The latest Texas Education Agency news from The Texas Tribune.
School districts can keep their ceremonies virtual, celebrate seniors while they drive in a procession, knit pictures of individual seniors into a graduation video or host a socially distanced outdoor ceremony, said Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath. Full Story
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It's way too early to know how COVID-19 cases will trend over the next few months, but school leaders are trying to draw up preliminary plans for bringing students back to classrooms. Full Story
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Doctors and health experts say it isn't safe to let students go back to their schools, the governor said at a news conference announcing executive orders intended to slowly reopen the Texas economy. Full Story
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Before the coronavirus pandemic, Texas schools were already failing many students with disabilities. School closings have made the job tougher and forced many parents to become amateur special ed teachers. Full Story
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With schools closed statewide to halt the spread of the new coronavirus, hourly workers like custodians and bus drivers worry how long their paychecks will keep coming. Substitute teachers aren't finding paid work at all. Full Story
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Federal officials had previously approved a waiver allowing school districts to hand out curbside breakfasts and lunches to parents who show up. Now districts have more flexibility on how and what they feed students in free and reduced-price meals while schools are temporarily closed statewide. Full Story
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The state standardized test, taken in third through 12th grade, determines whether students can graduate or move on to the next grade and whether schools can stay open. Full Story
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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. Full Story
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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. Full Story
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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. Full Story
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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. Full Story
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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. Full Story
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Teachers groups and some education advocates are criticizing the proposed changes, saying more charter schools will siphon money and students away from traditional public schools. Full Story
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Texas will not be able to seize power of Houston ISD's school board until the state judge issues a final ruling on the lawsuit challenging the takeover. Full Story
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U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel rejected the district's argument that ousting the Houston school board would disenfranchise voters. Full Story
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Caught off guard by the increase in teen vaping, schools are grasping every tool at hand, including expulsions and suspensions. In some districts, students can face harsh discipline and jail time for having a vape pen in their backpack. Full Story
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Fort Worth ISD fired Georgia Clark after she asked President Trump on Twitter in May to "remove the illegals from Fort Worth." The Texas Education Agency reversed their decision late last month mostly on procedural grounds, but the school district plans to appeal. Full Story
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Houston ISD lawyers told a federal judge the education commissioner is exceeding his authority and asked for a preliminary injunction stopping him from booting out the elected school board of the state's largest district. Full Story
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Questions about the reading and writing tests arose after some education advocates pointed to studies showing passages were written above elementary and middle schoolers' grade levels. Full Story
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Commissioner of Education Mike Morath wrote that Georgia Clark did not waive her First Amendment rights when she signed her contract with Fort Worth ISD. Full Story
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