Texas students will be returning to public schools in person this fall, Gov. Greg Abbott told state lawmakers.
What We Know:
- Abbott told law makers it was always the goal to have students and teachers interact in person, as it was “a very important environmental setting”. The Governor went on to confirm that there will “definitely be higher safety standards in place than when they opened last year”.
- School districts will not require students or teachers to be tested, pre-screened, or wear masks during the school year.
- Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath ensures “It will be safe for Texas public school students, teachers, and staff to return to school campuses for in-person instruction this fall. But there will also be flexibility for families with health concerns so that their children can be educated remotely, if the parent so chooses.” Texas residents expressed their concerns over the reopening:
the governor of Texas is opening schools back for the Fall (according to Click2Houston) & isn’t requiring masks or testing students for COVID symptoms… HUH???
— andrea angeli (@_andreuhhh) June 23, 2020
100k cases of Covid in Texas today and y’all really thought we was going back to school in the fall? 😴
— Jayden Jackson 🌊♐️ (@JayJack_21) June 22, 2020
A reminder that while Abbott says it is safe for children and school staff to go back to school, he keeps the Texas Governor’s mansion closed to the public because “it is not possible to safely provide tours while also adhering the CDC’s health standards.”
— Ace Styles (@StylesAce) June 20, 2020
- Hospitalizations for COVID have risen 60% in the state of Texas, and there have been more than 4,000 new cases reported since reopening. Abbott urged civilians to wear masks in order to slow the spread of the virus in spite of him saying its not mandatory. The governor warns that if cases continue to double in the next month “tougher actions will be required”.
While Texas remains the leading state in COVID cases, schools are to still be opened for the fall semester.
