Texas public schools will be allowed to offer virtual-only instruction potentially as late as November, according to new guidance issued by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
The Dallas Morning News reports that today's change in the state’s guidance comes a day after Texas saw its largest single-day number of deaths from Covid-19.
When the agency rolled out its initial guidelines earlier this month, districts were allowed the option of remote learning for three weeks before being required to offer in-person instruction. The agency stated at that time that schools would be required to offer in-person instruction to each student each day, in addition to any remote learning options.
The new guidance extends that period to four weeks, with an additional four-week option that school boards can obtain by asking for and receiving waivers from the TEA.
Several school districts in the Dallas area have pushed their first day of classes back to Sept. 8, so in-person instruction could start as late as Nov. 3 if waivers were approved for those districts.
The new rules also allow school districts to consider hybrid options of instruction for high school students, using a combination of in-person and online-only classes.
“In high school, school systems may offer a less than daily on campus instructional experience if there is a need to reduce the total count of people on campus at any one time to maintain social distancing,” the new guidance reads.
State officials also have announced plans to use $200 million in federal coronavirus funding to help schools provide digital devices and internet access to families for virtual learning.
Video message from TEA Commissioner Mike Morath:
