AUSTIN – Commissioner of Education Mike Morath has authorized up to four additional Missed School Day Waivers for school systems within Gov. Greg Abbott’s 58-county disaster declaration for Hurricane Harvey that will be unable to open the week of Sept. 4.

“The health, safety and welfare of the students, teachers, and staff of these effected school systems is my priority,” said Commissioner Morath. “While these additional days may not resolve all issues, it is my hope that this additional time will allow schools to address and remediate damage.”

Through today, 58 counties are within the Governor’s disaster proclamation: Angelina, Aransas, Atascosa, Austin, Bastrop, Bee, Bexar, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Caldwell, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Colorado, Comal, DeWitt, Fayette, Fort Bend, Galveston, Goliad, Gonzales, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kerr, Kleberg, Lavaca, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Live Oak, Madison, Matagorda, Montgomery, Newton, Nueces, Orange, Polk, Refugio, Sabine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Trinity, Tyler, Victoria, Walker, Waller, Washington, Wharton, Willacy and Wilson. 

School systems in the 58-county disaster declaration area that continue to be closed due to the hurricane are eligible to apply for a Missed School Day waiver for up to four additional days as needed for any scheduled instructional days missed from Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017, to Friday, Sept. 8, 2017. These additional days are beyond what was previously announced by the Commissioner on Aug. 29, 2017.  

As a result of this waiver, school systems in disaster counties that have missed school days due to the hurricane will not have to make up those days on the school calendar. Each Missed School Day Waiver is worth the number of operational minutes for that day on the school’s calendar up to 420 waiver minutes per day. The Commissioner’s letter to school districts can be viewed at http://tea.texas.gov/About_TEA/News_and_Multimedia/Correspondence/TAA_Letters/Additional_Missed_School_Day_Waivers_related_to_Hurricane_Harvey.

Commissioner Morath, working closely with regional Education Service Centers, remains in ongoing contact with many superintendents in communities hit hardest by Hurricane Harvey, as well as superintendents in districts now enrolling students that have been displaced. The Texas Education Agency will continue working with school systems in disaster counties that are expected to miss additional school days after Sept. 8, 2017, due to the hurricane. 

The Texas Education Agency has established a central resource page on its website to share information and resources related to questions and issues arising from the hurricane. To view the Hurricane Harvey Resource Page, visit http://tea.texas.gov/About_TEA/Other_Services/Weather_and_Disaster/Hurricane_Harvey_Resources.