Students to be back in class come Fall

State officials announced that Texas schools would be safe for students to return for the Fall 2020 semester. There were few details provided at the time, but more guidance is said to come this week. 

Though the final decision will be up to each school district, it is said that parents/guardians may be given the option to allow their children to learn remotely, should they feel that it’s necessary, depending on the district. 

“It will be safe for Texas public school students, teachers, and staff to return to school campuses for in-person instruction this fall,” Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said in a statement released on June 18. “But there will also be flexibility for families with health concerns so that their children can be educated remotely, if the parent so chooses.”

Frank Ward, a spokesperson at the Texas Education Agency, said the state won’t mandate the use of face masks, shields or testing but will leave many decisions to local leaders.

“There’s an emphasis on local control,” Ward said.

Governor Greg Abbott says that he agrees with the decision and that the in-person education has a different impact on students than at-home instruction.

"I will tell you that my goal is to see students back in classrooms in seats interacting personally with teachers as well as other students," he told KLBK TV in Lubbock on June 15. "This is a very important environmental setting for both the students, for the teachers and for the parents.”

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has released their take on schools reopening, giving recommendations on how to move forward. There is a distinct focus on social distancing and vigorous hand-washing. 

The agency recommends desks be arranged six feet apart when possible and things like making hallways one-way or adding markers on the ground similar to ones now seen in grocery stores that direct people where to stand, according to a press release.

To minimize interaction and therefore possible transmission, it may be recommended that students stay within the same small groups throughout the school and to refrain from sharing objects such as textbooks, electronic devices, and/or toys/books. 

The guidelines provided by the CDC are purely recommendations, as the decisions are being set by each district.

When students return, school districts will not be required to mandate students wear masks or test them for COVID-19 symptoms, confirmed Frank Ward, a spokesperson for the Texas Education Agency. 

For more information, head to tea.texas.gov