Analysis: Skip the convention, but get ready for school
Debates about in-person political conventions and in-person public school classes revolve around the same question: Are we ready for this? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/11ee7530fa08d4ee280b6bebeb28eedc/ATX%20Daycares%20and%20Schools%20AG%20TT%2014.jpg)
-
![A school bus parked in the parking lot at John B. Connally High School on July 8, 2020 in Austin.]()
Credit: Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribune -
Texas parents face a frightening lack of information on coronavirus risks in child care centers
State health officials are providing little detailed information on the spread of coronavirus in Texas child care facilities, and experts aren't sure to what extent children spread the virus. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ddb0d6a18c24069d12c05eb48f61c167/Daycare%20Children%20LBS%20TT%2003.jpg)
![A flurry of colors and activity, building time started the day for pre schoolers at Greater Cornerstone Academy in North Dallas Oct. 9, 2018.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Mask orders, convention drama and the road ahead for reopening schools
On this week's TribCast, Alexa talks to Matthew, Cassi and Aliyya about the governor's mask order, the politics of canceling political conventions and challenges ahead for reopening schools. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e28c63d38cad6941e48fda5f56cf5bf2/TribCast%20July%208.jpg)
![A CapMetro bus driver wears a mask while driving his route in Austin on May 16, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Masks will be mandatory in many Texas schools when they reopen this fall, education agency says
The mask requirement doesn't apply to students younger than 10. The Texas Education Agency guidelines also require schools to post coronavirus prevention plans and encourage hand-washing. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/248a104c02cd5cc6e1e80492910d1ba4/Cactus%20Elementary%20School%20File%20MG%20TT%2009.jpg)
![A student in a classroom at Cactus Elementary School.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Poll says Texans' hopes for quick return to pre-coronavirus life are fading
Texans remain focused on the coronavirus, are less optimistic about returning to normal quickly, and their assessments of government pandemic responses have soured, according to a University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8a7cae9bdf662b27eb5404e7ca738275/North%20Texas%20COVID%20Testing%20SL%20TT%2010.jpg)
![Pharmacist Emily Smith opens a cooler for a patient to place their self-swab coronavirus test at a Walmart drive-thru testing site in McKinney on June 29.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
More than 300 children in Texas day cares have caught COVID-19, and the numbers are rising
Nationwide, coronavirus transmission rates among children have appeared to be low, partly explaining the push to reopen schools. But Texas day cares are seeing cases increase quickly. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b3b52503d9b727ab582fe3ad6efdeada/COVID%20Day%20Care%20EG%20TT%2011.jpg)
![The University of Texas Child Development day care center in Austin on April 6, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Warning of "COVID slide," Texas Education Agency reports 1 in 10 students have disengaged during the pandemic
A new statewide report from the TEA shows that more than 600,000 students didn't complete assignments or respond to teacher outreach during the pandemic. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6caf17c2d0ea3afedc594be4c8359939/Students%20in%20class%20JF%20TT.jpg)
![Science students at Bayless Elementary in Lubbock, raise their hands to answer a question.]()
Credit: Jerod Foster for the Texas Tribune -
Texans urge state education board to expand sexual education standards and include LGBTQ information
More than 200 signed up to speak as the Texas State Board of Education began taking public testimony Monday on its first rewrite of sexual education policies since 1997. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e961dec7e52eb7cc54c729ecda91531a/13_State_Board_of_Education_EW.jpg)
![The State Board of Education meeting on January 29, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver/The Texas Tribune -
Texas education officials consider changing state’s sex education policy for first time in 23 years
A high-tension hearing is expected Monday as the Texas State Board of Education begins considering changes to its statewide policy for health education, including teaching middle schoolers about contraception. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d5582ef9ae59a0b0169817c18859904d/Houston%20High%20School%20Students%20PY%20TT.jpg)
![High school students walk to their next class after the bell rings at Elsik Ninth Grade Center in Houston on March 28, 2018.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Masks for businesses, reopening schools and pandemic voting
On this week's TribCast, Alexa talks to Matthew, Aliyya and Ross about mask requirements for businesses, what school reopenings could mean for students and parents, and what we're watching for during the upcoming election. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d6ebfaedd281677af2afafa2181b9984/TribCast%20June%2024.jpg)
![Isabel Nava teaches second and third grade ESL classes at Lamar Elementary School in San Antonio. Sophia Rivera is in one of her classes.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: An accidental lesson on public health and politics in a pandemic
Texas government is going in two directions at once, with Gov. Greg Abbott blowing a whistle on rising COVID-19 numbers while top education officials detail plans to open public schools for in-person classes this fall. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/58a5a69fed329454cca4ba39e059b946/090519-Hemphill%20Elementary-007%20TT.jpg)
![Instructor's Aid, Nicole Johnson, walks JoAnn Zavala's pre-K students down the hall to music class, their first "specials" visit for the day, on Sept. 5, 2019.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas delays health guidelines for reopening schools this fall. Draft documents show few mandatory safety measures.
Texas education officials delayed an expected announcement of school reopening guidelines Tuesday, but a draft plan shows the state taking a light-handed role in coronavirus prevention measures. Masks and distancing are recommended but not mandatory. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b8ba246667921fcedc40cdce5712ff60/Cactus%20Elementary%20MG%20TT%2014.jpg)
![Students at Cactus Elementary School gather in the auditorium before class on Jan. 28, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Masking the real problem — a deadly virus
More people are out and about, and coronavirus cases are rising in Texas. But there's an easy way to limit the spread of the virus, if people will set their politics aside: masks. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8566fa820107988cdf847787b0634619/Reopen%20Texas%20Protest%20JV%20TT%2008.jpg)
![A protestor with a 'Don't Tread On Me' flag tied to his rilfe at the 'Re-Open America' protest at the state Capitol.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas schools will reopen in the fall, but no one knows exactly how that will work
State officials announced yesterday that students will return to public schools come fall, but provided few details. Almost three-fourths of parents surveyed in one district say they won't send their children back if it seems unsafe. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/85d459a65e29fcdf5c792cb7a5b67736/Cactus%20Elementary%20MG%2017.jpg)
![A classroom in Cactus Elementary School in Cactus on Jan. 28, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Coronavirus cases are increasing among children and staff at Texas child cares, but state safety rules have expired
Parents face agonizing decisions as the state leaves it up to child care operators to decide what coronavirus safety precautions they wish to continue. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b6c06d9c56d194fc942cb8dbaf4656df/COVID%20Day%20Care%20EG%20TT%2012.jpg)
![The University of Texas Child Development day care center in Austin on April 6, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas students will return to school campuses this fall, Gov. Greg Abbott tells lawmakers
Abbott notified lawmakers of the plan during a conference call Thursday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/297802febde23ee7efd64f9ec5b7b1f9/Cactus%20Elementary%20MG%20TT%2013.jpg)
![Cactus Elementary School in Cactus on Jan. 28, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Ousted KIPP charter school founder Mike Feinberg should keep teaching license, examiners find
The administrative judges found there wasn't enough evidence to justify revoking Feinberg's state certification over an allegation of sexual misconduct from more than 20 years ago. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/eccb35ac64af1da2a9c283675286a02f/Mike%20Feinberg%20TT%2001.jpg)
![Kipp’s Mike Feinberg during a Texas Tribune symposium on public education in Houston on March 3, 2017.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Houston-area high school senior's socially distanced graduation marks end of a rocky year
It proved harder than expected to keep Alvin High School students and families spread apart — especially after rain interrupted the ceremony. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cb141bf24b11a5c3f66bcfd40bea9f0b/Viky%20Cruz%20graduation%20MYL%20TT%2031.jpg)
![Viky Cruz, 18, moves her tassel on her cap from one side to the other during her graduation ceremony. Cruz, whose house burned down during the school year, graduated from Alvin High School on Sat, June 6, 2020.]()
Credit: May-Ying Lam for the Texas Tribune -
Watch: Tom Luce and Margaret Spellings discuss the future of Texas
We sat down for a live virtual event with the leaders of the nonprofit research organization Texas 2036 to discuss education, reopening the economy and how the state can be competitive. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5c54137e2ea484d973f7129d96e84883/TTE-TLuce-MSpellings_leadart-03.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
A small Texas school district reopens classrooms for summer school
Coronavirus is a risk for his students, Premont ISD Superintendent Steve VanMatre says, but so is seeing their educations stop cold. He's trying to safely address both while getting kids back in front of teachers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9eb24e80b00d8a5791f3b60da8aa83cb/Cactus%20Elementary%20MG%20TT%2016.jpg)
![A classroom in Texas.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune