The Texas Education Agency issued a
press release regarding updated guidance on funding and instructional requirements for re-opening schools this morning, which Commissioner Mike Morath explained to superintendents on call this afternoon.
Commissioner Morath emphasized that the Agency's goal is to get as many students on campus as it is safe. There is now a greater amount of flexibility for schools to make choices regarding what is safe for their students, staff, and community.
Transitional Period
School districts can now begin the school year with 100% remote instruction during a transitional period a full month (
four weeks) should they choose. This transitional period can be extended by
another four weeks if the board of trustees
requests a waiver from TEA. During this time, schools must offer in-person to any student who cannot access the remote instruction the district is providing (due to lack of device or internet connection). Please note that the four-week transitional period will begin upon the district's first instructional day (whenever the district decides that will be).
Unless the rules change again, following the transitional period (of up to 8 weeks), schools must offer in-person instruction to students with parents who choose that option.
Hybrid Model for High School Students
School districts may also choose to use a hybrid model for students in grades 9-12 that is the only option offered. Hybrid models have always been available in all grades as an option to offer, but with this new development, school districts can offer all high school students instruction that occurs less than daily, so long as at least 40% of the days of each grading cycle include on-campus attendance (and the remainder of instruction is provided remotely). Districts that choose to utilize this as the only option for high school students must apply for a waiver.
ADA Hold Harmless
There were also changes with hold harmless offered during the first 12 weeks of the school year. As was utilized following Hurricane Harvey, districts with receive
the BEST OF either numbers from the past (which will look at the trend over the past three years for ADA) or the district's numbers for ADA in the current school year. Districts will receive funding during the first 12 weeks from which ever ADA is higher. And to allow for district planning, TEA will publish next week what the floor for funding will be for each district (based on the 3 year trend). Read page 5 of the
FAQ document for more details on this.
Funding During Closures
If a district is subject to an ordered closure (from the state or from a local public health authority), the district must follow all legally binding closure orders. In order to qualify for funding while closed (whether closed by order or by choice for up to five days following a confirmed positive), the district must offer remote instruction for all students or make up those missed days/minutes of instruction when it is safe to open again.
You can read the full information available to schools in the updated guidance on the TEA website:
