emma Platoff Oct. 20, 2020

  Several school districts are trying to accommodate teachers with health conditions who want to work from home, but many are being called back in as more students return to classrooms. Full Story 

• Texas teachers are demanding that schools be safe before they return. But they have little leverage short of quitting.

  By Aliyya Swaby Oct. 12, 2020

  As more students return to classrooms, school districts need teachers to show up as well. But many are reluctant, arguing that not enough is being done to keep faculty and students safe. Full Story 

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• Wi-Fi buses were a quick solution for student internet access, but as schools reopen they need their buses back

  By Stacy Fernández Oct. 8, 2020

  As more students return to school in person, some school districts are having to trim back programs that deployed buses as hot spots in neighborhoods for students with little or no internet access. Full Story 

• With Texas schools struggling to find lost students, state offers temporary financial reprieve

  By Aliyya Swaby Oct. 1, 2020

  The state parcels out school funding based on attendance, but many districts have seen sharp declines this fall. Local school officials are worried that they'll run out of money to pay for staff, facilities and other fixed expenses. Full Story 

• Texas updates coronavirus case totals in schools, but the data remains limited and murky

  By Aliyya Swaby and Mandi Cai Oct. 1, 2020

  The state's second attempt at reporting known COVID-19 cases among students and staff doesn't get much closer to helping the public understand how or whether infections are spreading in Texas public schools. Full Story 

• Texas Department of State Health Services withdraws data on school infections, citing "issues"

  By Emma Platoff and Mandi Cai Updated: Sept. 25, 2020

  Data released this week showing reported coronavirus infection breakdowns by school district has been withdrawn by state health officials after "issues" were discovered. Full Story 

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• State releases numbers showing low Texas public school infection rates, but the data is limited

  By Aliyya Swaby and Emma Platoff Sept. 17, 2020

  The state's first effort to publicly report coronavirus data from schools shows low statewide infection rates. Breakdowns by school districts should be reported next week. Full Story 

• Faceless avatars and microphone malfunctions: A Houston teacher wonders if his students are learning

  By Aliyya Swaby Sept. 17, 2020

  Spend a day with Westfield High School teacher Cris Hernandez, and you'll see the frustrations and uncertainties of virtual teaching. More than four weeks into the school year, he still can't tell if he's connecting with his students. Full Story 

• Texas schools seeing steep declines in number of students getting free meals

  By Stacy Fernández Sept. 11, 2020

  Many families with students learning at home can't access the free breakfasts and lunches they depended on when their children were attending school in person. Full Story 

• With colorful masks and many new rules, Mrs. Hogan’s “honeybees” arrive for kindergarten

  By Emma Platoff Sept. 9, 2020

  In-person classes resumed at Highland Village Elementary School on Tuesday. The youngest students wore masks printed with pepperoni pizza and Polly Pocket, adjusting to new safety protocols. Full Story 

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• Many Texas students will return to classrooms Tuesday. Little will be normal.

  By Aliyya Swaby and Emma Platoff Sept. 8, 2020

  As students across Texas return to schools for in-person classes, there will be masks, distancing and lunches eaten at desks. Many students will remain at home, joining in on laptops and phones. Full Story