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.
Public Education
Explore The Texas Tribune’s coverage of public education, from K-12 schools and funding to teachers, students, and policies shaping classrooms across Texas.
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Coronavirus in Texas
While other states fighting coronavirus enforce widespread closures, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott goes with a patchwork system
While most states have mandated the closure of schools, bars and restaurants; deployed their militaries; or diverted state resources to COVID-19 response, Texas is largely leaving it up to schools and local governments to decide how to proceed. Some say the approach can undermine response efforts.
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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.
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Public Education
Shepherd ISD steps out of limbo and closer to state takeover
The East Texas district’s elected school board voted to drop any outstanding lawsuits blocking the state’s takeover of the district. Board members also ended a contract with lawyers involved in the dispute.
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Coronavirus in Texas
School districts across Texas suspend classes over coronavirus concerns, prepare for online learning
Some of the districts extending their spring breaks are working on contingency plans to transition hundreds of thousands of students and teachers to remote learning in the event of even longer closures.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Two Texas public school districts halt classes over possible coronavirus risks
The closures of Montgomery and Alvarado schools are short term, but hundreds of public school districts may face similar decisions. A big challenge for officials is figuring out how to feed low-income students in the event of prolonged shutdowns.
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Public Education
Texas tried to take over Shepherd ISD. But a surprise, last-minute court order blocked those plans.
State officials were stopped from swearing in an appointed board of managers to run the East Texas school district where two schools received failing grades for years.
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Public Education
Texas seizes power from small East Texas school district, splitting town opinion
The Texas Education Agency announced a new appointed board and a new superintendent Friday for Shepherd Independent School District, where two schools failed to meet state academic standards for five years.
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Politics
After 2018’s mass shooting, Santa Fe school officials will let some employees carry firearms at all times
District officials announced their plans Friday to implement Texas’ so-called Guardian Plan, which lets local school boards authorize specific employees to carry on campus at all times and determine their training standards.